Oil leak from drain bolt after OCI...

[Minou]

Changed my oil 2 days ago and discovered a leak coming from the drain bolt today.

Before removing the bolt I inadvertently tightened it some more before actually loosening it and I still use the OEM aluminum washer...

Do you think I should try to loosen it a bit and retightening it in hope of stopping the leak before a last ditch effort at replacing the washer?

 

[dgee]

tighten it a bit more.when you tightened it before you loosened, the crush washer just got a little more crushed. either replace it or tighten it but not too much

 

[mez]

Probable needs to be tighten more. I have never replace those washers and i have never had a leak.

 

[Minou]

Originally Posted By: dgee
tighten it a bit more.when you tightened it before you loosened, the crush washer just got a little more crushed. either replace it or tighten it but not too much


This is what I thought because it's the first time it happens to me and it so occured after I had tightend the bolt a bit more bore loosening it.

I'll give it a try tomorrow. Driving to Florida in a week. Thanks

 

[JHZR2]

No point in damaging the oil drain plug by overtightening. Also not worth doing a poor job by trying to save 50c on a drain plug washer. Is it just wet, or does it consistently drip? how much do you loose? May just be better off leaving it and doing a correct replacement next time...

 

[TCP442]

I have an '07 Sonata, 4cyl....nice car...they recommend changing the aluminum washer with each change...I still am using the original washer...here's a tip I've used for 40 years of oil changes..after you drop the old oil, clean the bolt, take off the washer, and place a small amount of wheel bearing grease on both sides of the washer, and the base of the bolt...tighten bolt,...I use a torque wrench @ 28 lbs for this car...you now have a sano oil change and will never have a leak !!...I currently run a dino 5/30 in the summer for 4,000 miles...you will notice the Sonata has a stout heavy guage oil pan...Hyundai has come a long way in overall quality..goodluck

 

[fdcg27]

I never replace crush washers, they never leak, and I have run cars past 200K.
What is the sump made of?
Is it an alloy casting, or is it stamped steel?
Some engines use an alloy casting to add stiffness to the bottom end.
The Ecotec is a good example.
Other engines, like Hondas, use a stamped steel pan.
The difference is that you should not mindlessly tighten a drain plug into an alloy pan.
With a steel pan, you can crank it in a bit without fear of damaging the treads.
You can't replace the crush washer without replacing the oil, of course.
If the plug is properly torqued, and all you have is a slight drip, leave it alone until your next change.

 

[Warstud]

If your driving from Canada to Florida in a week just do the right thing for peace of mind during the trip. Buy a new crush washer...drain the oil and replace the washer and see if that does the trick. Good Luck!

 

[FL_Rob]

Sure you can,stick your thumb over the drain hole while a buddy replaces the washer and hands it back to you.

 

[znode]

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
Sure you can,stick your thumb over the drain hole while a buddy replaces the washer and hands it back to you.


When the oil is cold!!

 

[Ken2]

Easy to replace the gasket on a cold engine, especially with a helper.

Some of the steel oil pans have such a short threaded area that they are among the easiest to strip...some Hondas for example.

The sealing gaskets can be copper or aluminum or plastic or fiber...all do a good job (not copper on an aluminum sump--too hard). No point trying to save a few pennies and end up with an oil drip. Any auto parts store has an assortment of gaskets. (By the way, a copper gasket is work-hardened in service and can be annealed by heating red hot then dropping into water, just the opposite of annealing steel.)

 

[Drew99GT]

If it's not gushing out, make sure it's good and tight, and leave it be. Then, get a new washer when you change the oil next time.

This has happened to me numerous times.

If you can find one, the super thick heavy duty nylon drain plug washers are the way to go. In my experience, they last the life of a car.

 

[Minou]

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
Sure you can,stick your thumb over the drain hole while a buddy replaces the washer and hands it back to you.


LOL, reminds me last year when stepson changed the oil in his mother's Accent and forgot to put the washer. I noticed a significant dripping within a couple hours and we managed to put the washer back with him putting his finger in the hole and me handing him back the plug cum washer...

 

[Minou]

I have a slight drip. I put a piece of waxed paper underneath the car at work this morning and after a 12 hour sit had probably between 5 and 10 drops of oil on it.

Back home I checked the plug for thightness and gave it a tug or 2 but it was already tight enough. I gave it a few degrees but no more. Don't want to break the plug or strip the threads.

If it continues to drip I'll let her go and will definitely replace the washer next time. With the trip to FL this OCI will be my shortest in years.

Speaking of washers, I have an aluminum one and a copper one with a cut on one side. Which one should I use? I ran copper ones on my 2 previous cars for years without replacing them and had no issues.

My pan is steel.