Problem :( My Sump Plug.

[RyanS3TT]

After doing my service on Saturday, I noticed that the sump plug (bolt) wasnt sitting nicely back in the sump, it wouldnt nip up tightly.

It leaked some oil today so i took the bolt out drained all my oil, and now the bolt is less cooperative and i think the threads are getting nackered.

Anybody know what i can do?
Retap?
Get a new Sump?
or even just a new Bung?

Thanks,. Ryan

ASAP answered appreciated as im nownoff the road til its sorted.

 

[mat20vt]

a new sump is about £80 mate, if thats any use

 

[A3Tom]

I'm guessing the sumps alloy so I reckon its had the thread mashed on it due to the plug being a harder material and the threads been crossed. You could try a new sump plug in the first instance but it might be a case of fitting a new sump.

I had the same problem on a mini years ago, its a pain in the ***.

T

 

[S3 chj]

had the same prob my self a couple of months ago as a temp i used chemical metal over it, still you need a new sump

 

[Caesium]

You could fit a helicoil, or try tapping the thread back out. Changing the sump is not an easy thing to so on most cars

 

[RyanS3TT]

Whats a Helicoil?

You could fit a helicoil, or try tapping the thread back out. Changing the sump is not an easy thing to so on most cars

 

[ash_pearce]

Whats a Helicoil?

http://www.emhart.com/products/helicoil.asp

 

[S3-Andy]

a wire metal thread insert, usualy used to repair threads or in some cases strengthen, you have to drill and re-tap the sump with a speacial tap usualy can be supplied with the helicoils, once drilled and taped screw in the insert, refit your sump plug, i dare say it will be better and stronger than your original thread mate, sorry if my explanation is a bit vague but honest its easy,

 

[S3-Andy]

beaten to it!!:icon_thumright:

 

[ash_pearce]

beaten to it!!:icon_thumright:

only just, good explanation tho!

found this an flee bay,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-AUDI-1-8T-ALLOY-SUMP-1999-GOLF-TURBO-GTI_W0QQitemZ140306442956QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item140306442956&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

 

[RyanS3TT]

I saw that on ebay, but i can wait that long, im gonna do the heli coil idea as that means that the alli sump will never be used again as the bolt uses the heli to tightenup. im surprised that the whole sump is alli.

Thanks for the help guys.

Anyone kow how easy/hard removing the sump is? as tahts the way i wanna do it.

 

[RyanS3TT]

any1 know what sizes to retap for the heli?

 

[Broken Byzan]

The sump is dead easy to remove on the A3, its there staring at you when you look under the car.
A tube of sealer and one of those sumps will see it done properly

 

[RyanS3TT]

Im gna retap my sump and put it bk on.

I was wondering how its fixed on i.e bolts? loads of 10mms im thikning :/

 

[Caesium]

Mate sure the mating faces are dead clean and tighten the sump bolts in the correct order to avoid twisting the pan. Don't be tempted to squeeze loads of sealant on the faces though, it can ooze out inside the sump, then break off into balls and block up the oil pickup strainer, I have seen it happen.

 

[Imteyaz]

Shedloads of 10mm nuts, see if you can get hold of a 1/4" drive extension and socket, it will be easier to get at the fiddlybolts on the gearbox side, and as they don't weigh as much, it's easier on the arms too.

I would recommend an engineering firm to get it helicoiled, they are used to doing jobs like this so would take them 15 minutes and they are likely to have the helicoils in stock too. Just make sure that there is no swarf in the sump before you refit it from drilling the sump threads out as you'll be looking at a new engine otherwise!

 

[AS3TOM]

could always use PTFE tape as a tempory measure, better than risking the use of sealent too!

 

[pema]

Just bought an -99 A3, found same problem when I was about to change oil.

Would it be possible using a ignition-plug thread inserts ? There is several repair kits available with a threading tap and steel inserts.

Anyone knows the dimensions of the original oil plug ?

 

[abdus]

 

[god_thats_quick]

Some of the sump bolts at the gearbox end are right fiddley ******** on the S3, well they were on mine anyway. I'd say use a helicoil and do it on the car if you want a quick / good fix.

A very well known tuning company used too much of that sealent stuff on my car when they rebuilt the engine as I discovered when I knocked a hole in the sump and took it off, was pretty pleased none of it had broken off inside to be honest!

 

[Shifty]

Get someone toHelicoil it for you, had the same problem on my S3...Paid £35

 

[Jimmybuckrogers]

I do like the idea of taking the sump off and cleaning out all the crap in there, someone on here said they did it and the oil was still golden a year later.

 

[pema]

as most spark plugs. Im heading off buying one of those repair kits for spark plugs, its only about 8us$ (half kilo bananas in gbp).