Is this safe...?

[benmanc]

I did a service a few months ago and since then I have had a slow oil leak/drip coming from the sump plug.

Maybe I tightened the plug too much or maybe too little or maybe washer is at fault who knows.

Its pissing me off now.

Anyway my question is if it is the thread i stripped a tiny bit off.. Could I get away with using some thread sealent tape? Or is that pretty stupid idea?


I bought a new sump but managed to start to strip one of the gearbox bolts because of using a 12pt socket and then managed to snap the end of a ball end allen key into it.

I really dont want to go down the whole gearbox off route. Although not put a 6pt socket onto it yet. But dont want to mess with it any more.

So might take the sump back and see if getting a new plug works and then trying the sealer tape if its still doing it?

[rio_gti]

Can you not get it helicoiled?

If you have stripped the thread my worry would be the plug coming out... Ptfe tape may work thou but surely for piece of mind it needs to be sorted properly?!!

I stripped the threads of mine once so I used jb weld and it didn't leak or come off, but then at next oil change I managed to change the sump

[MoMartin]

i tried ptfe tape on mine when i did it, and it made it worse, much worse. It went from a slow drip or 2 every few hours to a drip every few minutes.

My sump was already helicoiled, which was probably the problem, but you can get brand new sumps for 40ish online so i wouldn't bother with helicoiling.

[benmanc]

I am not sure if the thread is nackered, the sump seems tight its not spinning or anything

[benmanc]

i tried ptfe tape on mine when i did it, and it made it worse, much worse. It went from a slow drip or 2 every few hours to a drip every few minutes.

My sump was already helicoiled, which was probably the problem, but you can get brand new sumps for 40ish online so i wouldn't bother with helicoiling.

I have a sump, paid £55. but the problem is that

1- I dont want to change it and spend almost £70 doing so if not needed
2- the change will likely mean I have to drill out the f**ked bolt so gearbox off job and will be an expensive garage job

[rio_gti]

Try a new sump plug or a copper washer for starters

[MoMartin]

i tried ptfe tape on mine when i did it, and it made it worse, much worse. It went from a slow drip or 2 every few hours to a drip every few minutes.

My sump was already helicoiled, which was probably the problem, but you can get brand new sumps for 40ish online so i wouldn't bother with helicoiling.

I have a sump, paid £55. but the problem is that

1- I dont want to change it and spend almost £70 doing so if not needed
2- the change will likely mean I have to drill out the f**ked bolt so gearbox off job and will be an expensive garage job

ah sorry, skipped reading that bit, and as rio said, try a new sump plug / washer first. I tried that but it was an actual thread problem for me.

[northeast_gti-t]

Even if you try a new sump plug & washer if the threads no good and stripped this won't help solve the fault i have the same problem with mine  i'll either replace the sump or look at helicoiling it

[Wayne]

Look to get it helicoiled asap as it needs to be secure.

[Dalo Harkin]

Mine did this also, it can be a pain, I bought a new sump and fitted that and I am going to helicoil the old one for a spare