MX5Ireland

Hi,

last time I did a oil service I noticed the sump plug thread was damaged from another service. Was not me anyways for once, I have my suspicions of one dodgy garage that I got it serviced in before. Anyways half a hexcoil came out of the sump, being a sunday night and needing to get going for work, I managed to get the sump nut to thread back in and half forgot about it since. My car is in storage right now and looks to have lost about 1L of oil through the sump plug.

Whats the best was around this ?? insert a new hex coil or dril and retread a size or tow up ??? what size do people recommend ?

https://ige.ie/114pc-oil-pan-thread-repair-kit/
Something like this might sort it out, how hard Is it to swap the sump I wonder

The first thing that comes to mind is as Pops mentioned, the sump itself - replacing the sump pan is probably the best fix. Although a helicoil done properly would probably be fine too.

im pretty sure thats an engine out job

notch000 wrote:im pretty sure thats an engine out job

Apparently it can be done in place but the subframe and an amount of other bits require removal. Either way, it's a pain by all accounts. Maybe that sump plug repair kit is the way to go !

Personally do not like to use helicoils on drain plugs, nor do I like to drill / tap sump (hard not to get metal filings into sump and potential for damage etc).
When I found myself in a similar position previously (where could not remove sump easily) then best to weld a nut on the outside as a whole lot less risky.

How does welding a nut on help ??

Welding a nut on the outside of the sump - onto, and centred to, the hole where the drain plug normally fits - allows you to create a new area with already present threads to fit the drain plug without having to:
a) remove sump (which would be preferred solution to either drill and tap new oversized hole for bigger drain plug, or replace altogether with a new sump)
b) no drilling / tapping with the risk of filings falling inward into the sump with the risk of going through the engine and doing damage

... end result is risk free... and if tidied up a bit with a grinder and a bit of black from a rattle can you'd be hard pushed to notice it.

That makes sense and sounds like a good idea.

sorry I get you now, This sounds like a great idea
cheers