Stripped or cross threads on oil plug

The oil plug on our 1995 Honda Civic DX has either stripped or crossed threads. The plug is holding for now, but I need to change the oil. I have a few options:

- I can drain the oil and use a Tap and Die ($50 for a set with a big enough size). I will grease the bit in order to help capture any shavings, re-run the used oil through the system to help cleanse it, and I will also let the filter do its job.
- Buy an oil-plug repair such as this, but it is over $100.
- Take it to an expert.

Has anyone ever worked for a oil change place that has had experience with this issue? Perhaps there is an easier solution. Or, perhaps I should just have the oild change place fix it since they probably encounter it all of the time.

Comments?

Is it stripped or cross threaded?

JB Weld FTW! ::Banana::

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Is it stripped or cross threaded?

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It will hold the plug, but never get very tight.

I see NAPA has oversized drain plugs and something called a PIGGYBACK PLUG?

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Originally Posted by jrj512

It will hold the plug, but never get very tight.

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Sounds stripped.... Oversized drain plug FTW!

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_art...nist/cork2.jpg ;)!!

It's for my Miata, not a Honda, but...instead of a crush washer that Mazda specifies for the oil drain plug, I got a gasket washer. It's basically a washer with an o-ring in the middle. An unintended quality of the part is that it takes up *some* space so that in your case, the plug not going all the way in might be okay.

How about a new oil pan? Those must be easy to source for a 95 civic.

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Originally Posted by Majik

How about a new oil pan? Those must be easy to source for a 95 civic.

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I agree, but replacing it would be a long task.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

I agree, but replacing it would be a long task.

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As the pan is stamped steel I'm not 100% an oversized plug will work on it.

I've replaced the pan on a 94 Civic and it was not that bad a job. The only thing I remember being in the way is the exhaust pipe and once it is out the pan just unbolts. I'm sure the gasket is leaking by now anyway ;) I was replacing the rear main seal anyway so in my case I was already in there.

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Originally Posted by Flyin96M

The only thing I remember being in the way is the exhaust pipe and once it is out the pan just unbolts..

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Thanks. I will take another look at this.

IIRC it was not a hard job to pull an oil pan on a D16 civic. I had to pull mine to tap it for a turbo a long time ago and it should just be many bolts to drop it down.

Yep, it is just the exhaust in the way and it looks like an easy job.

I can get an oil pan with plug and gasket from Rock Auto for $75.

Heck, if Cosmos can do it, then I sure as shit can. ::Banana:: ;)

Thanks!

I had an ARC oil pan on my G35 that had the threads strip. I ended up buying a Fumoto oil drain valve and never worried again after installing it.

You can also check on the Honda forums, i'm sure a local guy would have one for way cheaper than $75.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

Yep, it is just the exhaust in the way and it looks like an easy job.

I can get an oil pan with plug and gasket from Rock Auto for $75.

Heck, if Cosmos can do it, then I sure as shit can. ::Banana:: ;)

Thanks!

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Believe it or not I'm decently mechanically inclined, I'm just lazy as hell. :D

Trade it in.

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Originally Posted by ken o

Trade it in.

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LOL, the Ken o fix for everything ;)

This message string seems to have pretty much played itself out. However, we used to use a product called a Helicoil to repair stripped sparkplug threads in aluminium-alloy cylinder heads. It does involve drilling out the old threads, but with the optical tools available today, I would think it would be possible to look into the oil pan (after the drilling) to check for the presence of shavings and clean them out. Just one more option.

Thanks. I have since replaced the oil pan. It was actually pretty easy on this car. I had to drill a hole to drain the oil because the plug would not screw out!