Stripped or cross threads on oil plug

[jrj512]

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?

[POS Racing]

Is it stripped or cross threaded?

[trickyrix]

JB Weld FTW!

[jrj512]

Is it stripped or cross threaded?

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

[wrx74]

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

[POS Racing]

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

Sounds stripped.... Oversized drain plug FTW!

[wrx74]

!!

[cwisenheimer]

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.

[Majik]

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

[jrj512]

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

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

[Flyin96M]

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

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.

[jrj512]

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

Thanks. I will take another look at this.

[CosmosMpower]

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.

[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.

Thanks!

[waijai]

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.

[waijai]

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

[CosmosMpower]

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.

Thanks!

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

[ken o]

Trade it in.

[CosmosMpower]

Trade it in.

LOL, the Ken o fix for everything

[shortshift]

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.