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Help Needed - Cross Threaded Oil Drain Plug 2022 L5P

6.7K views 40 replies 21 participants last post by  Sandpiper John  
#1 ·
I've been changing the oil in my trucks for the past 20 years without issue. Leaving for a trip in couple of days so I went to change the oil in my truck and was immediately surprised with the fact that my drain plug was very difficult to remove, I knew something was wrong and after it came out I saw that the threads were messed up. I have 10K on the truck and I had let the dealer do the first oil change at 5K, looks like that was a mistake, now I know why I always do it myself. I'm thinking the tech cross threaded it when putting it back in.

Being as I'm leaving for a trip I had no choice but to put it back in, it reluctantly went in and I had to really tighten it down so that it wouldn't leak. My question is what are my choices once I get back to correct this situation ? Thanks in advance.
 
#6 ·
Buy a thread chaser of the correct size/diameter and very carefully insert it straight and freshen the original thread path. If successful, buy a new oil pan bolt, original size. There are oversize oil pan bolts that are just a hair tighter that may be helpful if you can't get the original threads restored. A Fumoto valve is a great idea if you can thread it in and it doesn't leak thru the threads. Maybe even use some sealer on the threads if the first try leaks. I've had one for 10 years and never a problem. Carefully follow Fumoto's instructions for tightening the device. This is what they tell you:
Warning: We don't recommend using the torque value you may find on your owner's manual because it often results in over-torquing and destroying our product.
 
#9 ·
Fumoto's on everything I've ever owned or managed.

To the OP, Ron's advice is spot on and is your best bet (other than replacing the pan).

To anyone buying a Fumoto, make sure you get the right one. A lot of resellers were showing the same ones for newer and older Duramax's (they aren't).
 
#10 ·
Thanks Guys, appreciate the suggestions. For now I'm just going to leave it alone until after my trip, I drove it around today and it is dry, no leaks. I already ordered a new PPE plug, the GM OEM plug seems to be really soft and the head started to round as soon as I put some pressure on it to tighten it up. Hopefully the threads in the pan aren't too messed up and maybe I can just clean them up a little with the proper size tap which seems to be a M12 x 1.75. I guess I won't know much until I try backing it out. I guess one other option being as it's in so tight now with no leaks would be to suck the oil out through the dip stick when I want to do oil changes, I do that now all the time with my boat engines. Another option would be to bring it into the dealer for an oil change and let them deal with it but that's how I ended up in this predicament I'm in now so I don't trust what they might do.
 
#13 ·
If you are concerned about the damaged thread allowing the drain plug to work out you could slap a was of Grey RTV over it. Maybe a lump a little smaller than a golf ball. That is some stick chit and it sets up harder than the other RTV colors. It will come off late but you will have to work at it and the plug could not come out.
 
#27 ·
take it back to the dealer. let them deal with it.
they will probably say you did it because you attempted to remove the plug.

may be better off having them do an oil change, and dealing with what they find.

which will no doubt include bubble gum and duct tape.
 
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#29 ·
An an alternative to the fumoto valve, here's what I use on my 2019:

 
#33 ·
May already know this. I would recommend putting a liberal amount of grease on the thread chaser to trap any metal filings that might be liberated during the operation. Then clean the threaded area up and inspect with a strong light. Maybe overkill - you could also add a quart of oil to let it flow out the drain to clear any chips that may remain.
 
#35 ·
Try the calm polite approach before going all 'Kevin' on them...

Catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Who knows, the service manager may be looking for a reason to terminate an employee.
There is often more to the story.
 
#36 ·
<SIGH>
Yet another story of an idiot with the title of 'Technician' who lacks the most fundamental mechanical knowledge.
The only way a drain plug can get cross threaded is if it is not first turned in by hand.
So the idiot put the drain plug on a power tool of some sort and then punched 'GO' rather than first threading by hand.
Now ask yourself this question - "how can I trust a business that hires idiots to do any type of work on my vehicle?".
The answer is - "you can't, because there is no way for you to determine if the next 'Tech' to work on your vehicle is an idiot or a competent mechanic".

My approach with the dealer would be to get them to give me a new oil pan and plug.
They may balk at giving you a new pan, but in your defense, there is no way they can guarantee the original pan is not compromised in some way because your oil pan was subjected to the unknown actions of an idiot with a power tool.
But this should be an easy negotiation since the dealer pays wholesale for the parts.
If you are able, replace the pan yourself.
If you are not able, have a reputable repair shop install the new pan for you.

Just because a business offers something for 'free' (e.g. free oil changes) doesn't mean it is a good deal for you. Dealers provide 'free' oil changes to get you in the habit of using the dealership for service. You on the other hand have an entirely different equation of risk vs. reward than the dealer. For that reason, I would never use a dealer or a quick lube place to change fluids on my vehicles.
 
#37 ·
While I fully agree that the drain plug was probably just ran in with an impact driver, you have to ask yourself if that guy is the same guy that would remove and install parts on an engine. I imagine the window licker on the grease rack is probably not going to be the guy that installs a new oil pan. Just my opinion. I just can't imagine any true mechanic that would cross thread a drain plug.
 
#41 ·
Update......I took my truck back to the dealership when I returned from my vacation. I explained the situation and much to my surprise they had no problem with me going out into the shop with their mechanic to see what was going on with the drain plug. As I suspected the tech needed to use a breaker bar to get the plug out, I really tightened it up when I installed it due to the fact that it was cross threaded. After it was removed you could see that the cheap OEM plug threads were all messed up. Luckily for me due to how soft the metal was on the OEM plug it sustained most of the damage and the threads in the pan looked pretty good. He then just ran a tap into the pan by hand just to make sure the threads were good. He then took a new plug and it threaded into the pan by hand with no problem. Just to make sure no metal shavings got into the pan from the tap he poured a gallon of oil into the engine and let it drain, re-installed the plug, filled the engine with oil and I was good to go. So thankfully all ended well for both of us.