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ms6615
Novice
Dec 16, 2013, 2:58 PM
Post #1 of 10
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oil pan plug broke
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I was changing the oil on my 1999 Chrysler Concorde 3.2L and the plug iteself broke when the seal was broken. It doesn't look like any plug I've ever seen, I've only ever seen them as bolts with gaskets, but this one has a long thin shaft that goes into the pan and a small thing on that shaft with a pin on either side to hold it in. Well it seems as though one of those pins broke off and now it won't stay inside the opening.
I looked on every auto parts site I can find online for a replacement, but nothing looks even remotely like it, all the replacements are normal bolts with gaskets. I'm thinking the original threads may have been stripped in the past and this part was a workaround?
I've linked a couple photos of the broken part. Any suggestions on what to do now? It's kind of hard to drive around with no oil :/
https://24.media.tumblr.com/24c86651edc7ee6ed5037fa226e895c9/tumblr_mxx63jdU4D1t3u96vo1_1280.jpg
https://24.media.tumblr.com/1e224d6f2c7bc481ce1abf844237226a/tumblr_mxx63jdU4D1t3u96vo2_1280.jpg
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GC
User
Dec 16, 2013, 3:02 PM
Post #2 of 10
(2130 views)
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Re: oil pan plug broke
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Yeah those horrible things get put in when threads strip. There is more to the inside portion, though. More than likely sitting on the bottom of your oil pan. If it were me, Id drop the pan and get it out of there and put a new pan on with proper threads and proper drain plug.
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Willing to help, willing to learn... Rob
(This post was edited by goiserclause on Dec 16, 2013, 3:04 PM)
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ms6615
Novice
Dec 16, 2013, 3:05 PM
Post #3 of 10
(2125 views)
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Re: oil pan plug broke
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ugh that's exactly what i was afraid of hearing. guess i better order it with express shipping
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GC
User
Dec 16, 2013, 3:08 PM
Post #4 of 10
(2123 views)
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Re: oil pan plug broke
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One of the veterans here might have some input yet.
____________________________________________________
Willing to help, willing to learn... Rob
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ms6615
Novice
Dec 16, 2013, 3:19 PM
Post #5 of 10
(2117 views)
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Re: oil pan plug broke
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I'm hoping so.
So far I've not had luck finding anyone who stocks an oil pan for the 3.2L, so I may have to just put in another of these annoying plugs, even if it's just temporary until I find a replacement pan or realize that the car isn't worth keeping around anymore. It's got almost 250k miles and the transmission is starting to go, so I'm really not looking to get much more life out of it no matter what I do.
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GC
User
Dec 16, 2013, 3:23 PM
Post #6 of 10
(2115 views)
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Re: oil pan plug broke
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There is more than likely a metal wing in your oil pan. Maybe more. Taking a chance leaving junk in there.
____________________________________________________
Willing to help, willing to learn... Rob
(This post was edited by goiserclause on Dec 16, 2013, 3:31 PM)
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Dec 16, 2013, 3:34 PM
Post #7 of 10
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Re: oil pan plug broke
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Yea we see the lube shop using these thing after they strip out the pan threads.
Picture those wall anchors for hanging pictures in your house; the ones that have a wing that spreads out as to tighten them in.
Well those wings are now laying in the bottom of the pan. They will likely never harm anything in there; but it is a bit of a crap shoot.
You could try fishing it out of there with a piece of wire or small magnet; it might be worth a try?
When I'm dealing with a striped aluminum oil pan plug hole, I usually use an over sized self tapping drain plug. You can get them in different 1/2 sizes depending on how large the hole has been striped out.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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ms6615
Novice
Dec 16, 2013, 4:04 PM
Post #8 of 10
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Re: oil pan plug broke
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Thanks! I never would have thought of that. I'll try that and if it doesn't work I can always use another one of these things that was in there before. It's not the best solution but as I said before it doesn't look like replacing the whole pan is going to be worth the money or effort at this point in the car's life.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 16, 2013, 4:59 PM
Post #9 of 10
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Re: oil pan plug broke
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The labor to replace the pan is less than an hour and a half. That's a whole lot cheaper than losing an engine if that plug leaks.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Dec 16, 2013, 11:24 PM
Post #10 of 10
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Re: oil pan plug broke
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If this has been stripped badly enough by oversize plugs previously, you can use a spark plug thread repair kit to fit the pan. You'd need to buy a M14x1.25 drain plug and the gasket for it. As previously mentioned the pan needs to come out, as there is metal in it that can and will wreck your motor. While you have it out use the spark plug kit to place a steel threaded insert in the hole. You will need a drill bit of the size called for in the kit and a small bit of red Loctite to put on the outer threads of the insert. Wait 3 hours or more before reinstalling the pan to allow the loctite to set up. I fixed an Intrepid like this once and they issue was from idiots at cheap lube shops who think drain plugs and lugnuts both go on with impacts. The Intrepid pan I did about 2 years ago, and I see the just serviced it last month so the repair has held well.
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