8 replies to this topic

[JayKay]

So I changed the oil for the first time since I've owned my mini today. When I took off the sump plug it wasn't even finger tight and was had PTFE tape and blue thread sealant on the threads. Also there were two very thin old looking copper washers on it. I drained the oil and replaced the plug with a new proper size washer and nipped it up to the correct torque. It didn't seem to be stripped of threads or anything and it doesn't seem to be leaking now at all after a good run. My question is what was the purpose of doing it that way by the previous owner's garage. It had been serviced in a garage that knows about minis before as I have receipts. Also the car has always been serviced with the best quality parts and millers or valvoline oil etc, it seems funny to scrimp on a copper washer or is there another reason it was done?

[ukcooper]

last owner did not want to pay to fix it

garage did not want to admit to messing up

last ower did not have the skill set to fix it

last owner was a cowboy and thought a bodge was a proper fix

they meant to fix it but never did as it held up or had no where to fix it 

 

Beware of other fixes on the car

[jime17]

Maybe a small section of gearbox case thread came out with the plug bolt and Garage did what they did as a precautionary measure and loose as possible to avoid further damage hence the thread lock.


I'd just heat the washer red hot to anneal it, torque it as minimally as possible to stop leaks and see how long I could get away with it. It could last years like that.

Edited by jime17, 24 February 2019 - 06:38 PM.

[TheFabMini]

Some people are just more natural bodge it type mechanics... if it wasn’t leaking with the tape and sealant and isn’t leaking now... no harm done... not a pretty way of doing things but it’s like people who spend all day detailing their cars with paint brushes and ceramic coating vs people who just use a bucket, sponge and some shampoo... both give you a clean car it just depends on what lever of clean you want

[JayKay]

Yeah it's a strange one. I went over the car with a fine tooth comb before I purchased it. Everything else has been kept to a high standard and no other bodges or apparent dodgy fixes. The car is 1994 Irish registered from new mini 35 and still has original panels and sills with little to no rust when I bought it. I've bought many cars over the years and know a good one from a bad one. It just has me puzzled. I can only assume the mechanic in question was too lazy to put on a new washer and just did that instead. Anyway the cars now full of nice new oil with no leak and good oil pressure so happy days I guess.

Edited by JayKay, 24 February 2019 - 06:53 PM.

[jime17]

I've found over the years that the things I think look worth worrying about seldom are.... It's the ones I miss that end up the biggest problems.

[JayKay]

I've found over the years that the things I think look worth worrying about seldom are.... It's the ones I miss that end up the biggest problems.

Very true that. On a side note I can't get over how little rust there is in this car compared to my previous 2000 registered Classic Mini Cooper MPI!! I purchased that in 2011 and it was shameful how rusty it was!

[jime17]

I've found over the years that the things I think look worth worrying about seldom are.... It's the ones I miss that end up the biggest problems.

Very true that. On a side note I can't get over how little rust there is in this car compared to my previous 2000 registered Classic Mini Cooper MPI!! I purchased that in 2011 and it was shameful how rusty it was!

No rust? Now you're just rubbing it in!

[SolarB]

I wrap PTFE tape around the sump plug on my car. 6 months after a full restoration which included a rebuilt gearbox the sump plug started to give just as I was torquing it up. You know the feeling, when threads are just starting to let go? I didn't have the time or tool to fit a thread insert so I wrapped PTFE tape and have been applying it ever since.

Perhaps a copper washer was the best (cheapest?) way to seal a sump plug in the late 50's, but it's not the only way to keep oil in the engine.