14 replies to this topic

[Danny-T]

Talk about getting off to a bad start, can anyone tell me what size socket i need for the oil drainage plug? It shouldn't be too hard for me to find as I think I have just about every other size BUT that.

It's in too tight to use an adjustable spanner and none of my others fitted.

Cheers,

Dan

[Retro_10s]

if it's toooooo tight, expect bad news i.e stripped threads when you do get it off. though it's be nice if it all wetn well of course lol!

Bolt size is......... hmmm, 5/16 rings a bell but don't quote me on it.

[Grayedout]

Yes 15/16 !

[Retro_10s]

lol or is it 1/2"???

[fikus01]

15/16" or 24mm in european burocracy language

[dklawson]

15/16 AF. by the way, this (along with the bonnet latch) is a place where most people get their first Mini injuries. It seems to be a universal right of passage to pull on the spanner only to have the bolt brake free allowing your hand to smash into the edge of the front valence. Protect yourself, jack the car up high enough that you can pull the spanner in a nearly vertical orientation.

[Danny-T]

Thanks guys will pop to halfords on my way home from work and pick one up. IF the worst happens and the end sheers off or there is a case of stripped threads, whats the solution?

Cheers,

[Retro_10s]

Then you need to get it Helicoiled, fairly cheap and easy to do, but needs to be done very carefully, and requires tools (sigh) so might not be that cheap actually.

It shuoldn't be stripped, if it comes out, in theory it should go back in (minis don't often adhere well to theory though lol) just be careful when winding it back in. And Don't over tighten the bolt, There is a torwue setrting but i can't remember it or find it! It is one of those things you get a feel for too....

[dklawson]

As a sidebar to this discussion I'd like to suggest an "improvement" I made to my drain at the suggestion of another Mini owner. The Mini uses a large copper washer to seal under the head of the drain plug. There are much nicer solutions out there. Though they shouldn't fit, nylon 14mm drain washers seem to work OK in place of the copper. These require a lot less torque to get a good seal. This is better for the threads in the sump. A friend directed me to a different sealing washer. It's a metal ring with a rubber o-ring bonded to its center. These are the bees-knees. You tighten the drain plug until the head of the bolt snugs up on the metal washer. By the time it's done this, it's squished the rubber ring to give a good seal AND the nature of the rubber keeps the plug from working loose even under very light torque application. If you had the same distributors in the U.K. I'd send you the manufacturer's part number.

[Danny-T]

Do you have an image or reference dklawson?

[pinch]

i think the rubber and copper sump washers may b e used on ford zetec engines? i get them from my local Partco.

[Retro_10s]

would they fit?.... it's a very interesting upgrade, My mini never leaked anyway but,.. if it helps!

[dklawson]

I don't have any pictures of the exact part I'm using but I googled and found the link below that shows the type of drain plug washer I'm using:
http://www.cgenterpr...ubber_metal.htm
The very first one for 14mm should compare to what I'm using. My seal is MotorMite #365269 which is a 14mm seal but I doubt it's available in Europe.

Again, 14mm shouldn't fit. The drain plug is 5/8" which is pretty darn close to 16mm. However, from first-hand experience I can say the 14mm seal from MotorMite DOES fit the Mini drain plug well.

[Pooky]

I've used one of those before and mine still leaked a tiny bit, I've also had PTFE tape or whatever it's called before

[Retro_10s]

then your oiul was either too thin or the bolt wasn't tight enough perhaps or.. the washer was bananad

mine's never leaked from the sump bolt, everywhere else though lol.