Rant about drain plugs

[grayman_TT]

So I decided to change my transmission fluid this past weekend. Got the car up in the air, went to loosen the drain plug and I had to do this:



Why, just why would the last individual tighten the plug to that degree that it required 42" to loosen it. The fill plug was no better, I had to put a snipe on my breaker bar to crack that one loose as well.

These do not require a nut busting effort to tighten them down. A little thread sealant, go till its tight then a touch more.

End rant.

[centralcoaster33]

Ha, I second this rant! I just drained and filled my transmission and my differential in the 240sx. Breaker bars with PVC extensions. The drain plugs weren't that bad, but the fill plugs, especially the one on the differential were apparently thread locked and then spot welded on! Then there's the fun in having a fill plug on the side... Now I own a slick oil transfer pump! Oh, at first I was disappointed that my transmission drain plug did not have a magnet... found it in the fill plug though.

BTW - 'a touch more' measures 18-25 Ft-lbs with a torque wrench. Sealant is optional also, imho.

[DCaff300ZX]

Funny, and agreed...too many people think tighter means more sealed when often that really isn't the case, and results in busted knuckles and extra effort to do the work again later. Snug and then a bump has always been my rule, and oil filter/drain plug are both barely more than snug tight and neither drips a drop.