Stripped Transmission Drain Plug

[Ship Pusher]

Stripped tranny drain plug update

Pulled my transmission drain plug today and found the threads on the plug weren’t exactly stripped but they were starting to rollover. Went to O’Reillys and they didn’t have a listing for the tranny plug...guess our 3rd gens are getting long in the tooth. So I bought a standard M10x1.5 bolt and a copper washer made for brake hoses. The fit was good tho I had to trim the bolt length down a bit.

 

[Malcolm99]

Personally I think people should take into account that the torque values are for dry brand new hardware at max torque for the bolt/application, if you add lubricant or locktite and or reuse hardware the torque value will change and not reflect the max torque advised, and if torqued to spec with lubricant of any type can stretch the bolt or strip the threads. I'm sure many will disagree but in 25 years of working on Japanese vehicles I've never used at torque wrench on any drain plugs and never stripped a bolt or lost a bolt, I just go by feel which I realize is pretty hard to do, or if reusing hardware I never try hit the max torque value suggested.

 

[FD7683]

Personally I think people should take into account that the torque values are for dry brand new hardware at max torque for the bolt/application, if you add lubricant or locktite and or reuse hardware the torque value will change and not reflect the max torque advised, and if torqued to spec with lubricant of any type can stretch the bolt or strip the threads. I'm sure many will disagree but in 25 years of working on Japanese vehicles I've never used at torque wrench on any drain plugs and never stripped a bolt or lost a bolt, I just go by feel which I realize is pretty hard to do, or if reusing hardware I never try hit the max torque value suggested.

Yeah, old hardware is stretched and weakened as it ages. For that, I would replace the drain plug to reassure it doesn't strip.

 

[djh650]

I am the newest member. I don't think I can get the bolt out, would it be okay to drill into the pan to create a hole for letting the fluid out? I already have a replacement pan.

 

[FD7683]

I am the newest member. I don't think I can get the bolt out, would it be okay to drill into the pan to create a hole for letting the fluid out? I already have a replacement pan.

Yeah if you want but be very careful when drilling. Try to drill closest to the stuck bolt but don't put too much pressure on the drill because you can knick the transmission internals up when the drill bit goes through the pan! Personally, I would much rather loosen up all bolts on the pan and drain it like a GM tranny without the drain bolt.

 

[djh650]

Yeah if you want but be very careful when drilling. Try to drill closest to the stuck bolt but don't put too much pressure on the drill because you can knick the transmission internals up when the drill bit goes through the pan! Personally, I would much rather loosen up all bolts on the pan and drain it like a GM tranny without the drain bolt.

Can you go a little more into this process? My initial plan was to take all the bolts off, put a jack under the pan & pray i don't create a mess.

 

[Bad Luck]

I am the newest member. I don't think I can get the bolt out, would it be okay to drill into the pan to create a hole for letting the fluid out? I already have a replacement pan.

If you already have a replacement pan then just separate the transmission dipstick and unbolt the pan. Most vehicles with longitudinal transmissions don't have a drain plug in the transmission pan.

For what it's worth, the drain plug in my transmission pan won't come out and I didn't replace it.