What to think - oil pan stripped

[steh-fan]

I just got my 2003 V8 4Runner with 174,xxx miles in for an oil change.
While waiting, the shop owner comes to me and told me that the oil pan thread came out together with the oil plug.... (WTF) and now the oil pan needs to be replaced!

He mentioned that this is clearly a sign of the last oil change place (in this case the local Toyota dealer) was overtightening the plug.

When 'confronted' with this, the dealer claims it's a high mileage vehicle and this is normal wear and tear......
Strange though, because I had other high mileage vehicles before and never had a problem with a stripped oil plug or even oil pan.

That sounds more like bad design, but then - there should be more around here, having had this kind of problem.

What are your experiences???

Thanks,
steh-fan

 

[vitamin]

There are fixes short of a replacement pan, some better than others. Time for a second opinion.

 

[mikebontoft]

easiest solution is to get one of those drain plugs that go in the hole and as you tighten it, it expands..

 

[jstutz101]

If you wind up replacing the pan it's not a very big job. The lower oil pan is actually pretty small and easy to get to. Just make sure you replace the oil pan gasket. Mine started to leak and the mechanic I took it to used some kind of sealant instead of a gasket, it leaked of coarse. Did it myself with a gasket and all is well.

 

[MikeInNH]

When 'confronted' with this, the dealer claims it's a high mileage vehicle and this is normal wear and tear......

That's a cop-out. I've NEVER EVER had it happen. The only time I've seen it happen is when someone tightened it too much. This is NOT a moving part. Non-moving parts don't wear out. I can show you an ORIGINAL oil pan nut a vehicle that's 70 years old.

 

[aha2988]

easiest solution is to get one of those drain plugs that go in the hole and as you tighten it, it expands..

^^this it's called a crush plug. It has a bolt that runs through a rubber grommet as you tighten the bolt (it has a nut on the backside that's attached to the rubber so you can spin it without holding the nut) It spreads out the rubber grommet sealing everything off, works great there used a lot in water pumps for a drainage plug and many other application's holding fluids.

 

[TN_4runner]

I don't know how many of your threads broke off in the pan, I had a 3 wheeler back in the day that some of the threads broke off in the oil pan, the plug would never tighten. I would wrap the plug in Teflon tape and hand snug turn and lightly tighten it..I stress "lightly" tighten. It works as I did it for years, never leaked oil or vibrated out. It's a quick and cheap fix that works.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Get a pan saver if you can't replace the pan

 

[03_4x4Runner]

If you wind up replacing the pan it's not a very big job. The lower oil pan is actually pretty small and easy to get to. Just make sure you replace the oil pan gasket. Mine started to leak and the mechanic I took it to used some kind of sealant instead of a gasket, it leaked of coarse. Did it myself with a gasket and all is well.

The V8 uses one big pan, I think you are describing a V6 here.

 

[eli_lilly]

I wonder if it could be tapped out to a larger size plug.

-E

 

[Sungod]

What the dealer is telling you is nonsense. Threads do not strip from normal wear and tear. They strip because their techs are lazy and use and air rachet or worse and impact to install the bolts and over torque it.

 

[bergs]

Completely normal wear and tear for a hack.

 

[steh-fan]

What the dealer is telling you is nonsense. Threads do not strip from normal wear and tear. They strip because their techs are lazy and use and air rachet or worse and impact to install the bolts and over torque it.

Thanks for all the responses!!
I got the whole pan, sealant, plug, etc. replaced at the place I brought it to - not cheap unfortunately - so I'll talk again to the dealer and see how much he can pick up from that bill, especially since the pan was ordered through them.

If I had the car at home, I probably would have gone for some bigger size plug and carefully screwed it in.

Isn't it amazing that such a single small plug can 'ground' your whole vehicle, considering how many parts are typically on one car!

 

[Sungod]

I think I would start by setting him up. With 174K and an average of an oil change every 6K you are looking at removing and installing the bolt 29 times. I would ask him something like if there are any fasteners that wear out after 30 uses. Of course anyone with any sense would say no, then point out that is about the number of times that your oil plug has been taken off and installed. I would then ask for Toyota's suggestion on oil pan replacement frequency. Paint them into a corner and make the accept responsibility.

 

[WillK]

Fumoto

I had the exact same thing happen to me with my car(not T4R).
I had to head out of town quickly due to a family emergency and was due for an oil change.
Against my better judgement, I went to a "quick lube" only to have them suddenly replacemy oil plug. Fast forward to my next oil change, the threads in the pan were completely stripped out.
I ended up getting a larger bolt and rethreading the pan and it's workedso far and that was 18 months ago.

Another option I'm looking at for the T4R is a Fumoto drain plug.

FUMOTO ENGINEERING

 

[jow]

I have seen two over sized self tapping drain plugs at auto stores designed to hold the metal from the tapping. Peace of mind will be an issue, even with a magnet or perpendicular port to catch the metal.

A V6 oil pan attached. I inspect my pan’s threads, after noticing a messy plug before a change (after my 07, 43,000 mi Certified purchase in 2010). No noticeable problems or a mess since with a 25-30 ft lb torque, “that good sealed feel”. This is why I have always changed my oil, to know what’s done and possibly see other needs in advance. My one ramp was raised to get better looks and angle was welded behind the tire as a stop also.

Good Luck!