Car Oil Leaking

[oogabooga]

Just changed my oil, and the oil is now leaking, from apparently the drain plug?

I used a wrench/socket and tightened it down pretty good, but i think it's still leaking, not very quickly but it is leaking none the less. The filter was also replaced with a wrench...
When i pulled the drainplug out i noticed the black ring around it was slightly damaged, not sure if this matters?

I drive a 1993 G20 (p10 model) and used 10w-30 oil for the change. Not really sure what to do, thoughts? Is this normal, or ruhroh?

 

[jtusa]

Originally posted by: oogabooga
Just changed my oil, and the oil is now leaking, from apparently the drain plug?

I used a wrench/socket and tightened it down pretty good, but i think it's still leaking, not very quickly but it is leaking none the less. The filter was also replaced with a wrench...
When i pulled the drainplug out i noticed the black ring around it was slightly damaged, not sure if this matters?

I drive a 1993 G20 (p10 model) and used 10w-30 oil for the change. Not really sure what to do, thoughts? Is this normal, or ruhroh?

I believe that's your problem.

 

[oogabooga]

the thing is it wasn't leaking prior, and the ring had alread been damaged when i took it off...

 

[jtusa]

Try replacing that gasket/grommet anyways and see if it fixes it. It's only going to cost a buck or two if even that.

 

[XZeroII]

Did you cross thread it?

 

[oogabooga]

I'm assuming Kragen has them, and this would mean i need to drain the oil again?
It was a 15mm drainplug i believe.

If i do get a gasket and drain the oil, is it safe to put back into the motor, or is it wiser to just trash it?

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: oogabooga
the thing is it wasn't leaking prior, and the ring had alread been damaged when i took it off...

It sounds like when you put it back on, you probably damaged it more by overtightening it. You can get a replacement gasket at any autozone/kragens parts store.

 

[oogabooga]

so likely it is the gasket, damn, was hoping it wasn't that...

 

[welst10]

replace the washer ever time you change oil to prevent leak and damage to oil pan. I am surprised many ppl didnt know that.

 

[Eli]

Uh, hello? This isn't rocket science. You said the gasket was damaged.

Replace it.

DO NOT pour the oil back into the engine unless you can drain it into a sparkling clean container.

A better idea is to use it as a crude engine flush. As long as it's only a few drops per hour, drive it for 40 or 50 miles, and then re-drain your oil.

 

[oogabooga]

hrmm, alright, going to try to get to kragens as soon as i can for the gasket, i'm just waiting for one of my roommates to get home

Five bucks (price quoted by kragen over phone) for the drain plug bolt and gasket? *scratched head* i guess?

 

[thedarkwolf]

Unless its leaking bad I'd just forget about it till the next oil change, keep an eye on the oil level though. I wouldn't want to waste all the oil thats already in it. A little oil leak isn't going to hurt anything. Just think of it as under body rust protection.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: welst10
replace the washer ever time you change oil to prevent leak and damage to oil pan. I am surprised many ppl didnt know that.

Yeah. I even replaced my plug the last time cause i thought the threads were damaged. For less then $.50 each its cheap insurance.

 

[imported_Condor]

You DO NOT have to drain the oil to pull the plug. Attach a vacuum cleaner to the oil fill and turn it on. The vacuum will keep the oil in while you change the plug. I have seen this done at Jiffy Lube and was amazed that it worked. I would put a pan under the oil drain just in case. I hope this helps. I joined this forum just to tell you this.

 

[Childs]

Originally posted by: oogabooga
hrmm, alright, going to try to get to kragens as soon as i can for the gasket, i'm just waiting for one of my roommates to get home

Five bucks (price quoted by kragen over phone) for the drain plug bolt and gasket? *scratched head* i guess?

If you are going to get a new plug you should get that Fram drain plug thingy. That way you dont have to take off the plug anymore, just attach a hose and drain it that way.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Originally posted by: Condor
You DO NOT have to drain the oil to pull the plug. Attach a vacuum cleaner to the oil fill and turn it on. The vacuum will keep the oil in while you change the plug. I have seen this done at Jiffy Lube and was amazed that it worked. I would put a pan under the oil drain just in case. I hope this helps. I joined this forum just to tell you this.

Hm? Video tape that. I wanna see.

I just changed my oil last night. My Honda uses these aluminum (one time use) crush washers. I bought a handful for like $0.20 each when I bought a bunch of OEM filters.

I re-used this thick (about 1.5 times as thick as a quarter) copper washer on my Chevy S10 for like six years. The shape never changed, and it never leaked. If it had, though, I would have replaced it. Makes sense, huh?

 

[oogabooga]

thanks for all the info, The guy at kragens just gave me the bolt and four more quarts of oil to use so i figured meh, why not. Apparently forwhatever reason he felt bad i had to come back, i'm not sure why, i didn't ask him for any help.

Lesson learned, i'll change that black washer every time now, and if i ever need to just mess with the plug, i'll use a vacuum to hold the oil in, i'm tempted to go out and try it right now, but i've spent enough time playing with my oil for now.

Thanks everyone, cheers for all.