Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: JesterRT on 11 August 2008, 23:40:59
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Covered here before, I'm sure, but I'm at the point where I'm thinking of getting the oil sump helicoiled.
It gets worse every time I change the oil now and I barely get the plug tight now, PTFE tape doesn't do the trick any more and I'm getting oil on the drive and I can tell exactly which space I use at work too so I can't imagine their that impressed with the state of their block paving :)
Anyway, my question, for anyone that's used them before, is how difficult is it? I get the idea, that you basically drill out, tap a new thread, wind in the helicoil, but the bit I'm worried about is snapping the tang off. I presume it'll end up rattling around inside the sump? Or is there a way to get it to snap off and fall to it's freedom down the hole?
I've heard nightmare stories of the tang being broken off inside the sump and being sucked into the oil pump and starving the engine of oil etc.
Anyway, MOT time in the next couple of weeks - got to fix the horn (damn thing stopped working just before the weekend, and I miss it ;D)
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I've found that Helicoils are only OK if it's used for something that'll be screwed in once & then left in, your sump plug will be in and out quite frequently, & a Helicoil will tend to come unscrewed with use. I'd be inclined to find another larger sump plug from A N Other car and tap you sump out to suit it.
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I thought about that and considered getting one of these:
http://www.sumpplugs.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=8
So I would only need to screw it in once. Hopefully.
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So I would only need to screw it in once. Hopefully.
Never actually seen one, but they look OK. As they do different sizes you won't need a Helicoil, just tap out to the next size up from yours.
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For tractor, helicoil is best option, as the sump is made from monkey metal - thanks BMW, bloody idiots.
My tractor sump is helicoiled, as no matter how often I retapped, it never lasted.
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I thought about that and considered getting one of these:
http://www.sumpplugs.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=8
So I would only need to screw it in once. Hopefully.
Tried that. Hangs too low. Catches on bumpy road at 80mph, game over, towed home after leaving a 6.5l slick over Northamptonshire's rural roads :-[
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It is the thread on the 'sump plug' which tends to wear out first, for a few £ try a new one.
regards
richard a
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It is the thread on the 'sump plug' which tends to wear out first, for a few £ try a new one.
regards
richard a
Oooohhhhh nnnoooooooo! Not on a tractor!
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Helicoils work best when you've got a lot of metal to hold the coil itself.
Retapping really isn't the answer unless you are going to get a bigger sump plug made, as the thread will already be stripped.
If I was going to be forced to use a threaded insert i'd use a tappex or similar as at least if it strips you can easy -out it back out of the fitting, and refit another, or alternatively refit a widebody insert designed to fit in the new hole made by a stripped unit.
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With the endless sump stripping my tractor suffered (across 2 engines), I can only say that helicoil was the solution. And the helicoil held together when when I lost the 'quickdrain' sump plug when I bottomed it out at 80mpg.
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..... bottomed it out at 80mpg.
I wish mine did 80 to the gallon! ::) ;D ;D
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..... bottomed it out at 80mpg.
I wish mine did 80 to the gallon! ::) ;D ;D
Well, it was a tractor ;)
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a heliciol is stronger than the original thread in my opion espically when going in to alloy ! i have used them many a time ! :y
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a heliciol is stronger than the original thread in my opion espically when going in to alloy ! i have used them many a time ! :y
I agree that an insert of some description when threading into soft ally is better than threading directly into it, but, Helicoils do tend to wind back out again. A thread insert likehttp://www.timesert.com/ is far better as the new thread is a solid insert.
I have another link to another similar product at home but as I'm now at work ...... ;) :y
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Over 30 years as a heavy vehicle fitter and I used them regularly once they became common. I have known one to fail if it was installed correctly with the correct tool. To ensure that it remains in place I used to add a drop of Loctite threadtite then lett it cure before use.
Just do it matey, you will have no problem I am sure.
Ray
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I also lost a drain plug on a yump.
Now I just use Pela pump out. It sucks out the oil while I change the filter. No need to go under car at all.
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I also lost a drain plug on a yump.
Now I just use Pela pump out. It sucks out the oil while I change the filter. No need to go under car at all.
It does it good to drain, esp as the BMW diesel sufferes from the 'black death' to reduce the sludge build up.... ....actually, wonder if that is contributing to your overheating :-/
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With the endless sump stripping my tractor suffered (across 2 engines), I can only say that helicoil was the solution. And the helicoil held together when when I lost the 'quickdrain' sump plug when I bottomed it out at 80mpg.
put your plastic sumpguard back on it. you also get better airflow to radiator.
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my now retired 1994 2.5td has had a helicoil fitted for 9 years it has done 351000 miles and had oil changed every 3000-3500miles dont know what mileage was when helicoil fitted as it was dad's car back then
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With the endless sump stripping my tractor suffered (across 2 engines), I can only say that helicoil was the solution. And the helicoil held together when when I lost the 'quickdrain' sump plug when I bottomed it out at 80mpg.
put your plastic sumpguard back on it. you also get better airflow to radiator.
No cooling issues with mine ;)
The quickdrain I had hung down about an inch lower than sump - it was only a matter of time ::)
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Still amazed it actually got you home!
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Still amazed it actually got you home!
From Mark's? Dual carriageway/motorway all the way, so no chance of catching it there....
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Still amazed it actually got you home!
From Mark's? Dual carriageway/motorway all the way, so no chance of catching it there....
The lanes near your house are enough surely! all thos little roundabouts ;D
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Actually, drove passed the layby, can still see the oil slick... :-[
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t does it good to drain, esp as the BMW diesel sufferes from the 'black death' to reduce the sludge build up.... ....actually, wonder if that is contributing to your overheating
You may well be right!! But with the fans running ,the top of the rad is cold to touch. Bottom is hot. I left the vicous off, I dont think it was working.. I guess I may have to get another rad to try , but I'm not looking forward to tampering with the tranny cooler.
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t does it good to drain, esp as the BMW diesel sufferes from the 'black death' to reduce the sludge build up.... ....actually, wonder if that is contributing to your overheating
You may well be right!! But with the fans running ,the top of the rad is cold to touch. Bottom is hot. I left the vicous off, I dont think it was working.. I guess I may have to get another rad to try , but I'm not looking forward to tampering with the tranny cooler.
ATF cooler is not a problem to be honest, just get some replacement copper washers, which should prevent leaks once done.
You'll probably lose a cupful or 2 of atf, so need to redo level afterwards...