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[Marks DTM Calib]

No loctite used on the sump plug.

Never had one unscrew either, its probably very dependent on the quality of the helicoil.

Either way a helicoil is more than strong enough (much stronger than the original tapped casting), much cheaper to do, can be done in situ and is reliable.

[Andy H]

Getting a good clean dry thread seems to be the key, followed by turning the tool backwards to get the coil to bite before snapping the tang off neatly.

I imagine that the tang will drop down in the plug hole if the supplied tool is used to snap it off  (so thin nosed pliers for the last bit then.....)

[Andy B]

....
 can be done in situ and is reliable.

and soooooo reliable, that Time Sert do an over size kit for use after a Helicoil has failed ......

NOTE: If the hole was previously REPAIRED with Helicoil or save-a-thread style insert.
Use our BIG-SERT for oversized spark plug repairs click here:

http://www.timesert.com/html/sparkplug.html

 
 http://www.timesert.com/html/bigsert_sparkplug.html   

If a Helicoil can be done in situ, I can't see any reason why a Time Sert shouldn't be done in situ either 

[hoody]

If people are afraid of Helicoils may i suggest they stay away from airplanes

[Andy B]

If people are afraid of Helicoils may i suggest they stay away from airplanes

never said I was afraid ... just said that there's better on the market now. ie a one piece solid thread insert rather than a coil of thread that's able to unwind from the hole it's threaded into. 

[feeutfo]

Does the success of one of these depend on the amount, or qulaity, of material left to screw it into...?

Rather than the quality of whatever product is used..?

[Andy B]

Does the success of one of these  .....

Helicoil or Time sert  ......... 

[jibberwobble]

If helicoils are fitted correctly they should be good. Most of the problematic ones I've dealt with were not seated properly in the first place. IMHO if you get a helicoil put in by your average mechanic that rarely uses these things you have a 50/50 chance of it being duff.

The little helicoils can be a right PITA sometimes and some batches are worse than others. Spark plug size ones should be fine though.

Having said that, given the choice I'd still choose a timesert/keensert or similar due to ease of use. Depends what available I guess.

The thread will need tapping out to a larger size anyway so the thread quality should be good.

[jimbobmccoy]

So, I got the car back last Saturday.

Got a garage to do it iN the end, as the price was initially suggested as £150-ish, ended up been £100 more.......was not impressed, but apparently the inlet manifold had to come off and some modification of tools was required.......to be fair I can see this being true, it is a deep plug and an awkward spot.

Oddly any garage I spoke to I asked about a helicoil and they all replied that they wouldn't use that, that they'd use a different insert, likes I guess either experience, or pub science has lead them to lean towards a solid insert.
Options suggested where either snap on version of time sert, or time sert itself.  In the end a time sert went in.

Car is all good now, and defo up on power........it goes to show how a gradually declining part can affect performance drastically without being too noticeable, if it's a slow decline.

[Andy B]

So, I got the car back last Saturday.

Got a garage to do it iN the end, as the price was initially suggested as £150-ish, ended up been £100 more.......was not impressed, but apparently the inlet manifold had to come off and some modification of tools was required.......to be fair I can see this being true, it is a deep plug and an awkward spot.

Oddly any garage I spoke to I asked about a helicoil and they all replied that they wouldn't use that, that they'd use a different insert, likes I guess either experience, or pub science has lead them to lean towards a solid insert.
Options suggested where either snap on version of time sert, or time sert itself.  In the end a time sert went in.

Car is all good now, and defo up on power........it goes to show how a gradually declining part can affect performance drastically without being too noticeable, if it's a slow decline.

Glad you're sorted. I know hind sight is a wonderful thing, but £250 would've got you A N Other head fitted