I changed the oil on my 88 for the first time five days ago. When I went to unscrew the drain plug, I found it to be on so tight that I had to leverage myself against the front left tire and push the wrench with my foot to loosen it. Obviously, somebody had put it on too tight. So, I took a look at it after I got it off and it looked fine. No crossthreading, the head wasn't rounded off, etc. I put it back on pretty tight. . .but not as tight as it had been on before. . .and filled the car up with oil. The next day I find a puddle the size of a hand on the ground, the leak coming from the plug. So, I cranked it down some more. Now, I've gotten it down to where it leaks one drop every twelve hours. What is the deal with this? I had a guy supposedly knowledgeable on German cars that the copper ring on the plug. . .which I don't remember seeing. . .needs to be changed every oil change. I can live with two drops a day for now. . .but what about next time? Anybody else experience this?

Change your copper washer every change.

i always change the oil and filter and gaskets at the same time. The filter kit comes with the filter gasket and drain plug copper gasket.

Yes, know you know you have to change the copper sealing ring, or, at the very least have one in there. Without it it is bound to leak. Look on the bright side, at least you didn't strip the plug hole trying to overtighten it.

You can probably pull it out fast, slip the washer on and put it back and lose less than a quart or so of oil if you are lucky.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

Stuff that comes with filter:
Filter - you know where that goes
Rubber gasket - goes on the cap of the oil filter housing
small copper washer - drain plug
small steel washer - filter housing bolt
large copper washer - trash can

With the copper washer in place, torque the drain plug to 40nM on your vehicle. For the record, the oil filter canister cover only gets torqued to 25nm (not very tight at all.)

As noted above, don't over do it, as you can strip these threads without much effort...

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Eric

1991 560SEL-Euro (214,000 miles)
1989 420SEL (Retired from daily use at 325,000 miles; Use as donor vehicle)

Isn't the 560SEL is like the 560SL where the large copper washer goes on the oil plug and then the small copper washer goes in the trash can?

John Roncallo

Small copper goes on the drain plug, small aluminum goes on the filter stem and the large copper goes in the trash.

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Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.