Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 02-18-2003, 09:20 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: NY
Posts: 500
Just put some grease on the tap and shavings will stick to it. Then you can flash the pan with quart or two of oil.

Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 02-19-2003, 03:31 PM
csnow's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Mass
Posts: 1,127
I can endorse those Fumato valves. I have been very happy with mine on a variety of applications.

My concern is that getting the oil pan threads clean enough for the epoxy to stick could be challenging. Considering the extreme stripping you describe, there are probably no remaining threads of any consequence on the [softer] aluminum pan. There is a lot of potential threaded surface area to stick to in this case, but I wonder if the adaptor has thread length even approaching the unusually long drain plug on these. I suppose you can hedge your bet by packing some additional epoxy around the outside joint of the adaptor if you can get the surface clean enough, and roughed up with some sandpaper.

Perhaps if;
1) You 'tip' the car in such a manner that the residual oil is not inclined to run out.
2) Clean the pan threads carefully with brake cleaner solvent and perhaps scrub inside there with a 3M pad wrapped around a dowel or screwdriver tip. Maybe a toothbrush or test-tube bottle brush? Perhaps even better, a stiff wire brush used for cleaning 1/2 inch copper pipe fittings? Clean is good.
3) Once clean, if you have a Dremel tool (or equiv.), you could cut some small horizontal grooves or drilled holes inside the threaded tube on the pan to create something extra for the epoxy to 'bite' on.
4) Flush out any residual debris from the cleaning/cutting process by running a quart of clean oil through before filling.

Retapping would certainly be better insurance, but I also tend to place a great deal of faith in the magic that is epoxy.

Best of luck.

BTW, this problem can be easily prevented using teflon tape.
__________________
1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 02-19-2003, 11:29 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Los Osos, CA
Posts: 212
csnow - thank you for your advice. I actually have the car jacked up in the opposite rear corner right now to drain the oil. It keeps coming out even though it had stopped draining when the car was level. I am going to try pretty much all of your suggestions. I will definately jack the car up the opposite way so that no oil gets to the plug.

I looked in the plug while it was draining and found that the threads were near gone. A testament to not using quick lube places to change the oil. I plan to take the dremel tool, another must have, lightly to the rim of the drain hole to stick to the edge of the adapter as you said and thus I spent half an hour getting the oil pan sparkling clean. I am using the adapter for the Fumoto valve which I am going to rough a bit as well. The inside of the pan is going to be roughed slightly with sandpaper and flushed afterwards. Again, metal particle paranoia. The pan luckily still has enough threading that the adapter can grab it if slightly. I am going to spend probably a good twenty minutes and twice as many q-tips to clean the threads inside. I have acetone which should do the job nicely. Thanks again for all the help. I will be attempting this all tommorow night, hopefully the problem will be fixed and I can move on to installing the Euro lights. Always have to have a project Thanks again all, the advice from those who know better than me on this forum has helped immensely. I'll provide an update once I get this all finished.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 05-16-2003, 11:45 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Los Osos, CA
Posts: 212
Hey all,
It's been a couple months since I tried this. The drain valve went in, and I hit it with JB Weld. For such a hokey idea, it sure has worked out great. Not a leak, nor a chance of one as of yet, and oil changes are a hundred times easier, with no chance of this ever happening again. Thanks again all.
__________________
Scott

1987 300e - The 200,000 mile TurboTechnics rocketship.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 05-17-2003, 11:41 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,272
With nearly an inch of engaged thread in the insert and bolt, I don't see how it could be stripped, but did you use a new copper sealing washer?

They are a one shot deal - a new one is required everytime you reinstall the plug to ensure a leak free seal, however, if you dress the old ones down on both sides by rubbing them on a piece of 280-400 paper laid on a flat surface and wetted with paint thinner until you remove the galling marks, they can be reused.

I have about a half dozen and just save the old ones. When I use my last fresh one I rework all the used examples for a fresh supply. Using this technique you can probably get at least three uses out of each copper gasket, and I've never had a leak with one of my "refurbished" gaskets.

Duke
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 05-17-2003, 02:26 PM
aTOMic's Avatar
(Oo=*=oO)
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA, Earth
Posts: 451
Duke you cheap b@5t#rd you drive a Benz but scoff at the $ 0.80 washer for the oil drain!?!

I LOVE IT you are a kindred spirit... I love getting a new frugal idea from this forum!!

P.S. i bet some of your washers are down to 0.0050" but work okay if you stack thirty or forty of them

-Tom
__________________
RIP "Betsy" (Oo=*=oO)
'96 E 3 2 0 (W 2 1 0) M 1 0 4
(Totalled)

Spaces in sig so as not to screw up the SEARCH; every time someone searches for that MB they don't want my sig!

2004 Audi A8L
'98 VW Passat 1.8T 5M
'87 Alfa Romeo Milano 2.5L 5M
'67 Impala convertible, 327cid
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 05-17-2003, 03:35 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,272
You don't have to take much material off, and it takes a lot less time to dress down the washers a few thou than it takes to drive to the dealer or find some place that sells them at a reasonable price. It's the path of least resistance for me, and I see no technical reason why taking a few thou off the washer thickness will affect it's sealing ability.

Duke
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 05-17-2003, 08:12 PM
aTOMic's Avatar
(Oo=*=oO)
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA, Earth
Posts: 451
I'm with you, in case that was not totally clear

-Tom
__________________
RIP "Betsy" (Oo=*=oO)
'96 E 3 2 0 (W 2 1 0) M 1 0 4
(Totalled)

Spaces in sig so as not to screw up the SEARCH; every time someone searches for that MB they don't want my sig!

2004 Audi A8L
'98 VW Passat 1.8T 5M
'87 Alfa Romeo Milano 2.5L 5M
'67 Impala convertible, 327cid
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 05-17-2003, 08:26 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2,272
Yeah, it was clear to me. I just wanted to make sure everyone else knows that it's okay to rework the copper sealing washers for reuse.

I hate to pay two bucks for a nickel's worth of value - like the copper sealing rings for the oil pan plug or a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

If my existing supply of oil pan plug sealing washers get too thin, I can just grab a penny and...

Duke


Last edited by Duke2.6; 05-17-2003 at 08:34 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:52 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page