Go to your local granger dealer- about $15.

As far as it being hard to loose. Well, what do you guys expect!!! It's a hard steel part on a soft aluminum washer- coeficent of friction is really high!! A few "whaps" with a 1lb ball-peen hammer before removing the fill plug will loosen it. I've seen them do this at several shops and dealerships=)


Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

Oh,

YEs, I've used a 1/2 bolt with two nuts on it in a pinch before with no problems. IF you are doing that- maybe you can get a short piece of 1/2 hex stock from a machine shop-maybe even FREE.

If you are worried about strenth, you can heat it red-hot and drop it in oil, then temper it. Very clear in Machinest's handbook and many other sources.

Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

Gentlemen all, You were right, the plug is 14mm hex. There must have been crud in there as Gilly, and psfred advised. I am most embarrassed at making such a big deal out of all this, so will shut up until I know what I am talking about next time. The tranny and diff serviced out easily this am.
Regards, "Dumbo"

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hlg

Having had more than one experience with dirty hex socket bolts (one on an engine mount on the 220D, buried under the support arm), I always make sure now that I have the correct size driver and that the socket is CLEAN. It's easy enough to put a new one in after you get the old one out, but if it's stuck and you bugger it up.....

I would far rather look dim for asking a "stupid" question that do the work necessary to fix a screwup!

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Sorry,.


Use a 9/16 bolt with a double nut.. it's actually a little bit big- so it's tight fit. The hammering is only for the fill plug- not the drain.

Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

No No No
Don't shut up until i know what I'm talking about!!!!!!!

How do you think we learn?

Trust me I asked a lot of "stupid" questions when I started rebuilding the Mustang. This is how we learn. And as you have discovered. The post usually goes off into other areas and techniques and info is passed along.

Please keep asking all questions, of course after the search.

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Dave, Why are you selling the '99 E300?

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hlg

PS. forgot to report that the tranny seems even smoother than it was before the service. It did have slight rough down shift into low just before stopping which is gone now and over all seems to be less 'stiff'. The pan and the filter were remarkably clean and free of debris. Maybe MB is correct about going 100k without worry, but then what would we do in our spare time?

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hlg