Leaky sump plug

[twincamtim]

OK, a bit of a story to this: the car has recently been for a service. In doing the oil change (the story goes) they found the sump plug thread had been damaged due a clout in the past and needed retapping to a larger size with an oversize plug nut.

A day or so after it's return I spotted there was a small oil leak from the sump plug - about a teaspoonful. I checked with the garage and they recommended slightly tightening the plug, but not by much; "They are just nipped as it’s an aluminium thread without a steel insert. Basically yours was an early sump so it was re tapped out rather than the later type which is a larger thread." I did as told and added maybe an eighth of a turn - it seemed pretty firm to me and I was scared to overtighten given the response.

Subsequently, the leak has reduced to about a 5p piece size pool each night. I am awaiting a further response from the garage.

What do my fellow blatters think I should do, if anything, please?

[Nigel Riches]

Drain the oil out, clean the plug and head to an engineering supply company, get some copper or plastic washers, sound's like there is one at present. 

Nigel 

[SM25T]

Is there a sealing washer fitted ? Fit a Dowty seal .... available from all good car spares shops or hose suppliers like Pirtek. Steel washer with rubber centre.

[virden]

I wrap the nut thread with plumbers tape, or a couple of layers of cling film has also worked.

[6speedmanual]

Hylomar Blue.

Never leaks, never had plug loosen, reuse whatever washer is there, also stops plugs siezing, low cost, effective, repeatable.

[Fyldeflier]

Mine did this .

neatest and best solution as sm25t says ....Dowty washer.

John.

[nickh7]

Dowty every time

Always have 1/2 dozen in the washer pot an essential part of 7 ownership