Stripped oil pan bolt

[UndergroundR32]

I think I may have stripped one of the bolts. Am I forced to take the oil pan off and then tap it with a larger size? Or tap it with a Heli-coil kit?

 

[awd4g63]

If you stripped the bolt, just get a new bolt from the hardware store. If you stripped the hole itself, you may have to tap it out and get a slightly bigger bolt.

 

[UndergroundR32]

It's definately not the bolt because I tried a number of them in that hole. It doesn't feel like a stripped one usually feels though. It seems like it doesn't even start threading. I'm wondering if I just need to clean it out because I got somet RTV in it.

 

[UndergroundR32]

Can I tap it and use a Heli coil kit with the oil pan on, or do I need to remove the oil pan before I tap it?

 

[awd4g63]

First, I'd try to clean it out with a small wire brush. Go to your local pharmacy and check in the dental section. There should be small brushes that people use on their braces. It has a small stiff brush on the end. I used one of those to get RTV out of my throttle body studs. I'm sure, if you look in the right place (Home Depot, etc.), you can get a very small wire brush.

If that doesn't work, or if the bolt still doesn't start to thread, then you're probably going to have to tap it out.

I don't see why you couldn't just leave the pan on; it would probably be less of a pain in the ass just to leave it on anyway. With the pan on, it may help you get closer to a 90 degree angle with the tap & coil.

 

[Defiant]

Run a tap through it first, that may clean it out enough to have decent threads.

 

[UndergroundR32]

Originally posted by Defiant
Run a tap through it first, that may clean it out enough to have decent threads.

Good idea. Thanks

 

[fivestardsm]

I have seen this happen several times. Your talking about the bolt holes for the oil return, corret? The best way to fix it is to either change pans, OR take the pan off and cut the square nuts off and weld new nuts in there place. The helix-coil, have a bad tendency to leack, also some times when you go to put the bolts in, they run the coil's out the back side and fall into the pan. That really suck's.

Steve.

 

[UndergroundR32]

Originally posted by fivestardsm
I have seen this happen several times. Your talking about the bolt holes for the oil return, corret? The best way to fix it is to either change pans, OR take the pan off and cut the square nuts off and weld new nuts in there place. The helix-coil, have a bad tendency to leack, also some times when you go to put the bolts in, they run the coil's out the back side and fall into the pan. That really suck's.

Steve.

I'm not sure what you're talking about, but I think you mean something else. Not the two holes on the side of the pan. the botls that connect the pan to the block.. There are well over a dozen of them.. If I tape them with the Heli-coil then the coil wont be able to fall into the pan.. If anything it will come out with the bolt.

 

[fivestardsm]

Oh, I appologize, I thought that you were talking about the turbo oil return line that bolts on to the front side of the pan.

Sorry, Steve.

 

[supergoat]

I agree with defiant. I've found that running a tap through the hole usually solves the problem 90% of the time. Definitly better then drilling it out, re-tapping and finding a bigger bolt.

 

[UndergroundR32]

In that case, what are the specs of the tap I should use?

 

[prodsm]

It happend on my car, all i did was drill the old bolt out b/c it was striped soo bad, then changed the oil 2 times to get all the crap out, worked good for me, took a along time tho. ALSO try using self tapping bolts!

 

[hostile]

Originally posted by UndergroundR32
In that case, what are the specs of the tap I should use?

6mm by 1mm....

 

[UndergroundR32]

Originally posted by hostile
6mm by 1mm....

I have a Heli-coil kit for a 6mm 1/4 bolt. Will the tap from that work?

 

[Defiant]

Only if you're going to run that Helicoil into it.

Taps aren't "close enough".

 

[UndergroundR32]

No, I didn't mean can I use it if it's a different size tap that's close to what I need. I just wasn't sure if the tap for the 1/4 6mm bolt actually was a 6mm by 1mm tap. I don't know if I understand how those dimensions apply. 6mm across and a thread pitch of 1mm?
Very stupid question I know. Feel free to flame.