Summary: Go to the 1415C Time-Sert Listing. Aluminum drain pans are used on many vehicles today to reduce over-all vehicle weight. However, drain plug threads on aluminum pans are weaker than steel threads and are more prone to wear from routine oil changes over time. When drain plug threads are stretched, stripped or otherwise worn – over-sized drain plugs or piggy-back plugs can be used as a temporary fix. One problem with using over-sized drain plugs, is that it’s difficult to get the correct size and then installing them straight and true is required to get a tight seal. Rubber expandable drain plugs are makeshift at best. TIME-SERT offers drain plug repair kits which use steel inserts that accept the original size drain plug. A steel insert offers a much stronger set of threads that well exceeds the strength of OE aluminum threads.

After doing this repair once, subsequent repairs for other cars will go much faster. Ten to fifteen minutes is the approximate time it takes to install the replacement thread insert. Once the easy repair process is followed, it’s best to flush a quart or so of oil through the engine prior to putting the drain plug back in (used oil or new if preferred). This helps to flush out any metal debris that may be left remaining after drilling. Then the drain plug can be put back in before finally filling the engine with oil. Car repair shops that do oil changes routinely know the hassle of finding damaged oil drain plug threads when servicing cars. Customers are likely to blame the shop when they are told they have stripped drain plug threads. After the customer understands the pan is aluminum, it’s easier for them realize that it’s not the fault of the mechanic. Threads are naturally going to wear from repeated loosening and tightening over time. Then what? Does the shop use a temporary repair and risk the liability of engine damage if the plug doesn’t hold, oil leaks out and the driver “keeps driving” ? Or does the shop prepare an estimate for a replacement oil pan for around $500 installed? A better option is to have  TIME-SERT drain plug repair kits on hand when a situation like this arises. A shop typically can charge $50 to $100 for installing a stronger than original set of threads! NOT having to wait for parts makes the shop more productive. The customer will save hundreds of dollars! Best of all the repaired pan is stronger than original and the liability issue is no longer a problem.

Determining Drain Plug Size

Most newer vehicles have metric drain plugs. There are several ways they can be measured. One option is to look up a drain plug on-line for your vehicle at NAPA online or your favorite parts store. Most times the size of the plug will be found when looking up the drain plug for your vehicle. Don’t want to look it up yourself? Call a parts store and ask them to look it up for you. Another way is to take the old drain plug to the parts store and find a nut that fits, or match it up with a replacement drain plug sold at the store. Tap and dye sets can also be used to determine the size just as you would any other bolt.

Using the Kit in Tight Access Areas

Some car’s oil pans are positioned so that the drain plug hole is very close to the sub-frame or engine cradle. Working in such confined areas make repairing the threads more difficult. Drilling and tapping is practically impossible with bulky drills or tap holders. It may even be difficult to position a right angle drill so that the drill bit has a straight shot. Since TIME-SERT tools have a square end, there is an optional method for driving them. Either square drive sockets or much more common 12 point sockets can be used for drilling and tapping.

Below are 12 point socket sizes that will work well with the TIMESERT 1415C DLT 

1) Drill square = 1/2 inch 12 point socket.
2) Counter Bore square = 7/16 inch 12 point socket.
3) Tap square = 7/16 inch 12 point socket .
4) Driver tool square = 3/8 inch 12 point socket.

Once the correct 12 point socket is in place – a universal joint, an extension and an air ratchet can be used to do the drilling and tapping in tight areas. The tap guide is used to make sure the threads are square. Timesert has done an excellent job to make the process as simple as possible. In rare cases it may be necessary to remove the oil pan for repair, but it is still less expensive to do this rather than replacing the oil pan.

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Related Tool Links – Click the item below to purchase now.

TIME-SERT Oil Drain Plug Repair – Aluminum Pan 14×1.5 1415C DLT

Printable TIME-SERT Aluminum Oil Drain Pan Repair Instructions