Topic: Oil pan drain plug not sealing

[Scott2.0]

Changed the oil and oil is now dripping from the drain plug.  Being mechanically challenged I don't know if I can seal it somehow with something that goes on the threads or if I need a certain type of washer or a new plug altogether.  Any advice you could offer would be much appreciated!

EDIT:  I have a 73 CB750 if it matters.

[VTCBike750]

First off don't  go tightening it down to stop the leak.  You don't wanna crack the pan.

There is a copper crush washer that's used with the drain plug. You might just need a new one. The auto parts store should have them. They aren't plain copper washers though, they are designed to crush. Similar to the exhaust copper gaskets.

Good luck!

[Scott2.0]

First off don't  go tightening it down to stop the leak.  You don't wanna crack the pan.

There is a copper crush washer that's used with the drain plug. You might just need a new one. The auto parts store should have them. They aren't plain copper washers though, they are designed to crush. Similar to the exhaust copper gaskets.

Good luck!

Thanks, VTCBike750, you're a life saver!  Sure enough there was no washer there whatsoever. For anyone else that may need one of these, O'Reilly's Auto Parts has 12mm crush washers, or oil drain plug gaskets, as they call them. 

Sadly, in my initial attempts to stop the dripping, I did over-tighten the plug and caused a hairline crack in my oil pan.  I'll order a replacement pan from Ebay, but in the meantime I have some RTV sealing it up (hopefully).

Cheers!

[VTCBike750]

Glad to help! Mine didn't have one either when I first got it, just a regular washer. 
Good news, there are probably a bunch of those pans available on ebay.

I don't remember the Torque specs and feel what Ive read before was too much, but its not a lot; just needs to be snug.

[70CB750]

Put silikon tape on the thread.

[paulmac]

Torque specs for the oil drain bolt are 25.3 - 28.9 lbs-ft.

[70CB750]

After you swap the pan have the crackwelded and keep it as a spare.

[VTCBike750]

Torque specs for the oil drain bolt are 25.3 - 28.9 lbs-ft.

Exactly, does anyone else feel that this is A LOT?

[MCRider]

Torque specs for the oil drain bolt are 25.3 - 28.9 lbs-ft.

Exactly, does anyone else feel that this is A LOT?

IMO that is WAY too much. It is a common listing from many sources.  I put the drain plug in my list of "squishables". If it has a crush washer or ORing to seal it, tighten it down snug, then choke up on a 6-8 inch wrench and give it a little oomph to crush the washer and STOP.

Other wise you'll get a cracked pan, tappet cover, stripped spark plug etc.

IMO repeat.

[MCRider]

PS: As many relate their washer was missing. This islikely because someone dropped the plug into their oil drain container, the washer came off, and was never missed, until the plug leaked.

Same with that big thin washer on the oil filter. It sticks to the cartridge, the cart gets thrown away and gone is the washer. Luckily its not quite so critical as the plug washer.

Just realize all oil drain plugs require a crush washer of some kind.

[VTCBike750]

Makes me wonder if the one on my oil filter is missing

[MCRider]

Makes me wonder if the one on my oil filter is missing

If you don't remember dicking around with it, then its missing. It goes between the spring and the filter, keeps the spring from digging into the rubber sealing grommet of the cart that slides around the bolt.

Not worth sweating till next oil change, unless you just want to. OTOH not much to lose just pulling the filter housing.