Oil Plug Stripped by Shop

I have 160k on my truck and religiously do my own oil changes every 5k. I use a new crush washer and a torque wrench everytime. No issues whatsoever.

Tell the mechanic, "You break it, you buy it."

 

Agreed.. but the guy did say "it stripped due to wear ". That's kinda chickenshit, especially when you're the one who put the "wear" on it

 

The OP said the mechanic told him it was stripped and it was common.

No the lower oil pan where the drain plug is located is not Iron, it is Painted Steel. The upper pan is aluminum.

 

Mechanix said it was stripped. Pretty sure the mechanic would have tried a new washer.

OP, drain pans are cheap and are easy to replace. This isn't a big deal.

 

I am surprised the mechanic didn't offer to fix it... He should have.

 

The last one I cross threaded/striped was in 1982 on a Mustang. They have cheap pans so just got an up sized one and it self threaded, no leaks, drips in 39 years. Here is the take away.....
When putting the oil plug back in, insert it, apply a little pressure, then Unscrew just a mite. You will feel the threads line up perfectly, just to be sure hand tighten gently first couple of turns.
An old shade tree guy taught me that, have not cross threaded since.

 

Thank you for all of your replies - they are much appreciated.

I agree with all the comments just wanted to see if it was something that happens to Tacoma’s. I was sure it wasn’t, but this website is always a great resource.

I gave them opportunities to fix it and would have worked with them, but they told me they did not do anything wrong. The first time the oil dumped in my drive way I looked under the truck and there was a gob of silicone on the bolt. When I asked them about it they said it was a tamper proof seal. Just to give you an idea of responses I was getting.

I got it repaired already from another shop and now I have to try and recoup the money. I lost confidence in them and didn’t trust them to pull the oil pan out and replace it with a new one.


Thanks again for answering the post.

 

Sounds like BS on top of BS on top of BS from them. I'd post a critical Yelp review to warn others.

 

I understand there are a lot of reasons why guys can’t or won’t do their own oil changes, I used to be one of them. When I first had my 2015 Tacoma I took it to a quick oil change shop and the idiot owner was getting ready to pump OW-20 into my brand new truck and I told him that was wrong. He insisted otherwise blah blah blah...then admitted I was right.

After that I decided to do my own oil changes, bought a Fumoto valve, and did them all myself for the next 225,000 miles. I could literally do an oil change in my driveway in ten minutes without jacking up the truck and barely getting my hands dirty with the Fumoto valve. The 2nd gen has the greatest setup for DIY oil changes with the filter on top. I now have a 3rd gen and they SUCK when it comes to DIY oil changes...I miss my 2nd gen big time.

 

No I dont disagree, and the silicone thing that OP just mentioned is another smoking gun. Im just saying peoples first instinct on here is to immediately blame the shop, no matter what.

 

It is sad that you just can't trust anyone to do decent work anymore. We purchased my wife's new Tahoe late in 2018. After having it a couple of weeks with only a couple hundred miles on it I noticed some drops of oil under it in the garage. I was to pissed to look at what might be leaking so I let it go for a couple of weeks as it was not much. Finally I crawled under it to have a look before I called the dealer to make an appointment. To my surprise the oil filter was loose right from the factory. I figured what the hell and just changed the oil myself. Filter was not even snug right from the factory. You just have to do things yourself if you want to know it is done correct now.

What really blew my mind is I guess the car sends a report to the dealer when it needs service. Not calculated on time. They started emailing me that the car needed an oil change then I did the 2nd one myself and reset the system and they called me and said the oil maintenance had been reset but they had no record of service. I said yeah, because I did it in my garage. Please don't call me anymore.

 

“Tamper proof seal” that’s the best I’ve ever heard.

 

Filter on the top is the best. I'm going to miss that on my new one for sure.

 

Not much of a mechanic/person not to own up to his mistake. It's a M12, he must have been really cranking on it. I don't think I would want these guys working on my brakes, time for a new shop. I stripped my auto trans drain plug, a M10, then tapped it out to a M12 and shouldn't ever have to worry about it.

 

Drain plugs can get "stripped" over time.
The drain plug is a softer material than the pan.
Excessive torque over time, will result in the drain plug threads getting stretched.

 

I used to have an uncle. Uncle Pete. He was an old school mechanic and had a small gas/ service station of his own. The kind with one pump and two glass-doored bays. Cleaned your windows and checked the oil when he was filling you up. We're talking from 1948 to 1972 era. Many people at his funeral said he was the most honest mechanic they ever knew. When I got older I recall having a cold Schmidts with him, one of the first beers I ever had. I asked him then and there, "You are a successful mechanic, everyone for miles holds you in the highest esteem for your mechanical skills and approach to customer service. What is the secret that gives this opinion to your customers?" His answer was unexpected. "By recognizing that each one is a rat bag conniver what will turn against me like a rabid dog the first time they feel taken advantage of, even if it ain't my doing." He then let out a loud belch and spit on the floor.

I miss old Uncle Pete. After he retired he got a job as a hospital administrator. He became famous for some of his innovative policies. The best one was when men dropped their wives off for operations, he always sent 'em home with a loaner.

 

They only strip from wear if they are over tightened and or cross threaded.

 

Did they put a new copper / aluminum washer on it to make it seal correctly?

 

This is great! I would have loved to have met Uncle Pete. When you say a loaner, do you mean a loaner wife or a loaner car?

You got to keep an eye on those ratbag connivers!

 

Strips over time too many different hands on it. 145k/5k =29 different techs untighten/overtighten eventually it will strip.

Dyi... 2nd gen is by far easiest to change. Fumoto, rhinoramps, oil filter plyers. Empty 5 qtr jug w small funnel drain old oil into. I use big zip lock bag to catch excess oil from filter.