Has anyone used these thread repair kits for oil pans? Have an aluminum oil pan from BMW e30 that has had bad threads since I got it and they finally let go and can no longer tighten the drain plug. I see several options on the market, but this one looks like it has pretty good reviews with the benefit of having a steel surface for the plug to go into, rather than just tapping a larger aluminum hole.
Any bad experiences with these? Alternatives?
I've used these ....
http://www.cgenterprises.com/drain_plugs_oversize_repair.htm
I hate self tapping drain plugs. I have used timeserts with good success, but I'm not sure about using them in a spot that has regular in and outs happening. Properly installed, should be ok.
My preferred option is to move up a size. 12mm can go to 14, 14 to 5/8, and so on. It can be costly to find bigger taps, and getting a straight shot at the hole can be tough sometimes. I did one last week, going from 14 to 5/8 that was stripped out of an aluminum pan, and I didn't even have to drill the pan hole. It wound in straight and true with an adapter and air ratchet.
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