97 escort oil drain plug

When I attempted to screw the drain plug back into the oil pan it stripped out. It seems that the aluminum pan has a coiled steel wire insert to hold the threads of the drain plug. This coil of steel wire pulled completely out. I wonder if anybody knows if the pan can be repaired by putting in a new insert or is it a case of going to the boneyard for another one. Does the catalytic converter and flange pipe have to come off the drop the pan? Has anybody done this. Thanks in advance. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Go to the parts store and get a rubber freeze plug. It ought to work.

Dave...there are a couple of simple repairs for stripped oil drain plugs that USED to be around.Can't say for sure if they still are.I can't see why the WOULDN'T be still available? What with the nightmare on some vehicles of changing the pan!

The first is a "self tapping" drain plug. This is obviouslly a large,short self tapping bolt.I can't see why this wouldn't work..there seems to be enough meat(on my 93 anyway) on the oil pan in the area of the plug that this should be tappable.I'd go easy on the torque when tightening it up..and seal around the hole with some sealant.Pain when you change the oil though.That's what I would do..a dab of silicone when you change the oil..no big deal.

Probablly the proper way to fix it is a heli-coil..just tap the pan(Maybe there are theads still left in there?) and put the right size insert in there..or an insert for another drain plug.Guess you'ld have to weigh the cost of the kit(tap and insert) vs the cost of another pan.

There also used to be a pretty common fix called a "dripless,stripless drain plug". This was basically a rubber sleeve like affair with a bolt and nut going through it.Ya stuck it in the drain hole and tightened it up..This expanded part of the plug ABOVE(in) the pan,in the hole itself,and UNDER the pan..neat eh!

On the 93 anyway..I think 91-6..there is the front exhaust pipe bracket that bolts TO the pan.No need to pull the pipe or the cat.

Good luck..

"There also used to be a pretty common fix called a "dripless,stripless drain plug". This was basically a rubber sleeve like affair with a bolt and nut going through it.Ya stuck it in the drain hole and tightened it up..This expanded part of the plug ABOVE(in) the pan,in the hole itself,and UNDER the pan..neat eh!"

This is the same thing I was referring to. Would be an inexpensive way to fix it.

LOL Az....we were posting at the SAME time.There wasn't a response as I was typing mine..
I actually thought of the freeze plug AFTER I had posted..I didn't know they came that small?
Ya..the same idea really..one of those would work..

I did do a search and found that the "dripless,stripless drain plug" is STILL around.So is the self tapping repair type in MANY different oversizes.Best of the self tapping ones I think is the HOLLOW self tapping threaded bolt..ALSO theaded on the INSIDE.SOoo that the actual self threaded part into the oil pan is never removed..ONLY the bolt that goes in the centre of it..

AZ and Arnold--thanks for your replies. I went to the parts place and got a rubber plug. They said the oversize self-tapping bolt would be good, too. I went for the rubber plug. After all, most of the engine is sealed with rubber and plastic. I put it in. Dumped in 4 qts of high mileage oil and went for a drive. It was still dry after 10 miles. It didn't leak a drop. The shop wanted several hundred dollars to replace the pan. None of them suggested a rubber plug. I think they wanted to get into my back pocket, but I guess they have to eat, too. I was getting ready to eat beans and potatoes for a month. Now that won't be needed. You guys saved me. Thanks a ton. Dave

AZ and Arnold--thanks for your replies. I went to the parts place and got a rubber plug. They said the oversize self-tapping bolt would be good, too. I went for the rubber plug. After all, most of the engine is sealed with rubber and plastic. I put it in. Dumped in 4 qts of high mileage oil and went for a drive. It was still dry after 10 miles. It didn't leak a drop. The shop wanted several hundred dollars to replace the pan. None of them suggested a rubber plug. I think they wanted to get into my back pocket, but I guess they have to eat, too. I was getting ready to eat beans and potaatoes for a month. Now that won't be needed. You guys saved me. Thanks a ton. Dave

Had you used the high mileage oil before this change? Did you notice the difference using it as I did with my car?

I did notice a change. In fact it ran a lot quieter, especially going down the road at 60 mph. It didn't use any oil between oil changes It had used about a 1/2 qt. The front crankshaft damper pulley had leaked and by the 3rd oil change it stopped.
Yeah, guys. This stuff really works!

AZ and Arnold--thanks for your replies. I went to the parts place and got a rubber plug. They said the oversize self-tapping bolt would be good, too. I went for the rubber plug. After all, most of the engine is sealed with rubber and plastic. I put it in. Dumped in 4 qts of high mileage oil and went for a drive. It was still dry after 10 miles. It didn't leak a drop. The shop wanted several hundred dollars to replace the pan. None of them suggested a rubber plug. I think they wanted to get into my back pocket, but I guess they have to eat, too. I was getting ready to eat beans and potatoes for a month. Now that won't be needed. You guys saved me. Thanks a ton. Dave

The rubber plug I used had a bolt going through the center of it with a spring loaded winged female end that expanded once I put it through the drain hole. I got my oil changed at Wal-Mart (biggest is not best) and they completely unscewed it dropping the wing nut into the oil pan. I had to go to the parts place and get another one. I hope my sump doesn't suck that wing nut into the oil strainer.

Dave..you can try and fish that thing out.You are going to have to remove the rubber plug and the new wing nut.With the plug out get one of those bendable magnetic flex tools.Get the cheap kind with the flexible shafts.These can be bent..sort of permanentlly..but not back to new successfully.Or even a coat hanger can work.

This is simple. Remove drain plug and put a garden hose where you put the oil in. Ought to flush it right out. You're probably due for an engine flush anyway :grinyes: Seriously, I think Arnold The Skier has the right idea

LOL AZ. Dave..I bought some fiber optic light thinngy that came with some machinist tools on Ebay.I have actually never used it or one.Don't really know anything about it/them.But I hear/read that guys use' em now to peer into just about anywhere that a tiny very thin light on a flexible shaft will go.Spark plug holes etc.,These are not unpopular and fairly cheap.I can't see that if you got one/or had one that you could not actually look into the pan..see this thing..and fish it out.

OR you can try AZ's idea..HEE HEE..

Just funnin' Dave.. amongst freinds..

I have a megnetic pickup. I'm going to let it go until the next oil change (which I will be doing myself). I have a magnetic pickup on a flexible shaft and will fish out the old wing nut. Right now it has the 2nd wing nut holding the rod and rubber sealer in place (the lst is still in the oil pan). This magnetic pickup is a strong one and with the pan being aluminum it won't intervere with a good retrieval of the original wing nut. This wing nut (not sure if I'm calling it the right thing) is a nut with 2 wings on it. The wings fold up to get it through the hole and then the spring expands the wings so it can't be pulled out. The wing in my oil pan is competely expanded so I'm pretty sure it will be no problem getting it out end to end. Thanks for the info. I had a magnetic pickup but it took me some time to find it. Hey! AZ and Arnold. You know your stuff. All the best. Dave PS--Don't let anyone else work on your car. A smart man learns from his own mistakes. A brilliant man learns from the mistakes of others.