Broken Oil Drain Plug

[Cisc0]

Greetings all,

Found myself in a kinda bad situation. So I went through the usual steps in doing an oil change when after all oil was drained, filter canister cleaned, new filter ready when I go to re-install the plug and boom:



There goes the head of the drain plug. Has this ever happen so anyone? If so, what steps did you take to retrieve the other half?

[mrbmwx5]

I did.. Using flat head screw driver to turn/ get the other half out.. Head to autozone.. Tell them you need new oil plug.

[Cisc0]

Thanks Tom. I managed to get it out by drilling a hole to the screw and using an extractor bit. Pain in the ass shit to go through. The oil kit I ordered from ECS brought a new screw and crush washer.

[dkl]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

I did.. Using flat head screw driver to turn/ get the other half out.. Head to autozone.. Tell them you need new oil plug.

Same thing happened to me when I tried to install the Fumoto drain valve adapter. I used the similar method to get the other half out (I used a hex bit as the flat head didn't provide enough grab for me). I went straight back to the OEM plug after that mishap. Aftermarket plugs appears to use a lower standard (quality) material

[Cisc0]

Originally Posted by dkl

Aftermarket plugs appears to use a lower standard (quality) material

I have nothing against ECS but compared to the OEM plug, theirs is much lighter in weight, also look at the first pic, plug looks to be hollow and possibly could be the reason why it deteriorated faster.

[TheGodfather]

Incredible. The exact same thing happened to my magnetic ECS drain plug a couple of days ago.

I got the oil changed at a quick lube. They were taking forever so I leaned out the window to ask what the problem is. "Uh your drain plug broke, so we are trying to find a new one."

Lucky for them (and myself) I had the OE one in my garage.

My ECS plug broke identically to yours.

[dkl]

Originally Posted by Cisc0

I have nothing against ECS but compared to the OEM plug, theirs is much lighter in weight, also look at the first pic, plug looks to be hollow and possibly could be the reason why it deteriorated faster.

The OEM plug is also hollow as well, but have not hear of issues like this with it.

[JCL]

So the aftermarket oil drain plug turns out to be a downgrade rather than an upgrade. Might be a plan for anybody with one to take it out and throw it away, anecdotally that appears to be a pretty high failure rate.

[TheGodfather]

I was so sure that the quick lube guys overtightened the plug or something. But, it just might be that the ECS drain plug was no good. One of the employees had to drive me home to retrieve the OE one.

The magnetic ECS plug might have issues because the magnet appears to run all the way through the plug, but then falls just short at the very end of the head. This leaves only a small hollow chamber at the most vulnerable area of the plug.

Either Way, I do not know why I go to the quick lube places, they charge the same as the dealer, and I brace myself every time I go in for an oil change.

A quick google turned up some other forums mentioning bad aftermarket magnetic plugs too.

[x54.6]

my ecs plug also broke after oil change a few mouths back. i called ecs and they said they never heard of any complaints. maybe we should start so maybe they will remake there bolts out of harder metal or something.. what you guys think.....