Oil Pan Question

Hi,

I was changing my oil one day, and stripped the hole in the oil pan. I took
it to a shop, and they put a "rubber" plug in it, since the original bolt
would no longer fit. I took my car out of town, and while I was parked, the
plug cracked, and all the oil leaked out. I took it to a shop close by, and
they put another rubber plug in the pan. I just needed something to get
home with. The first rubber plug lasted about a month. What do you guys
think of these rubber plugs? Right now, I don't trust them. I want to have
a new oil pan installed, with a metal plug. How much do these things cost,
to have them installed? Can I purchase a cast iron pan, instead of the thin
aluminum pan that came on the Saturn? The hole stripped so easily. Thanks
in advance!

Scott

I would get the new pan.
I also use a torque wrench on my vehicles, having learned the hard way.
By the way, does anyone else dislike the new 'star-bit' style drain plugs?
Scout

"Scott" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> Hi,
>
> I was changing my oil one day, and stripped the hole in the oil pan. I
> took
> it to a shop, and they put a "rubber" plug in it, since the original bolt
> would no longer fit. I took my car out of town, and while I was parked,
> the
> plug cracked, and all the oil leaked out. I took it to a shop close by,
> and
> they put another rubber plug in the pan. I just needed something to get
> home with. The first rubber plug lasted about a month. What do you guys
> think of these rubber plugs? Right now, I don't trust them. I want to
> have
> a new oil pan installed, with a metal plug. How much do these things
> cost,
> to have them installed? Can I purchase a cast iron pan, instead of the
> thin
> aluminum pan that came on the Saturn? The hole stripped so easily.
> Thanks
> in advance!
>
> Scott
>
>

My first thought would be to find a drain plug that has threads larger than
what you have. Borrow or buy a drill bit and tap to fit the new drain plug.

They also make a self tap drain plug with a plug in the center of that. Once
you install the device, then you drain your oil from the center one. Better
than the rubber. Acts like pipe bushing (reducer) with a plug in the center.

Check with your Saturn Parts guy on your particular engine. They may make a fix
for it.

James

>My first thought would be to find a drain plug that has threads larger than
>what you have. Borrow or buy a drill bit and tap to fit the new drain plug.
>
>They also make a self tap drain plug with a plug in the center of that. Once
>you install the device, then you drain your oil from the center one. Better
>than the rubber. Acts like pipe bushing (reducer) with a plug in the center.
>
>Check with your Saturn Parts guy on your particular engine. They may make a
>fix
>for it.

That's what I would suggest as well. You should be able to fix it without
replacing the whole pan.

Be aware that it's a royal bitch to remove the pan on a Saturn - you
have to remove the transmission/engine brace, the flywheel cover, the
top motor mount, then loosen the bottom one, slide it out, undo a lot of
8mm bolts that are a royal pain to get to...

It's as annoying as the stupid cam cover is...

>It's as annoying as the stupid cam cover is...
>

I mostly agree with the annoyingness of the oil pan, but why do you find the
cam cover to be annoying? Other than the ease of stripping the bolts, its easy;
at least on my 95 SC2 anyway.