Oil Change issue

[rocksavage]

I am completing the first oil change on my 2010 Avenger HDI Kohler engine..The drain plug is a 5/16" allen socket kind of looks like a big set screw..No head which means no way to torque it tight.. Theoretically if you keep tightening the drain plug it could tigten on in through the plug hole..Of course this means that I am having trouble sealing this as it won't snug/tourque..Round one : I used thread sealant and tightened it in until it was about a couple of threads left. Curing time on the the sealant box said 4-24 hours..I waited 4 hours and started the engine and just as I suspected it leaked..I have now taken it out and added more thread sealant and will wait the 24 hours to see if this works..What a poor set up by Kohler...This is frustrating...This is my second Argo and an oil change should take 10 minutes not 24 hours..Any one else with 2010 avnger HDI having this trouble??? Any solutions...

[mike bar]

Are you sure there is no shoulder inside so that it will seal itself? I can't imagine that they would have it so it would thread itself through. If so, sounds like a sucky desighn.

[Castro]

You could get a bolt and copper seal washer and install it. That should do the trick. A vw stock or BMW stock oil plug washer prob work

[LarryW]

How about Teflon tape? Is it pipe threads?

[rocksavage]

No shoulder inside,no bolt and washer option as the way the insert is on the motor base there is no room for a bolt head..I am a little apprehensive about teflon tape as the thought of the strans working into my engine..Anyway after receiving response from Argo and Kohler rep it appears that this design to the drain plug was introduced over the last few years. Personally I think it is a poor design..So after waitbhg 24 hours for the thread sealant to dry it apperas to have worked..Oil changes now take at least 24 hours as opposed to 10 minutes on my old Response but hey you do waht it takes I guess...Thanks for the replies...

[LarryW]

So they expect you to use the sealant every time? That sucks.

If its pipe threads I would put a pipe on there with a good sealing cap on the other end. Seal the threads where the pipe goes in. My guess is its not pipe threads though?

[Cougar]

No shoulder inside,no bolt and washer option as the way the insert is on the motor base there is no room for a bolt head..I am a little apprehensive about teflon tape as the thought of the strans working into my engine..Anyway after receiving response from Argo and Kohler rep it appears that this design to the drain plug was introduced over the last few years. Personally I think it is a poor design..So after waitbhg 24 hours for the thread sealant to dry it apperas to have worked..Oil changes now take at least 24 hours as opposed to 10 minutes on my old Response but hey you do waht it takes I guess...Thanks for the replies...

Suck it out of the dip stick, that's how I change mine. Mine has a 40 hp Kohler engine. It takes about 10 min. to change oil. I got this oil pump thing for changen oil at TSC. Hope this helps..Cougar

[rocksavage]

Couger..Actually after this experience that's what I will be doing in the future..I will be getting a vacuum pump to change the engine oil..I need one anyway as the HDI Admiral Transmission has the drain plug higher than the base and most of the trans oil has to be suctioned out with a vacuum pump..So vacvuum all the way for me in the future...

Thanks for the replies..

[LarryW]

I need one anyway as the HDI Admiral Transmission has the drain plug higher than the base and most of the trans oil has to be suctioned out with a vacuum pump.

Man, after reading that and the over heating issues in L, I wonder if ODG put any thought into this admiral transmission design or did they slap something together?

[number1cas]

I just use PTFE sealant on mine, it wont thread all the way through as it is a pipe thread and that means it is a tapered thread. If you get it to thread all the way through, you are WAY too strong. I would also have no problem using teflon tape, the chance of any of it getting into the engine is EXTREMELY small, these type of plugs are used on hundreds of other applications with no problems. Just tighten it up snug, or check the service manual for the proper torque value and you shouldn't have to wait the 24 hours.
Good luck hope she seals.