Found a way to fix a stripped oil pan drain plug for $8 instead of $200

I stripped the drain plug on my 2003 F-150 last week and a shop quoted me $200 for a new oil pan. Bought a Timesert kit for $8 at Napa and it threaded in perfect in 20 minutes, has anyone else tried thread repair on something everyone says is totaled?

3 comments

3 Comments

grant_foster791mo ago

...and that's when I realized I'd drilled through the drain plug and into the pan anyway. Had to helicoil the helicoil. Truck's been fine for three years now though. My neighbor still makes fun of me every time he sees me change the oil.

barbara_baker573mo ago

$8 for a Timesert kit? Man, those things are usually way more than that at my local Napa. I'm almost scared to ask if you got the last one on the shelf or something.

julia_miller242mo ago

Nah you're good, the $8 kit is a no-name brand but it's the same tool. Just make sure you drill straight or you'll regret it.

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