Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Andy H on 14 March 2015, 15:08:52

Title: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Andy H on 14 March 2015, 15:08:52
Is it a left hand thread?

The sump is off - I have tried heat and holding what is left of the head in a vice but I just cannot shift it  >:(
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Webby the Bear on 14 March 2015, 15:12:38
No, normal thread  :y
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Andy H on 14 March 2015, 15:20:47
Thanks Webby.

Going to take a drill to it then (if it was LHT I would weld a nut to it to try to save it)
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: biggriffin on 14 March 2015, 15:22:36
Std m8x1.50x 20.
Looks like you be drilling it out and re tapping  :y
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Webby the Bear on 14 March 2015, 15:23:58
Wonder why it's on so tight  :-\

I've always wondered about drilling a hole and putting a drain plug in also....as I've never had the pan off do you think that's possible Andy?
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Andy H on 14 March 2015, 15:29:41
I am hoping that once the head drops off the thread will be OK.

Peed off because I am wasting my time on something that shouldn't be a problem  :(
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Andy H on 14 March 2015, 15:38:43
Wonder why it's on so tight  :-\

I've always wondered about drilling a hole and putting a drain plug in also....as I've never had the pan off do you think that's possible Andy?
I think corrosion has got under the head of the plug and glued it in place.

I wondered about adding a drain plug but it is the first time this box has has been touched in 200,000 miles and I don't expect to do it again on this car.

Last time it was discussed on the forum the consensus was that adding a drain plug wasn't worth the effort as dropping the sumps allows you to see any bits of thrust-washer that might not be evident if you used a drain plug.
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 14 March 2015, 15:48:47
Yep no need for a drain plug, the method I learnt from sassanach is much more effective and quick albeit more expensive

Ref the stuck plug, will it not budge with a socket that drives the flat edges, and a sensible breaker bar? They are often v stuff but drilling it seems extreme :y
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Andy H on 14 March 2015, 15:56:30
The plug seems to be made of cheese. I had rounded the corners off long before applying any serious force :(

I have since held the bolt head in an engineering vice and applied some serious force without result. I will try filing some new flats for one last attempt. wish me luck ;)
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Shackeng on 14 March 2015, 19:17:14
I've got a spare AR25 box here going begging. Although IIRC the sumps are the same on both auto boxes. :y :y :y
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Andy H on 14 March 2015, 20:11:06
Std m8x1.50x 20.
Looks like you be drilling it out and re tapping  :y
Mine is M12.
Ground the head down until it was 2 or 3mm thick then drilled through the plug in stages until I had got to 10mm. After that I was able to unscrew the plug with my fingers.
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Webby the Bear on 15 March 2015, 19:16:27
Fair comment about the mileage in comparison with the life of the car.

Personally though if i could physically fit a drain plug I would. Just like the idea of quick ATF changes  :)
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Nick W on 15 March 2015, 20:25:08


Personally though if i could physically fit a drain plug I would. Just like the idea of quick ATF changes  :)


It's not the drain plug that slows the ATF change, but the awkward procedure for refilling the bloody thing. Doing away with dipsticks is a truly stupid idea, and it's now spreading to engines.
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: chrisgixer on 15 March 2015, 20:28:58
Tried some heat on the sump surrounding the nut?
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Andy H on 15 March 2015, 21:28:43
Tried some heat on the sump surrounding the nut?
One of the first things I tried.
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Andy H on 15 March 2015, 21:31:30
The plug came out easily once I had ground the head down and drilled through it

(http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~aholter/P1060422a.JPG)


(http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~aholter/P1060423a.JPG)
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Andy H on 15 March 2015, 21:41:40


Personally though if i could physically fit a drain plug I would. Just like the idea of quick ATF changes  :)


It's not the drain plug that slows the ATF change, but the awkward procedure for refilling the bloody thing. Doing away with dipsticks is a truly stupid idea, and it's now spreading to engines.

I used one of these - £15 from screwfix. Filling the box was almost too easy, a little worried that I might have overfilled it  ::)

(http://s7g3.scene7.com/is/image/ae235?$p$&layer=0&size=281,281&layer=1&size=281,281&src=ae235/51100_P)
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Nick W on 15 March 2015, 22:05:31
I have something similar, but it's the grovelling about under the car with the engine running whilst filling the thing up. That would have been avoided if you could just pour the ATF down the dipstick tube; a procedure that worked well for decades.
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: chrisgixer on 15 March 2015, 22:09:29
I have something similar, but it's the grovelling about under the car with the engine running whilst filling the thing up. That would have been avoided if you could just pour the ATF down the dipstick tube; a procedure that worked well for decades.

"It's a sealed for life item sir"
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Nick W on 15 March 2015, 22:23:14
I have something similar, but it's the grovelling about under the car with the engine running whilst filling the thing up. That would have been avoided if you could just pour the ATF down the dipstick tube; a procedure that worked well for decades.

"It's a sealed for life item sir"




Sealed for life translates to Doesn't last as long and can't be repaired when it does fail. That will be £12,658,365,489,457,436,495 please. Which we really shouldn't have allowed.
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: 05omegav6 on 15 March 2015, 22:24:10
I have something similar, but it's the grovelling about under the car with the engine running whilst filling the thing up. That would have been avoided if you could just pour the ATF down the dipstick tube; a procedure that worked well for decades.

"It's a sealed for life item sir"
Is there not a blank/plug in the body casting for a dipstick tube as per the 4l60 etc :-\

Guess that the issue then would be establishing the correct length of dipstick to measure fluid level...
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: Nick W on 15 March 2015, 22:26:10
4L60 isn't the same casing if that's what you're alluding to. It's massive, as you would expect considering what it's fitted to.
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: chrisgixer on 15 March 2015, 22:26:57
I have something similar, but it's the grovelling about under the car with the engine running whilst filling the thing up. That would have been avoided if you could just pour the ATF down the dipstick tube; a procedure that worked well for decades.

"It's a sealed for life item sir"
Is there not a blank/plug in the body casting for a dipstick tube as per the 4l60 etc :-\

Guess that the issue then would be establishing the correct length of dipstick to measure fluid level...

Whispers quietly so nobody hears (it was originally a Bmw box ) shhhhhh
Title: Re: AR25 Level Plug - can't shift it
Post by: 05omegav6 on 15 March 2015, 22:29:34
Ah yes... Been Made Wrong... ::)