Open Road

I’ve never seen or heard of this.
Until tonight when I was finishing the cooler line job.


There is separation of the threads from the pan cast.
It’s intact, maybe 1.3 rotations , like an insert almost.
I don’t know what would cause this?
I always torque to factory specs.
I will try and trim it back and see if there is enough thread to hold plug. I have a spare pan here if needed but man. I need a break.

I have seen enough 928 oil pans to suspect that the factory used inserts for some model years and/or from time-to-time.

I have the Time-Sert kits for both the oil pan and water drain plugs. I’ve used them.

I’ve also fixed a non-insert pan by JB-welding the “shard” of aluminum torn from the plug seat by the crush ring.

Thanks Worf.
All my years of 928 research, I have not come across this before.

You are correct, it definitely was an insert. It pulled right out today.

I assume factory, nothing in the PO’s maintenance records.
I know you are a busy man, can you tell me any specifics about the kit you use? The hole is 21mm with the insert removed. Are there plugs you have sourced to fit in the certs you use?
Thank you.
Dave H.

I gave you a couple of links over on TOS. The last one is a pretty inexpensive kit from Amazon, if you want to go down the route of cutting new threads (which you'd have to do with the Timesert anyway),

Good luck

Thanks again sir.

Picture of a very-low mileage ‘87 with the insert which I think has to be factory:

Crumpler wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 8:17 pm I know you are a busy man, can you tell me any specifics about the kit you use?

https://time-serts.com/store/m20x1-5-kit/

but with 12mm inserts.

Crumpler wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 8:17 pm The hole is 21mm with the insert removed.

Are you sure? I’ve never removed the insert to measure. But, what I’d do is get an M22x1.5 bolt and see if it threads. If it does, I’d try an M22 drain plug:

https://belmetric.com/hex-head-stainles ... X1.5HMAGSS

Crumpler wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 8:17 pm Are there plugs you have sourced to fit in the certs you use?

Factory drain plug (M20 x 1.50) when you use an M20x1.5 Time-sert kit.

Perfect. Thank you
I will post results.

So the 22mm tap worked, but unfortunately would not hold torque on the plug.
My next move was to look at a 22 mm valve to JB weld into the threads.
Two choices, I went with the EZ valve. The more expensive German valve looked over engineered.
:)



Efforts have been made to never be the guy that ruins a track day by dumping oil, ever again.
New cooler, new lines.

Crumpler wrote: ↑Sun Aug 04, 2024 7:05 pm So the 22mm tap worked, but unfortunately would not hold torque on the plug.

In no universe did I recommend a 22mm tap.

Yeah yeah.
I didn’t want another insert.

I admire your perseverance with this car!

milrad wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 4:45 pm I admire your perseverance with this car!

You would be less admiring had you been behind me

The cooler line blew going into turn one at Gateway (WWT).
Literally the worst place on that track. Luckily it was SCCA. The PCA elite would have given me a lifetime ban.
How is the Gretch-mobile-reborn doing?

Oof. Yeah that would have been a lot of expensive PCA panties in a twist

That would also be a really bad place to wreck. Remember that red turbo that bit it there?

The Gretch-mobile was finished, and he twisted my arm to return it to him. He built a new heated and air-conditioned facility just to keep it in.

I now have an 87 S4 Auto, Grand Prix white over Mahogany, no rubbies:




It was nice when I got it, and I've spent just the about the purchase price again making it really nice.

@milrad your shop needs more dirt.

worf wrote: ↑Mon Aug 05, 2024 8:29 pm @milrad your shop needs more dirt.

It's filthy in those pics

Your garage is amazing buddy.
I love 928’s in white. The smoked out lenses look great with white too.
Hopefully Gretch was appreciative:)

I don’t remember that mishap, but I believe it.
I remember a C7 clipping the abutment, and then the guy came back the next day in a more expensive car which made me roll my eyes.