07-01-2024, 12:02 PM
This is maddening. I put the original crush washer in last Saturday. No luck. Still have the drip. I did have a really good look at the plug and can't see any issues with it at all. The threads are great, the sealing surface seems good. The BMW washer that is stamped from aluminum does deform when torqued. The washer I took off was flat on both sides and the rolled edge from being cut from a sheet was gone and squared off. It also looked like it had full contact on both sides. I did not run my finger over the sump surface, but I'm seeing no issues with the washer surface.
I gave it a comprehensive look for other sources, like the oil filter. It was pretty clear it's the drain plug. I've changed oil in all sorts of vehicles, like a thousand times. I know that you put in the plug with your fingers so you don't cross thread, and that you don't overtighten it. I'm skeptical of torquing plugs as torque specs are almost universally too high and tend to strip the plug. Although I did torque the last two washers (very carefully) to comply with the BMW recommendation. Ultimately, I could try a flexible washer and see if that works. I've done that with hammered pans and it does work if the bung isn't too deformed. But before I get there, I think a conversation with my local BMW house will be occurring.
In the meantime, I'm putting a HD sticker on the beast.
I gave it a comprehensive look for other sources, like the oil filter. It was pretty clear it's the drain plug. I've changed oil in all sorts of vehicles, like a thousand times. I know that you put in the plug with your fingers so you don't cross thread, and that you don't overtighten it. I'm skeptical of torquing plugs as torque specs are almost universally too high and tend to strip the plug. Although I did torque the last two washers (very carefully) to comply with the BMW recommendation. Ultimately, I could try a flexible washer and see if that works. I've done that with hammered pans and it does work if the bung isn't too deformed. But before I get there, I think a conversation with my local BMW house will be occurring.
In the meantime, I'm putting a HD sticker on the beast.