While my '04 F-150 (4.6 V8) was having its 105k service at the dealership today, I was told the oil drain plug in the oil pan needed replacing and it's a normal maintenance part that gets replaced periodically. The part only costs $8.73. But was it really neccessary to replace it?

Thanks

 

Is it leaking? If so, NAPA sells oversize plugs that thread themselves into threads that may be worn and not sealing.

 

Those things are a nightmare, and only a temporary fix. Eventually the threads will get torn up from the oversized plug and you'll ultimately have to replace the oil pan. We've had it happen a few times at my shop. Customers hate to hear it when we tell them that their oil pan needs to be replaced because someone put one of those plugs in and tore up the threads.(we don't use them at my shop)

I replaced my oil drain plug 2 oil changes ago, but just because the bolt head was messed up.

 

What did you use to replace your plug?

 

BS. The drain plug is not a periodic maintenance item.

 

...unless you periodically round off the head!

 

I have had one of these in my truck since new..works great : http://www.quickoildrainvalve.com/

 

It takes a lot of oil changes to require a new oil pan plug to be replaced. There is no reason I can think of to replace the plug as regular maintenance on this vehicle. Some oil plugs have an o-ring that can wear down, but rarely have I need an oil leak from a plug that was torqued down correctly. The number one cause of buying a new oil pan plug is most likely cross-threading. I had to buy a new plug this year for the 351w in my 1976 boat because the threads had simply wore down after 35 years of oil changes. If you assume 35 oil changes at 5K miles per oil change, you might need to replace your plug around 175K-200K miles on the clock.

 

I don't think replacing a drain plug after 100,000 miles is anything to get uptight about. The plug has a little rubber gasket on it that could easily be worn after being removed and replaced multiple times, so it doesn't sound to me as if the dealer is taking you for a ride.

FWIW -- I do my own oil changes and keep a brand new drain plug on hand for each vehicle I own just in case I notice one leaking while I'm doing an oil change here in the garage.

 

I replaced mine because the bolt head was getting rounded off. Autozone for $5

 

Maybe so, but:

No better reason disclosed?

 

^^ I think it all comes down to how you define "periodically" -- I suspect the mechanic may have chosen a slightly better word, since 100k is probably a tad longer than most people's definition of "periodically".......

 

I have replaced 1 drain plug in my long life and that was a used truck I bought that had some yahoooo oil changer that tightened it too tight and messed the threads up. I know the original owner wasn't the kind to change his own oil. Truck was only about 3 years old. I have changed my own oil my whole life and have never had to replace another pan plug. If you don't overtighten a PP, why should it ever get stripped or the head get rounded?? It shouldn't. I have always changed my SIL's '07 F-150 oil since my brother died. One time she didn't want to bother me so had a quick change place do it and wouldn't you know, THEY BUGGERED THE PLUG!!!

Quote:

it's a normal maintenance part that gets replaced periodically.

Only if you let idiots change it!!!

 

Thanks guys for your opinions. It sounds okay to have had it replaced. Since that dealership has performed every 5K service in the past 2.5 years, I didn't think they were ripping me off.

 

Oh, you definitely didn't get ripped off, you just deserve a better explanation than what they gave you.