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I ruined the threads on my oil drain hole. Warning to all: make SURE you have the plug going in straight and well-threaded before you start tightening it with a wrench.
The car has remained on jacks for nearly two weeks now, as I've tried various remedies. The local auto parts shop ordered a "one size over" drain plug for me that is supposedly self-tapping. Just screw it in, they said, and it will cut its own threads. But even with an enormous amount of pressure, the thing will not cut threads. Someone else has since told me Volvos have some kind of tough-to-cut stainless steel insert in the drain pan that makes it impossible to use those self-tapping plugs.
My last resort is using a pipe tap to cut threads, and putting in a 1/2 inch piece of pipe to replace the drain plug. I'd like to avoid going that route, if possible; would be nice to keep the car closer to stock. But at this point, I'm ready to try just about anything to get this car back on the road.
BTW: I've seen the expanding rubber drain plugs, but some people have warned me they're prone to failure...spilling all the oil out on the freeway. Anyone had good luck with these, and if so, what size/style?
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