• 

  Sept. 22, 2009 4:47 p.m. FrankGrimes New Reader

  Okay.. the car: 1994 Acura Integra. First time changing the oil on this car. And a few things caught me off guard..

  1) Yellow Spray paint over drain plug/on oil pan

  2) Black Tar type stuff around drain plug

  3) What appears to be teflon tape on drain plug

  4) Thick copper washer(well thicker than I have seen on my volkswagens)

  Is any of this normal stuff? I'm assuming #4 is somewhat normal. A little google shows yellow paint is not completely odd. Couldn't find any info on black stuff or teflon tape. Previous Owner had the car serviced by some local garages.

  Basically... i'm worried that the plug is stripped, was previously stripped. The car doesn't drip oil, but there seems to be some oil on the bottom of the pan.

  My reference to this is the past couple mk3 GTI's, which seemed pretty straightforward with all this stuff(oil, mann filter and new washer)

• 

  Sept. 22, 2009 4:51 p.m. Nashco SuperDork

  1) Paint is normal from quickie lubes, shows that they were there and they tightened the plug.
  2) Somebody made a booboo and sealed it up with something funny.
  3) See 3.
  4) Typical, nothing to worry about there.
  

  Go to the dealership and get a new drain plug, washer, and filter. Compare the old drain plug to the new one. If they look very close to the same (same thread, size, length) try the new one out and see what happens. Report back, in either case.

  Bryce

  Portland, OR | '69 Bug | '05 Saabaru | '95 Impreza | '67 122S | '07 Sky Redline | $2009 AWD Fiero Hybrid

• 

  Sept. 22, 2009 5:03 p.m. NYG95GA SuperDork

  Teflon tape only works on tapered threads, which most drain plugs are not. I've seen it put on flare fittings, compression fittings, and plain old bolts. It's a waste of tape, and in some cases can cause more harm than good.

• 

  Sept. 22, 2009 5:04 p.m. DrBoost HalfDork

  Yeah, sounds like somebody stripped the plug. I'd buy a new plug and chase the ones in the pan for good measure.

  You know you are deep in boost territory when you get tire pressures and boost pressures confused

• 

  Sept. 22, 2009 5:13 p.m. Appleseed Dork

  +1 on the stripped threads.

• 

  Sept. 22, 2009 10:40 p.m. FrankGrimes New Reader

  It was a stripped plug, I feel kinda silly. There is just so much just weird stuff on this car(reference the fuel filter for the windshield wipers). The drain hold threads were good - bolt easily threaded in all the way by hand.

You'll need to log in to post.