Oil drain bolt head sheared off!

timmahh · 12-27-2011, 01:23 PM

VERY lucky the dealer was able to remove it easily and that my pan did not suffer any damage.. Just wanted to say be very cautious with aftermarket stuff; this bolt is extremely light and hollowed out at the top, which I think is what lead to the failure. I was tightening it down and on the last snug turn it just sheared off.. Didn't torque it down excessively etc. This was the 2nd oil change with this bolt, and I've never had an issue with factory drain plugs [i.e. i've never stripped one before].

So.. be cautious!

3_runner · 12-27-2011, 01:27 PM

... Well I'll be, never heard of that happening before. Glad the pan wasn't damaged.

mike3000fl · 12-27-2011, 01:31 PM

might be designed to shear rather than strip pan threads in an overtorque situation. sure it wasn't overtorqued?

timmahh · 12-27-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

might be designed to shear rather than strip pan threads in an overtorque situation. sure it wasn't overtorqued?

I'm pretty cautious about it because my all time fear during an oil change is stripping the pan or bolt and being SOL

smellfish · 12-27-2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmahh

I'm pretty cautious about it because my all time fear during an oil change is stripping the pan or bolt and being SOL

Mine too - I use that exact same bolt!

MCOChuck · 12-27-2011, 01:48 PM

Pretty surprised to see it shear! IIRC you’re supposed to torque it to 18 ft/lbs. Were you using a torque wrench? If so, what was it set to?

NiVeDh · 12-27-2011, 02:07 PM

Did you use a torque wrench? It looks overtorqued.

timmahh · 12-27-2011, 02:26 PM

I did not use a torque wrench; I've never used one during an oil change. Obviously it sheared off from being overtightened, but my point is I didn't use a friggin air gun or anything to do it..I think the bolt is just weak. I wouldn't say it was any tighter than I have ever wrenched any other drain bolt down to.

RupertPupkin · 12-27-2011, 02:30 PM

Have heard of these ECS ones doing that many times. Google it or search here its a very common problem, and definitely a design flaw. Its a shame it isnt better made out of solid material because the idea is nice.

Fail

timmahh · 12-27-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmydever

Have heard of these ECS ones doing that many times. Google it or search here its a very common problem, and definitely a design flaw. Its a shame it isnt better made out of solid material because the idea is nice.

Fail

I think if the core was solid it would have been ok; picking up the factory drain bolt vs. ecs one there's def. a weight difference, but I think it's not for the better.

Nalod · 12-27-2011, 02:46 PM

Seriously, y'all save weight using an cool looking drainplug instead of factory?

Can you feel the difference?

timmahh · 12-27-2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bargamon

Seriously, y'all save weight using an cool looking drainplug instead of factory?

Can you feel the difference?

No. The 'weight saving' is only relevant because the thing kind of feels like it's made from paper. It has a magnetic insert to catch the small metallic particles within the engine oil.

SilverII · 12-27-2011, 03:07 PM

stay away from it...bad stuff

RupertPupkin · 12-27-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bargamon

Seriously, y'all save weight using an cool looking drainplug instead of factory?

Can you feel the difference?

Award for dumbest, unhelpful comment of the day.

"magnetic drain plug"

ECSTuning · 12-27-2011, 03:20 PM

Ouch! I'm glad you where able to have it removed safely. We've sold thousands of these, occasionally one fails, I'm sorry this happened to you. If you'd like shoot me a PM and I'll get a replacement plug in the mail for you.

James with ECS Tuning

NoMods · 12-27-2011, 03:30 PM

aftermarket oil drain plug?

did it give you an extra 5 hp.

ErvGotti · 12-27-2011, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armoredsaint

aftermarket oil drain plug?

did it give you an extra 5 hp.

Runner up for dumbest, unhelpful comment of the day.

Please read above posts, this aftermarket drain plug has a magnetic tip that catches small metal particles in the oil. It's not for weight savings or extra HP.

In all honesty I'd rather have it shear than strip the threads in the pan. An easy out should have gotten that out no problem, but if it stripped the threads badly you'd have to rethread the pan to a bigger size and find hardware to fit it or buy a new pan.

mike-y · 12-27-2011, 03:54 PM

sure it's magnetic, but most of the motor is aluminum, so the benefit is questionable, especially after the break in period of the car. I don't think I've every seen someone post pics of all the metal shavings they've gotten stuck to their magnetic drain plug.

If you've got metal shavings getting past your oil filter, you have bigger problems than what a magnetic drain plug could help out with.

BANKAI · 12-27-2011, 04:02 PM

I haven't done an oil change on my BMW because of my maintenance plan, but I've done countless on other cars... and I never used a torque wrench either. There is usually a crush washer and you can feel when it "crushes," and therefore when to stop turning.

N0OS3 · 12-27-2011, 06:11 PM

the drain plug i got from Bimmian.com feels pretty solid... i'm pretty sure i torque it to more than 18tq but not so much i'm trying to rip my oil pan off...

i didn't get a drain plug to save on weight, that's for sure... the magnet proved its worth after the first oil change with it and that's the reason i got it

@mike-y i should have taken pics of the magnet after my first oil change... you'd be in awe, there was enough gunk and shavings on it i could probably compare it to the size of my thumb. Since then i've only had a few particles here and there, almost not even noticeable. My oil filter was fine too... my conclusion it was just 65k miles of particles saved up until the magnet did something about it...
the engine block is made from magnesium. Other components are made from alumimum though.

NoMods · 12-27-2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErvGotti

Runner up for dumbest, unhelpful comment of the day.

Please read above posts, this aftermarket drain plug has a magnetic tip that catches small metal particles in the oil. It's not for weight savings or extra HP.

In all honesty I'd rather have it shear than strip the threads in the pan. An easy out should have gotten that out no problem, but if it stripped the threads badly you'd have to rethread the pan to a bigger size and find hardware to fit it or buy a new pan.

i'm sorry i hurt your feelings on the internet and you fail on sarcasm

John 070 · 12-27-2011, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by armoredsaint

i'm sorry i hurt your feelings on the internet and you fail on sarcasm

LOL If it were me, I'd have rushed to a shop to get that garbage out of my pan. At minimum, a total waste of 7 good quarts of oil.

12-27-2011, 01:23 PM	#1
timmahh ghey 484 Rep 2,041 Posts Drives: Viertürigen Fahrzeugs Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southern California iTrader: (1)	Oil drain bolt head sheared off! VERY lucky the dealer was able to remove it easily and that my pan did not suffer any damage.. Just wanted to say be very cautious with aftermarket stuff; this bolt is extremely light and hollowed out at the top, which I think is what lead to the failure. I was tightening it down and on the last snug turn it just sheared off.. Didn't torque it down excessively etc. This was the 2nd oil change with this bolt, and I've never had an issue with factory drain plugs [i.e. i've never stripped one before]. So.. be cautious! __________________ 21 G05 > 20 G05 > 17 G30 > 14 F30 > 08 E90
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12-27-2011, 01:27 PM	#2
3_runner Private First Class 4 Rep 197 Posts Drives: 328xi Join Date: May 2011 Location: Cape Cod iTrader: (1)	... Well I'll be, never heard of that happening before. Glad the pan wasn't damaged.
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12-27-2011, 01:31 PM	#3
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	might be designed to shear rather than strip pan threads in an overtorque situation. sure it wasn't overtorqued?
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12-27-2011, 01:48 PM	#6
MCOChuck Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 228 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 328i xDrive M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 E92 328i xDriv ... [0.00]	Pretty surprised to see it shear! IIRC you’re supposed to torque it to 18 ft/lbs. Were you using a torque wrench? If so, what was it set to?
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12-27-2011, 02:07 PM	#7
NiVeDh Major General 422 Rep 8,003 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i, '99 E36 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA iTrader: (132) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [8.66]	Did you use a torque wrench? It looks overtorqued.
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12-27-2011, 02:26 PM	#8
timmahh ghey 484 Rep 2,041 Posts Drives: Viertürigen Fahrzeugs Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southern California iTrader: (1)	I did not use a torque wrench; I've never used one during an oil change. Obviously it sheared off from being overtightened, but my point is I didn't use a friggin air gun or anything to do it..I think the bolt is just weak. I wouldn't say it was any tighter than I have ever wrenched any other drain bolt down to. __________________ 21 G05 > 20 G05 > 17 G30 > 14 F30 > 08 E90
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12-27-2011, 02:30 PM	#9
RupertPupkin Major 92 Rep 1,456 Posts Drives: Freak Beast Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East iTrader: (5)	Have heard of these ECS ones doing that many times. Google it or search here its a very common problem, and definitely a design flaw. Its a shame it isnt better made out of solid material because the idea is nice. Fail
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12-27-2011, 02:46 PM	#11
Nalod Major 79 Rep 1,073 Posts Drives: 2013 535i Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NorthCarolina iTrader: (0)	Seriously, y'all save weight using an cool looking drainplug instead of factory? Can you feel the difference?
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12-27-2011, 03:07 PM	#13
SilverII Colonel 40 Rep 2,334 Posts Drives: '11 335IS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: DFW iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335IS [9.66]	stay away from it...bad stuff
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12-27-2011, 03:20 PM	#15
ECSTuning New Lifetime Replacement Policy 821 Rep 11,738 Posts Drives: Independent Tuning Specialists Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ohio iTrader: (18)	Ouch! I'm glad you where able to have it removed safely. We've sold thousands of these, occasionally one fails, I'm sorry this happened to you. If you'd like shoot me a PM and I'll get a replacement plug in the mail for you. James with ECS Tuning
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12-27-2011, 03:30 PM	#16
NoMods Colonel 1133 Rep 2,336 Posts Drives: 2022 M5 Join Date: May 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (10) Garage List 2022 M5 [10.00]	aftermarket oil drain plug? did it give you an extra 5 hp.
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12-27-2011, 03:54 PM	#18
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	sure it's magnetic, but most of the motor is aluminum, so the benefit is questionable, especially after the break in period of the car. I don't think I've every seen someone post pics of all the metal shavings they've gotten stuck to their magnetic drain plug. If you've got metal shavings getting past your oil filter, you have bigger problems than what a magnetic drain plug could help out with.
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12-27-2011, 04:02 PM	#19
BANKAI Private First Class 7 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	I haven't done an oil change on my BMW because of my maintenance plan, but I've done countless on other cars... and I never used a torque wrench either. There is usually a crush washer and you can feel when it "crushes," and therefore when to stop turning.
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12-27-2011, 06:11 PM	#20
N0OS3 Colonel 141 Rep 2,217 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oak Harbor, WA iTrader: (5)	the drain plug i got from Bimmian.com feels pretty solid... i'm pretty sure i torque it to more than 18tq but not so much i'm trying to rip my oil pan off... i didn't get a drain plug to save on weight, that's for sure... the magnet proved its worth after the first oil change with it and that's the reason i got it @mike-y i should have taken pics of the magnet after my first oil change... you'd be in awe, there was enough gunk and shavings on it i could probably compare it to the size of my thumb. Since then i've only had a few particles here and there, almost not even noticeable. My oil filter was fine too... my conclusion it was just 65k miles of particles saved up until the magnet did something about it... the engine block is made from magnesium. Other components are made from alumimum though. Last edited by N0OS3; 12-27-2011 at 06:17 PM..
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