Plastic Transmission Drain Plug leaking
 

Hi Folks, has anyone here actually unscrewed the plastic ZF 8 Speed transmission oil drain plug (the one facing down) as I have the dreaded leaking plug. I just tried lightly to turn it (tighten up) and with less force than the 8nm it has turned half a turn but not ready to go further. Given I replaced this pan no so long ago pretty pissed but a few pans can do this apparently?

Just looking for advice on the thread on these as I do have spare new oil to refill (again). Normally I would just replace the pan but given I am only 10k into the past service, hoping to see if just the seal and oil refresh.

I did watch a couple of utube vids and on one it advises to check torque on the drain plug before install and you know who didn't think to check that one out.

Update, went back and again used a 10mm Allen key on weak arm and continued turning and finally got the bind up like you get on an oil filter seal starting to grab so all up a turn and a half so guess the torque. I guess my failure to check and then the seal itself starting to age was the cause. I know I lost a cap full so not the end of the world.

I went through exactly the same thing. I used a 1/4" torque wrench and couldn't even get 6Nm before it would continue to spin. It bites then goes past and loosens again. It just randomly leaks now.

I went back to the seller on Ebay and to his credit as it sat in my garage for maybe 3 month, he sold me another one at cost and paid for the postage but I haven't got around to installing it yet.

It seems the raised sections are there to stop the plug unscrewing all by itself. Annoying If one gets caught out in travels given you just cannot drop any oil in to temp fix. I now have to wait and see if it goes loose again and that will confirm to me the threads are weak as piss. I got the genuine Oem one from BMW to so it should not happen.

Never had any problem there are 2 versions of the pan though, I just check the plug before I put it all on, never used a torque wrench on it though just hand tighten which is about half your 6nm............. never tighten it on a hot pan though. Got an ol done hanging around so might have a squizzie tomorrow.

UPDATE: the other day I grabbed the old pan I had stashed to experiment a filter only change on, tried to remove the bung, the damn thing was jammed tight I wrecked the plastic key hole, bloody thing............ I have noticed that on some vehicles listed on the ZF Catalogue their pans are alloy..... Having experienced the no drain pans on the WA580 boxes dropping a pan without draining first is something I have done a few times, though I could walk under mine back then......

If you need to add oil just have engine idling and pump oil in the fill hole, when it dribbles out its full, replace bung.... of course you need to raise the vehicle at least 150mm and have chocks on all wheels and leave the drivers door open.

Bugger me @Mousie, Ive been mozzed, been on the road a week and today I discover clean oil hanging off the bash plate, only one place has clean oil near there and sure enough the bloody drain plug looks like it has a slight leak, thought the plug was 10mm hex but mine doesn't want to fit, difficult with bash plate there ....... might see how busy the mechanic is at Texas if he will put it on the hoist and see how things are................ Pan has been on for over 20K km to date so hope its just something come loose and not a crack.... even lifted its damn hard to get underneath the bluddy thing.

Scared to say it but....'the mozz' is real !

ps: I better add...hope its just what your thinking n a bit of 'goo' can seal it if its not....good luck mate