Yesterday afternoon I planned to change the oil in my X300 and for the first time couldn't loosen the oil drain plug. I've been changing oil in our family cars for many years and this was a first. I guess with the 30mm plug and the long combo wrench I torqued it down too tight last time.

Anyway, last night I ordered a 30mm inpact ready socket that I'll use with my impact wrench this week to loosen the plug, then use my regular combo wrench with less force to tighten. Frustrating when you're the guy creating issues with your maintenance. Just venting.

 

I've had similar problems with tightening screws in aluminum engines in the past.
I always use a modestly sized ratchet and/or combo wrench in order to reduce the torque applied when tightening fasteners. Experince and wisdom, with which us old farts can enlighten the youngsters. Where in Florida are you GatorJoe; I'm in Tampa Bay?

 

I live just outside Gainesville, and work in Gainesville. I'm near Tampa Bay often as I have two kids in college in St. Pete. I could live in St. Pete.

I hadn't considered the softness of the aluminum material. Good point. I need to get the plug just tight enough to keep the oil in .

 

The spec for the drain plug is 50-60Nm (about 37-44 ft-lb) so it's a fair amount of torque. I'm surprised you can't get the plug off, did you try with a breaker bar and an extension?

 

I was too close to the ground to get sufficient leverage.

 

I think my drain plug has a self-tightening feature. I install it with what seems to be the minimal amount of oomph possible without worrying about the darn thing falling out. Then, without fail, 5000 miles later I need a 18" breaker bar and a rubber mallet to remove it.

Cheers
DD

 

I think the spec was boosted to 64nm via TSB
I'd be surprised if you put more than that on it just trying to ensure it won't leak...it's at least a 1-farter to get to 64nm.....
(sorry, just remembered the TSB is on my other computer....but I grabbed it from the TSB stickies....was looking for something else and noticed that b/c I have routinely tightened to 50 nm)

 

Well the 30mm socket on my impact driver worked great....too great, and too fast. I thought I might get a small oil leak on the garage floor, but I got more than I bargained for. Cat littler is doing its job on the spill tonight. This time, not too tight on the plug with the combo wrench.

Also, just as an FYI, I've been going back and forth with Mann and Wix oil filters, and although unscientific, it seems that the Wix filters "find" the threads much easier when installing than the Manns, which is good when dealing with such tight confines.

 

That's interesting about the filters. I've been using Mann without a problem. I wonder if the threads on the car are bunged up a little, and the Wix has a looser fit.

 

The proper Jaguar oil plug sealing ring has a rubber gasket to seal.
SMASHING the steel ring into the pan does little to help the rubber sealing ring.

Jaguar chose poorly to use a 30mm head on the drain plug because the wrench used is too long for most people to just 'snug the plug'.

I made a lot of money replacing pans and installing thread inserts.

bob gauff

 

I once purchased an X300 from a guy who had done that.



Unlike Doug, i didn't get paid to change it!

Graham

 

We've probably all learned the hard way from over tightening in the past. I tend not to worry about torque value on this plug. Get the car up on ramps (better access allows for shorter reach to the plug without long bar extensions, also with the plug being at the rear of the pan it may give a more complete drain), finger tighten to contact the faces, a *very moderate* tug on the wrench and then leave it. Look underneath after a short run, no leaks means job done.

Doug, maybe there is a secret self-tightening action after all!! I have the same issue with removing the plug. I don't use a longer wrench than I tightened it with, but it sure takes more force to undo than I applied at tightening!

 

^^

that's odd .. the southern hemisphere is supposed to have a self-loosening effect

 

I never understood why the drain bolt is so large on these models.

 

Neither over-tightening nor under-tightening is good but I heard of a story about under-tightening that ended up in catastrophic engine disaster .
Either of choose ? I think over-tightening

 

Nah Plums, its all a myth!! Mind you, our rivers do flow upstream.....

 

Me too:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...in-plug-96380/

 

i was young and over tightened the oil pan bolt on my car.

this made the bolt just spin and not seal properly. i had to end up replacing the oil pan witch was ALOT OF MONEY. i had to get the oil pan seal. i had to remove my exhaust to get to the pan it was such a bitch. it was a night mare. i have to re buy the oil what a waste