The oil pan bolt on my 2003 vulcan 3.0 has a recess on the bolt head for an o-ring. This is used in place of where you normally find a copper washer or white plastic seal. This o-ring setup is nice, and it works the best of any oil pan bolt setup I have ever seen. The factory o-ring lasted until about80,000 miles. So I have been using whatever I have had available in the garage.

Just used my last one and I need to get replacement. However, the replacement I had been using having only been lasting for two oil changes and they have started to weep at the end of the second oil change. The factory o-ring never weeped one drop in 75,000 miles.

Does anyone know what size o-ring I shoud be using on this? Or find one that will last 80,000 like the original.

 

Not sure what size... I'd just replace the whole thing!

 

That makes absolutely no sense what so ever. I have no interest in throwing money into a trash can. If I have to I will take the bolt up to the hardware store and match up an o-ring. However, it is much easier to ask the question here and buy the correct size before hand. Somebody on here has have to had to buy one and saved the info somewhere.

 

just replace the whole plug...theyre only like 10 bucks and its cheap insurance

 

I see the sense in it... lol. If you're still using the original drain plug and assuming you've changed your oil every 3 months since your truck was built approximately 8 years ago then you've removed and installed that bolt over 30 times. You can go to your local parts store and buy the whole plug including that o-ring for ~$2!

 

Wirelessly posted (Droid2)

Buy a new plug, and you'll know it has the correct o-ring on it.

 

So do that, bring the bolt size to the hardware store and match one up. At least you have one....

Or this....

 

Autozone

Felpro oil drain plug gasket-Part Number: 72515 $1.99
Dorman oil drain plug gasker-Part Number: 365269 $2.99

I agree with everyone else i would just replace it and it will last you another 75K miles plus you have a nice new drain plug

Dorman/Oil Drain Plug-Part Number: 65266 $3.99
Needa Parts/Oil Drain Plug-Part Number: 653116 $3.99

 

Soooo, $4.25 (factoring taxes and high balling) divided by 75k = 0.000056666666667 cents.

I don't see how that is wasting cash or "Throwing money into a trash can". That is more like pennies a month. Pretty good investment to me...

 

Absolutely nothing wrong with the drain plug. I have the felpro part # listed above and it is the incorrect part. It is for the older flat flange head bolts. I disagree with all of you. Buying a cheap chinese made bolt when I don't need one is a waste of money. All I need is an o-ring. I will just have to do it the hard way and bring the bolt into the hardware store to find proper o-ring.

I have never in my life seen a mass market auto parts store drain plug with the original gasket last 75,000 miles. The only drain plugs I have seen get damaged or unuseable after repeated use are ones that had been serviced by shops or quickie lube. I have done every oil change on this truck except the first one (free from dealer). The plug could be cleaned up and put in a dealer parts bin and nobody would ever know it was used. I know of no after market drain plug that uses o-rings they all use flat seals. The o-ring feature is not something I want to depart with.

 

just dont come bitching to us when the plug strips

 

The drain plugs we stock at work have o-rings. Why do you think your original plug didn't come from China? I'm betting it came from the same place the aftermarket ones do!

 

You don't have to worry about that, I know how to use a tap. I also know how to buy a #1 oversized oil pan bolt.

 

I believe the bolt didn't come from china because the quality of manufacture on it is far superior then anything I have ever seen come from china. Proof it didn't come from china? No. But I ask myself this why would I risk the chance of a part not working (new bolt) when I have one that has proven to me that it works flawlessly (old bolt)? The only part that is not up to par is the o-ring.

That is because I used a different then original o-ring. The ones I was using worked, they just didn't last long. I have exhausted my supply of those and now want to go back to the original size. Which is my question. What was the original size? After finding this out I expect them to last 75,000 miles again.