HP22 auto trans sump plug size (300tdi) - help

[mike123]

Hi,

I'm in a bit of bother at the moment. I've planned a service today for the car and whilst under the car notice a leak around the auto transmission sump plug, So I've tightened it a fraction of a turn and the plug falls out. This is what it looks like, it basically has no thread. (an auto-trans service wasn't on the cards for today!)

So, can anyone out there tell me what size bolt (and approx length) would fit it as I've managed to get the old plug back in but it is leaking and will probably vibrate out.

If I can, I'll get to an auto parts place today to get one.

Thankyou in advance.

[Disckombi]

It's an M12 thread -an autoparts shop should have suitable sump plug screws to suit if you don't have anything lying around. Obviously you will have to extract the broken piece from the pan but an easyout should get it easily. Only problem with replacing it with a plain screw will be you won't have the magnet to catch wear products etc - as you will be dropping the pan to change the filter you could just stick a magnet inside the pan (a lot of older autos did it that way)

Good luck

[Bigbjorn]

M12 x what? Always, always, always quote the pitch! There are 5 pitches in common use in 12mm diameter fasteners.

Did I say always quote the pitch?

Better yet. Remove the pan. Remove the fitting from the pan and install a bulkhead fitting in BSP or NP. Get rid of that metric rubbish.

[mike123]

Thankyou for the advice. I was wondering where the other part of the plug may have got to. There was some metal fillings on the plug but not too many however. I've the situation under control at the moment with a bucket underneath the plug and drop by drop it is draining. There's an auto transmission repairer about 5kms away and I'll call them in the morning to see if they have spare plugs. If no luck then I'll call ZF and see what they have and if all else fails then the M12 bolt for the time being. (ZF should be able to give me the pitch as well). See how that goes tomorrow.

Funny thing is that I may have jinxed myself as I was looking at a set of Easyouts this morning (before all this happened) and thought I don't need them. Murphy's law!!!!

thanks,
Mike

[mike123]

Did the ring around this morning for a replacement plug.

- Auto transmission repairer has no idea of the size of the plug and don't have any.

- ZF says that it is M10 x 1 bolt that doesn't have a magnet (as there is supposedly a magnet in the bottom of the sump). M10 sounds small but ZF checked again.

- I called a Land Rover dealer. The part number is RTC4647 and comes overnight from Melbourne and costs $20.

I'll play safe and get it overnight from Melbourne.

Keep you all posted.

[Disckombi]

I guess you'll find out when you get the ZF plug and pull yours out - but the ones I've seen have all been M12 (I think 1.25mm pitch) with the built in magnet like yours. I stripped one and replace dit with a M12 screw out of my bolt collection (didn't actually check the pitch, just tried it in the hole) then a thin magnet of the back of a speaker as my fillings collector

[Disckombi]

Just pulled the plug out of my "spare" ZF22 and checked - the sump plug is M12 X 1.5mm

Cheers

[mike123]

Hi Disckombi,

I picked up the new plug today and measured it and it is an M12 and 1.5mm pitch as you say.

Interestingly the rest of the missing thread wasn't in the hole. I tried to screw it out with and easyout but it didn't pick up anything, then I used the reverse end of a smaller easyout which fitted neatly in the hole to check if it stopped where the remaining bit of the plug bolt was and there was nothing there. So no remains. I had the tranny rebuild 7-8 months ago and I just wonder if they knew about it and took the easy way out and just put the old drain plug in the hole and made sure it would stay there until someone touched it.

The thread of the hole wasn't damaged and the new plug and washer went on without any problem.

Anyway, over the last few days 5 litres of tranny fluid dripped out, and I put 5 litres in it today. I don't think I have the knack of reading the dip stick correctly as there are two holes near the end of the dip stick but when I checked the fluid level it is above the two holes (in park, tranny cold, level ground, idling, had worked the gears and held for about 10 seconds in each gear P, R, D, 1, 2, 3.) Unlike the oil dip stick what has low and high marked clearly. I keep going back to the fact that 5 litres came out and 5 litres went went in so I must be around the right mark.

Attached is what a new plug looks like compared to the old for those interested.

Thankyou again for your help.

[Gumnut]

Yeah, that can sort of happen.... Mine is M12 x 1.5, and the local auto pro had plenty in stock for about $3.00. Said they were standard for a Mitsubishi, but no magnet. So I dropped a few old ones in the sump.

I had a bit of fun measuring the pitch across the stretched bit!

The local place also had the timing case and bell housing drain plugs as well. Got a few spare to make up a tdc locking tool.

Gumnut.