New Sump Plug, Do we really need one.

[Fatso]

Gday , Does anyone know real reason why a new sump plug must be fitted for each service , I do my own service and faithfully renew the sump plug each time .
I asked an authorised landy place if they new and was told that the thread was only good for one use and could fall out if used twice , nah I cant except that, my thoughts are it might have something to do with o ring .

[101RRS]

What a load of nonsense - I have never replaced the plug and and just did an oil change this morning and did not change it. I inspect the O ring and do not not tighten the plug all that much.

I have used the same plug 5 times and there have been no issues - no leaks nuffin. I can see that it might be wise to replace it if it has been over torqued but other than that no.

Garry

[dadsDisco1]

It's so they can charge you more! Changed my oil yesterday, noticed a groove in the O ring so I flipped it over. However my used/re-used plug did leak prior, this time I smeared just a little gasket sealant around it.

[mike123]

Seems strange to replace a sump plug every oil change. I replaced the sump plug on our Disco 1 with one of the Fumoto oil valves (fumoto.com.au). It made the oil changes a lot easier and cleaner. Not sure if they have one to suit you car but probably they do. We don't do too much off-roading so it won't get knocked about but if we were doing serious off-roading then I'd stick with the sump plug.

[bbyer]

My understanding for the reason a new sump plug is to be installed with each oil change relates to human nature.

The 3's oil pan is cast alloy and the sealing surface is machined. This infers some sort of oil seal between the plug and the pan. That concept is nothing special and is now a norm.

Initially LR sold small packages of O rings, the idea being a new O ring was to be installed at each oil change. The bottom line was that the LR dealer techs would either run out of O rings, or install the wrong size O ring, or just reuse the existing.

On many an occasion, oil drained from the pans and engine problems resulted. Actually the major concern was these problems were occurring within the LR factory engine warranty period and hence it was tough to stick the vehicle owner with the cost of a new engine. That is what is considered a warranty concern requiring attention at the highest levels.

Hence the factory solution that was universally hailed as a great step forward was an answer that embodied a markup for all the players of import.

[silkhammer]

Yeah, several vehicles I've had have required the washer or complete plug to be replaced every service. I've always figured it's their way of ensuring a good clean seal every time, even if the previous washer/gasket/o-ring has been mashed by over-tightening.

In the non-warranted (ie older) vehicles I've had, despite them saying this I re-used the same one for many, many oil changes - just made sure it was cleaned and lightly oiled each time I put it back in, and didn't try and screw it through the sump! Never had a single leak.

[bbyer]

Seems strange to replace a sump plug every oil change. I replaced the sump plug on our Disco 1 with one of the Fumoto oil valves (fumoto.com.au). It made the oil changes a lot easier and cleaner. Not sure if they have one to suit you car but probably they do. We don't do too much off-roading so it won't get knocked about but if we were doing serious off-roading then I'd stick with the sump plug.

I just looked on the web site and see that the Fumoto looks like what I call a quick drain. I have about the same thing with a nipple sticking out on the bottom of the oil pan on my Lycoming O-320 engine. It works well and saves removing the lower cowling just to drain the oil.

I never thought about putting one on an vehicle engine.

Oil Sump Drain Valves - Chief Aircraft Inc.

[Weird Al]

I notice the sump of the 3.0L D4 has a quick release fitting hose at its lowest point.

Is there a reason we shouldnt use it as an oil drain and not bother with the sump plug at all?

[Damo4runner]

Just questioning the actual oil change process of replacing the sump plug at the oil change. Do we really need a new sump plug or is it just a change as needed thing, I have only ever replaced one, out of all the cars and 4x4's that I have ever owned, sump washers yes but never the sump plug just because of an oil change,

[Toxic_Avenger]

does the sump plug have a captive copper washer?
If so, it would be best practice (but not necessarily mandatory) to replace it.