Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Performance and Technical Chat

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-18-2022, 11:44 AM   #1
Registered User
 
bcrdukes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: GTA
Posts: 260
Oil Drain Plug - Proper Tool Size

Hi Folks,

I am curious what is the proper tool or size required for the factory oil drain plug? I've read that it's 8mm but I either don't have the right tool or I am missing something altogether. I want to ensure I have the correct tool for future oil changes at home. Thanks!



__________________
2001 Porsche Boxster S
bcrdukes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2022, 01:07 PM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: NorCal
Posts: 171
Garage
There all 8mm
__________________
2022 PCA Zone 7 Autocross Chair
2001 Boxster 986 (base) #414
-PCA GGR: Class Champion AX12 '18, '19, '20; CC06 '21; CC05 '22; PAX 5th '19, 3rd '20, '21, & '22
-PCA Zone 7: Class Champion P14 '18, '19; P02 '20; P-03 '22; PAX Champion '20 & '21
BrantyB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2022, 01:33 PM   #3
Registered User
 
steved0x's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: FL
Posts: 4,143
Both of mine have the LNEngineering magnetic drain plug, so I don't have an OEM plug to verify, but a set like this will have what you need:

3/8 In. Drive Metric Hex Socket Set, 6 Pc.
https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-metric-hex-socket-set-6-pc-69546.html?_br_psugg_q=hex+socket+set
steved0x is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-18-2022, 02:47 PM   #4
Registered User
 
bcrdukes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: GTA
Posts: 260
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrantyB View Post
There all 8mm
I can confirm that an 8mm hex does not fit this. Too small. I know that a 5/16 hex "works" but it's not a perfect fit and has a chance to strip the edges if not fully inserted and this is where I learned my mistake.
__________________
2001 Porsche Boxster S
bcrdukes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2022, 04:07 PM   #5
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,997
You ever get this figured out?
I agree with the others—8 mm is right. That's what I've always used.

And you say 8 mm is too small, but 5/16" works. But that doesn't make sense: 5/16" is SMALLER than 8 mm. Or when you say "too small" are you talking about the drain plug opening?
Frodo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2022, 10:44 PM   #6
Registered User
 
bcrdukes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: GTA
Posts: 260
Unfortunately, no. But is the correct tool an M8 triple square bit?

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/GRY1108S.htm?pn=TOL-GRY-1108S&bt=Y&fs=0&SVSVSI=1048
__________________
2001 Porsche Boxster S
bcrdukes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2022, 04:05 AM   #7
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,997
No, you want a plain ol' hexagonal Allen wrench, 8 mm.

Frodo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2022, 10:00 AM   #8
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: NorCal
Posts: 171
Garage
FWIW the oil plug in your picture looks odd. it only has very small indentations for a hex. I'm pretty confident that is not OEM or even a common aftermarket.

Here's one of the several drain plugs I have and all have more defined hex openings than the one you show.
__________________
2022 PCA Zone 7 Autocross Chair
2001 Boxster 986 (base) #414
-PCA GGR: Class Champion AX12 '18, '19, '20; CC06 '21; CC05 '22; PAX 5th '19, 3rd '20, '21, & '22
-PCA Zone 7: Class Champion P14 '18, '19; P02 '20; P-03 '22; PAX Champion '20 & '21
BrantyB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2022, 10:02 AM   #9
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Clifton, NJ
Posts: 1,135
Or its already stripped. Hard to tell from pic
Quadcammer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2022, 11:01 AM   #10
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,261
Seen this a thousand times, it is the factory plug after some moron repeatedly used the wrong size tool to undo it. Throw it away and get a new plug, and the correct tool.
__________________
Anything really new is invented only in one’s youth. Later, one becomes more experienced, more famous – and more stupid.” - Albert Einstein
JFP in PA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2022, 07:31 PM   #11
Registered User
 
bcrdukes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: GTA
Posts: 260
Sorry folks, I should have mentioned this in my original post but the oil drain plug I posted in my photo was literally purchased from the dealership and I took the photo at the dealership. Unless the dealership is scamming me (it is a corporate owned store) then I need to find a new dealership to buy parts from.
__________________
2001 Porsche Boxster S
bcrdukes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2022, 07:40 PM   #12
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: KY
Posts: 1,216
That looks to me like a torx socket, maybe a t40?

Porsche does dumb **************** with some of these plugs, like the triple square"anti theft" 5 speed transmission plug.

Id love to know the story behind this. A Porsche exec's mistress' husband finds out about the affair, and to seek revenge the husband uses an 8mm Alan key to drain the guys oil in the middle of the night, destroying the engine when the cheating bastard tried to go to work the next morning. He cabs it to work and the first order of business is to change all oil plug specs!

Sorry, it's late, I found that amusing...

Sent from my SM-G970U1 using Tapatalk

__________________
2000 Box Base, Renegade Stage 1 performance mods complete, more to come
When the owners manual says that the laws of physics can't be broken by this car, I took it as a challenge...
ike84 is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:00 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page