oil drain plug question
 

I don't have my new to me used 2002 S yet but I'm studying a lot of forums to get educated. It looks like the oil drain plug is an internal 8mm allen wrench. I guess I'm old school and like a drain plug with an external hex are these available as replacements ? Or am I over thinking this ?

If you want to buy a new drain plug, buy a magnetic one from L&E Engineering. But, it's still internal.

http://www.lnengineering.com/store/catalog/billet-aluminum-hard-anodized-magnetic-drain-plug-2pack-p-183.html

First time I ever changed my oil I thought I had really hit the big time because of the Allen wrench set up...lol. Man I'm a nerd right?

I believe that the less stuff that hangs out below the car the better. Driving in winter and occasionally being a snowplough with windrows can be problematic because I have the IMS Guardian installed. Not only is the pigtail/nut exposed to the elements but the wiring that goes to the front of the car is exposed to ice and snow. So the original allen screw drain plug is a good idea as it is recessed and has less chance of being dragged on a manhole cover etc. :)

You want to know nerdy:

I insist on drilling all my drain plugs for safety wire, and the shoulder of the plug is quite a narrow space to drill from the outside of the shoulder to the center of the allen head socket area.

I earned my right to be a nerd though, I'm a hell'uv an engineer...

I will go one further trimer. I thought I was nerdy when.....I bought a torque wrench.
Sorry to hijack this thread. This could spawn a whole new thread such as I thought I was nerdy when.....:)

OMG....I bought the giant one from Lowes for $60 or $70....whatever it was. It's HUGE. I use it for my tires mostly. My neighbor came over and was completely envious. Awesome 12 year old guy moment. Torque wrench envy. The best. (....But he as a way better floor jack than I do....so we're sort of even.)

I've used both Dimple and LN Engineering magnetic drain plugs, they both work well as long as you TORQUE them to the proper setting.
I over torqued the LN Eng. plug and snapped off the shoulder of the plug BUT I didn't harm the drain pan, so maybe its a good weak link. Plug replacement is cheaper than pan replacement.
The Dimple plug is a more robust plug with a hex head and I'd guess i could damage the oil pan if I wasn't paying attention.

This " dimple " plug is that a brand/manufacturer ? Where did you purchase ? Is it a magnetic plug ? Thanks

Had that same experience, because I forgot from one year to the next that the magnetic plug requires 19 ft-lbs, not 37 like the original. Fortunately, after about 15 minutes of frantic searching, I found the original one and put it back in until I get another magnetic.

I totally agree that it is better for the plug to break rather than damage the drain hole. My first thought when I felt the torque wrench slip was that I had stripped the hole, and that wasn't a nice feeling. My relief at seeing the fuct up plug was indescribable.

"I earned my right to be a nerd though, I'm a hell'uv an engineer..."


GT alumni perhaps?

what's the good word?