Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Boxster General Discussions

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-08-2014, 08:56 AM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
Second LN magnetic drain plug failure

So for the second time, my LN plug has failed, the shoulder has sheared off again from the threaded section. The first time it failed made sense. I had overtorqued it since Pelican said the torque value was the same as the OEm plug, 37 ft-lbs. They have since changed to the correct spec of19 ft-lbs. The new plug I have has been removed maybe 3 times and always torqued to 19.

I had noticed some oil on the garage, so a couple of nights ago I put down a piece of cardboard and had a good amount of oil on it in the morning. I thought, great, its the RMS or IMSB that failed. I looked under the car and the mating area between the motor and tranny were perfectly dry, whew!

Then I note a drip from the plug. when I put the torque wrench on it, the shoulder came completely off. I was very close to losing all the oil in my car.

I just don't have any confidence in the LN plug any more. Is there an alternative mag plug?

__________________
Current car

2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black

Previous cars

1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
san rensho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 09:19 AM   #2
Registered User
 
Heiko's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Guelph, ON
Posts: 981
Garage
Not trying to say the LNE plugs don't fail... BUT could your torque wrench be out? Too many people leave the torque set at whatever they last used instead of turning it back to minimum and releasing the spring... after a while the specs are way out to lunch... and the torque wrench is junk. Just saying it might be possible....
:-)
H
__________________
_________________________________________
Previously owned:
2000 Boxster S 3.2 Ocean Blue / 1974 911 Targa Silver
Heiko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 09:23 AM   #3
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: scotland
Posts: 24
see my thread yesterday on magnetic plugs mate im looking for one too
judd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 09:39 AM   #4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago suburbs
Posts: 1,675
I've had my LN drain plug since they were introduced...never a problem.
__________________
JGM
2002 Boxster S
1973 911 Green FrankenMeanie
PCA DE Instructor circa '95
jmatta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 09:43 AM   #5
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,261
Quote:
Originally Posted by san rensho View Post
So for the second time, my LN plug has failed, the shoulder has sheared off again from the threaded section. The first time it failed made sense. I had overtorqued it since Pelican said the torque value was the same as the OEm plug, 37 ft-lbs. They have since changed to the correct spec of19 ft-lbs. The new plug I have has been removed maybe 3 times and always torqued to 19.

I had noticed some oil on the garage, so a couple of nights ago I put down a piece of cardboard and had a good amount of oil on it in the morning. I thought, great, its the RMS or IMSB that failed. I looked under the car and the mating area between the motor and tranny were perfectly dry, whew!

Then I note a drip from the plug. when I put the torque wrench on it, the shoulder came completely off. I was very close to losing all the oil in my car.

I just don't have any confidence in the LN plug any more. Is there an alternative mag plug?
Weird. Unless it was a defective plug to begin with, there has to be something wrong with your torque wrench or sump cover (burr or ridge around the drain hole). We also have been using the LN plug since it was introduced, and with many, many customers running them for several years, we have yet to see a failure.
__________________
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 04-08-2014, 09:45 AM   #6
Registered User
 
steved0x's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: FL
Posts: 4,143
I've got the LN plug but it has only ever been torqued once as I haven't yet changed my oil a second time. ECS Tuning makes one now if you wanted try a different brand.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Porsche-2000-Boxster-986-Roadster_S-Convertible-H6_3.2L/Engine/Oil_Service/ES2587271/
steved0x is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 09:45 AM   #7
Engine Surgeon
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Cleveland GA USA
Posts: 2,425
I've used about 500 of them, every engine we've ever built has one. Out of those we've not had a single incident. There has to be come constant here thats leading to this.
__________________
Jake Raby/www.flat6innovations.com
IMS Solution/ Faultless Tool Inventor
US Patent 8,992,089 &
US Patent 9,416,697
Developer of The IMS Retrofit Procedure- M96/ M97 Specialist
Jake Raby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 10:04 AM   #8
Registered User
 
DennisAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 111
Where did you buy your plugs from? Could be counterfeits on eBay.
__________________
Base 2000 986, beater 1996 Miata, 2011 Suzuki SX4 AWD
Feline mechanics Condoleezza and Dukie
DennisAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 10:11 AM   #9
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
Quote:
Originally Posted by Heiko View Post
Not trying to say the LNE plugs don't fail... BUT could your torque wrench be out? Too many people leave the torque set at whatever they last used instead of turning it back to minimum and releasing the spring... after a while the specs are way out to lunch... and the torque wrench is junk. Just saying it might be possible....
:-)
H
I checked my click torque wrench with a beam wrench. Set at 20 ft-lbs, the wrench clicked between 225 and 250 in-lbs on the beam wrench, so I think I'm pretty close with the torque wrench.
__________________
Current car

2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black

Previous cars

1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
san rensho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 10:12 AM   #10
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
Quote:
Originally Posted by DennisAN View Post
Where did you buy your plugs from? Could be counterfeits on eBay.
I got it from Pelican.
__________________
Current car

2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black

Previous cars

1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
san rensho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 10:17 AM   #11
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
Quote:
Originally Posted by JFP in PA View Post
Weird. Unless it was a defective plug to begin with, there has to be something wrong with your torque wrench or sump cover (burr or ridge around the drain hole). We also have been using the LN plug since it was introduced, and with many, many customers running them for several years, we have yet to see a failure.
Sounds like that might be the problem. Now that I think about it, since I got the car, there has been a slight weep at the drain plug. But I have inspected the drain hole closely, thinking it was a stuck crush washer or an imperfection and I couldn't see anything.

I guess I'll get a new sump plate and see what happens.
__________________
Current car

2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black

Previous cars

1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
san rensho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 11:00 AM   #12
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MA
Posts: 880
It's not uncommon for the crush washers to have burrs on them as well. This would cause oil to weep by.
I always order a handful and toss any that look questionable.
__________________
98 Arena Red 986
Stroked & Blown is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 11:14 AM   #13
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,261
Quote:
Originally Posted by san rensho View Post
Sounds like that might be the problem. Now that I think about it, since I got the car, there has been a slight weep at the drain plug. But I have inspected the drain hole closely, thinking it was a stuck crush washer or an imperfection and I couldn't see anything.

I guess I'll get a new sump plate and see what happens.
You may not need a new sump plate if the existing one can be cleaned up or de-burred.
__________________
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 04-08-2014, 02:33 PM   #14
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
Quote:
Originally Posted by JFP in PA View Post
You may not need a new sump plate if the existing one can be cleaned up or de-burred.
Thanks. I'll take it to a machine shop and have them take a look at it.
__________________
Current car

2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black

Previous cars

1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
san rensho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 04:07 PM   #15
Registered User
 
woodsman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Land of naught
Posts: 1,302
Filing at right angles will produce a flat surface. You wouldn't have to remove the plate.
__________________
Death is certain, life is not.
woodsman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 05:16 PM   #16
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: It's a kind of magic.....
Posts: 6,261
Quote:
Originally Posted by woodsman View Post
Filing at right angles will produce a flat surface. You wouldn't have to remove the plate.
The plug actually sits in a recess, so filing it will be difficult:

__________________
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 04-08-2014, 05:36 PM   #17
Registered User
 
LAP1DOUG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 414
I drilled mine for safety wire, as I do all my drain plugs so that I have no tendency to overtighten. Torquing the drain plug sounds like a good idea, but I just snug mine up pretty well, and safety wire in place. Never any leakage.

I do wish LN had made the shoulders much thicker. They are a real ******************** to drill for safety wire.
__________________
Kippis

986S
991S
Van Diemen RF97
LAP1DOUG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 06:55 PM   #18
Engine Surgeon
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Cleveland GA USA
Posts: 2,425
I've found huge deficiencies with the stock drain plug surface of the sump plate.. We've had a few IMS Guardians leak because of these types of deficiencies.
__________________
Jake Raby/www.flat6innovations.com
IMS Solution/ Faultless Tool Inventor
US Patent 8,992,089 &
US Patent 9,416,697
Developer of The IMS Retrofit Procedure- M96/ M97 Specialist
Jake Raby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 08:27 PM   #19
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami florida
Posts: 1,591
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake Raby View Post
I've found huge deficiencies with the stock drain plug surface of the sump plate.. We've had a few IMS Guardians leak because of these types of deficiencies.
Do you have a solution?
__________________
Current car

2000 Boxster 2.7l red/black

Previous cars

1973 Opel Manta
1969(?) Fiat 850 Convertible
1979 Lancia Beta Coupe
1981 Alfa Romeo GTV 6
1985 Alfa Romeo Graduate
1985 Porsche 944
1989 Porsche 944
1981 Triumph TR7
1989 (?) Alfa Romeo Milano
1993 Saab 9000
san rensho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2014, 08:32 PM   #20
Engine Surgeon
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Cleveland GA USA
Posts: 2,425
Quote:
Originally Posted by san rensho View Post
Do you have a solution?
I've had to machine a few sump plates.

__________________
Jake Raby/www.flat6innovations.com
IMS Solution/ Faultless Tool Inventor
US Patent 8,992,089 &
US Patent 9,416,697
Developer of The IMS Retrofit Procedure- M96/ M97 Specialist
Jake Raby 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 06:23 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