Leaking LN Magnetic Drain Plug!

[piper6909]

So I'm assuming the original drain plug is steel, vs the LN which is aluminum?

If that's the case, for those who want a magnetic plug, why not just put a disc magnet on top of the original plug?

They put magnets in tranny pans all the time, but those are made of steel and these oil pans are made of aluminum. If the original plug is steel, then a disc magnet should hold on it just fine.

Has anyone tried it?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by piper6909

So I'm assuming the original drain plug is steel, vs the LN which is aluminum?

If that's the case, for those who want a magnetic plug, why not just put a disc magnet on top of the original plug?

They put magnets in tranny pans all the time, but those are made of steel and these oil pans are made of aluminum. If the original plug is steel, then a disc magnet should hold on it just fine.

Has anyone tried it?

The original plug is aluminum, and the use of a steel plug in an aluminum sump cover is asking for trouble.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

The original plug is aluminum, and the use of a steel plug in an aluminum sump cover is asking for trouble.

Makes sense. But I thought the LN requires a lower torque than the OE Plug. If both the original and LN plugs are aluminum, why do the LN plugs spec such a lower torque and why are they stripping?

[ZDCATC]

Originally Posted by piper6909

Makes sense. But I thought the LN requires a lower torque than the OE Plug. If both the original and LN plugs are aluminum, why do the LN plugs spec such a lower torque and why are they stripping?

They must be manufactured differently (maybe someone else can elaborate with facts because I have no clue). But they're shearing apart because people like me are using the wrong torque spec or none at all. Also in my case, who knows how much force the previous owners were using for the other 5 oil changes. Factory calls for 444in lbf, LN recommends almost half that (230in lbf). There should be no excuse though; it says "26Nm" on the plug lol

[10/10ths]

....is less than the OEM plug because the magnetic part inside the outer plug body can “spin” inside the plug body if you over torque it as I explained above.

The Magnet is not aluminum. The Plug is aluminum. You have two different metals and vastly different hardnesses.

So if you torque the magnetic plug to the same level as the OEM plug, the magnet inside the LN plug can break away from the outer ring and spin and you will leak oil.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by piper6909

Makes sense. But I thought the LN requires a lower torque than the OE Plug. If both the original and LN plugs are aluminum, why do the LN plugs spec such a lower torque and why are they stripping?

From what we have seen, operator failure.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

From what we have seen, operator failure.

There has to be more to it. Maybe the LN plug is more finicky and less forgiving of the aforementioned operator error than the OE plug?

From what I've read on here, it seems that there's a very narrow window between not enough torque that the aluminum washer won't seal and too much torque that will strip the inside metal from the outer aluminum threads. That's just my observation.

[10/10ths]

....When you invest in the LN magnetic drain plug, it comes with instructions. And the instructions are on their web site.

Read the instructions when you buy a new product. Read the owner’s manual in your car. Engineers spent a lot of time and money and blood, sweat, and tears to engineer these things and then write up detailed instructions for their customers to make sure everything works as engineered.

But people are lazy and don’t want to take five minutes to READ.

People will drop $100,000 on a car, and then not take five minutes to read how to care for that car.

Forgive my rant, but I work in the automotive industry, my specialty is technical instruction.

I always ask folks, “If you bought a private jet, would you make sure you knew how to change the oil properly before you flew across the ocean?”

If you can’t take five minutes to read the owner’s manual, and make sure your car doesn’t dump out all its oil on a drive across Montana, then you shouldn’t buy the car.

Harsh? No. Reality? Hell yes.

RTFM.

I’m done. Thanks for your time. Return to your normal programming.

[piper6909]

Originally Posted by 10/10ths

....When you invest in the LN magnetic drain plug, it comes with instructions. And the instructions are on their web site.

Read the instructions when you buy a new product. Read the owner’s manual in your car. Engineers spent a lot of time and money and blood, sweat, and tears to engineer these things and then write up detailed instructions for their customers to make sure everything works as engineered.

But people are lazy and don’t want to take five minutes to READ.

People will drop $100,000 on a car, and then not take five minutes to read how to care for that car.

Forgive my rant, but I work in the automotive industry, my specialty is technical instruction.

I always ask folks, “If you bought a private jet, would you make sure you knew how to change the oil properly before you flew across the ocean?”

If you can’t take five minutes to read the owner’s manual, and make sure your car doesn’t dump out all its oil on a drive across Montana, then you shouldn’t buy the car.

Harsh? No. Reality? Hell yes.

RTFM.

I’m done. Thanks for your time. Return to your normal programming.

Here's the problem: The owner's manual is useless to those who have an LN plug, because LN specs much lower torques.

So if someone buys a used Box that came with the LN plug, then changes the oil and torques, as you said, to spec in the owner's manual, they will most likely damage the plug. Likewise, if they took it to an indy or quick oil change place that may not necessarily know that LN specs a different torque. Even if they use a torque wrench, they probably would torque it to the spec that their computer tells them, which is derived from the manufacturer's specs, not aftermarket products.

So instead of just blaming the user, you would think LN would have just developed a plug that used similar torque specs as the OE plug.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by piper6909

There has to be more to it. Maybe the LN plug is more finicky and less forgiving of the aforementioned operator error than the OE plug?

From what I've read on here, it seems that there's a very narrow window between not enough torque that the aluminum washer won't seal and too much torque that will strip the inside metal from the outer aluminum threads. That's just my observation.

I would not bet on that. We have installed a lot of these plugs, torqued them to LN’s specs, and never had a problem with them. That said, we have also seen quite a few that we did not install that had become “problems”. The common denominator between the two seemed to us to be how they were installed. After multiple oil changes (which we did), the plugs we installed looked brand new; the problem plugs brought to us for the most part looked like they had been through a war with Allan flats rounded off, parts of the plug head chewed up, and some in so tight that they must have been installed with a breaker bar.

[Frodo]

Geeeeeez, I wish I’d never stumbled into this thread.

After 11 years of virtually trouble-free oil changing experiences with my magnetic plug (sans torque wrench!) I’m just sure it’s all gonna go to hell in a handbasket from here on out.

[jaykay]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

I would not bet on that. We have installed a lot of these plugs, torqued them to LN’s specs, and never had a problem with them. That said, we have also seen quite a few that we did not install that had become “problems”. The common denominator between the two seemed to us to be how they were installed. After multiple oil changes (which we did), the plugs we installed looked brand new; the problem plugs brought to us for the most part looked like they had been through a war with Allan flats rounded off, parts of the plug head chewed up, and some in so tight that they must have been installed with a breaker bar.

Does LN supply the Porsche crush washer with their plug? If not I have I have been a very lucky dude..

[Qingdao]

… waaaaay to snipy; and I can't find the delete post icon...