The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I would imagine this has been covered before but I can't find it. Done an oil change on the Toledo today and I noticed that the sump plug had been weeping, no obvious drips on the garage floor. Rightly or wrongly I wound a small amount of PTFE tape around the "outside " end of the plug threads - not run the car since. Are there any better solutions to what I think must be a commom problem? Thanks

It cant be to bad a leak if there are no drops on the floor? Are you sure its not from somewhere else?

Tony.

Yes I'm sure it is from there. I had the engine out last year and everything was cleaned well with new gaskets and seals, sad as I am I also polished the sump. There are no traces of oil running down from anywhere else but as you say it is only a slight leak.

It's a Triumph, if it's not leaking oil, it's got no oil in it.

SprintMWU773V wrote: ↑Wed Jan 09, 2019 9:44 am It's a Triumph, if it's not leaking oil, it's got no oil in it.

Very true

I've always used PTFE on the drain plug. You did wind it on in the direction of the threads didn't you?

Yes Mart I did apply it the correct way, I learned that one years ago when I was attempting some DIY plumbing. Thanks for your reply, I've rran the engine this morning and so far so good.

Its a tapered thread, so oil-tighness depends upon it being tight enough to seal but not so tight that it knackers the threads and / or taper. Almost all I've ever seen (lots) have been overtightened at some point, I think its because folk don't like the last few threads showing....

That's a good point, my threads look fine and there certainly is and has had threads still showing.

Strange. The sump plus is about the only place I have never had a leak on one of my Triumphs!