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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHA Better Oil Drain plug (One that doesn't strip)
Leading reported evidence
Run over
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
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The last time I stripped my LN, I ran over to the Porsche dealership and got a stock one to tide me over and ordered another LN.
Leading evidence: 'Run over' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check oil a lot more than normal so' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion
Due to finding debris in my oil filter I'd been changing and checking the oil a lot more than normal so that might have had something to do with it.
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Suggestion
Either clean the hole or tap on the bit lightly to ensure it is fully seated...
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Suggestion
I torqued the LN to factory plug specs and it should have been lower (first oil change I did on the 996).
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Suggestion
When I change the oil I hit the drain plugs with a few quick shots of brake cleaner then follow up with a blast or two of compressed air .
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Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261027T003124Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hi, has anyone found a better oil drain plug for the standard 996 3.4 l motor. I have had horrible luck with the factory aluminum drain plugs with the Allen head and am looking for something that I can fit a socket on. I think I don't over tighten, always use a torque wrench, 26 nm per the book.
Any thoughts appreciated.
The problem of rounding out the hex drive on the drain plug is not ensuring the bit is fully inserted before attempting to put torque on it...
If the hole is dirty or corroded the bit won't be fully seated. Either clean the hole or tap on the bit lightly to ensure it is fully seated...
I have R&R'd thousands of them and only rounded them when the bit was not fully seated due to dirt/corrosion or someone previously buggered it up..
I just hit it with some break cleaner first, insert the hex bit, tap it to ensure it's well seated and then attach a ratchet to remove it. Hasn't failed me yet.
You guys are right, I likely didn�t have the Allen key inserted all the way. However, seems like a questionable design that is very prone to failure. Was hoping someone made a standard drain plug that is more forgiving.
Thanks
No the design is perfect, the recessed Allen head keeps ground clearance maximized..
You can buy the design you want ( m18 hex-head) it is available, but it will hang down and reduce ground clearance...
Some RL members might be able to speak from experience that ground clearance back there is Im. Port. Ant. Like, maybe, if they took a bit too much of third gear over that whoop-dee-doo, and learned that the first part of a 911 that comes back down to earth is the tail. Not mentioning any names (***cough-me-cough***). A person in that situation would see sparks, and would later learn that they were from the cute little bolts that hold the sump cover in place. Because aluminum doesn't spark.
I have a Boxster S and a 996 C4 both with the LN Engineering drain plugs . When I change the oil I hit the drain plugs with a few quick shots of brake cleaner then follow up with a blast or two of compressed air . Then fully insert the correct size Allen socket and remove . Been doing this since 2015 and never an issue .
FWIW the LN plug doesn't seem to be any more resilient than the stock plug. I've gone through two of them in 3 years. The first one was my fault. I torqued the LN to factory plug specs and it should have been lower (first oil change I did on the 996). The second time, who knows? Due to finding debris in my oil filter I'd been changing and checking the oil a lot more than normal so that might have had something to do with it.
I'd still get the LN plug just for the magnet. Plus I don't think it's any worse than the stock one.
The last time I stripped my LN, I ran over to the Porsche dealership and got a stock one to tide me over and ordered another LN. Now I have an extra in case I ever do it again.
I'm also going to keep the above suggestions in mind when I do my oil & make sure the plug is clean.
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