Oil pan plug questain

[packyusmc]

I changed the oil in my car yesterday. It's a '48 engine. I haven't been able to find a gasket for the plug. I got a do it your self material at O'Reilly and used the cork material. I used a magnetic Lisle brand plug. Now I have a major oil leak. Where did I go wrong? Thanks for your help

[Joe KCMO]

I do not think cork is a good choice. At the very least use gasket material, paper like. I do not have that gasket and my pan does not leak from the drain plug.

[V12Bill]

NAPA has the correct copper compression gaskets for the oil drain plug. Cork or paper will just tear and leak.

[packyusmc]

I also have an O ring.Its small diameter.Do you think it would work. When I took the plug out, didn't look like it had a gasket. It was the stock Ford plug.

[jerry shook]

when changing the oil in my 40 for the first time i noticed there was no gasket, put it back on without one and it don"t leak, should there be one ?.

[rotorwrench]

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Copper gaskets were the norm in that era 91A-6734. Some were solid copper washers and some have copper sandwiched around an asbestos inner ring to form a compression gasket as was previously mentioned. The 52-6734-A gaskets available now are fiber I believe which is also a common reusable material. Fiber washers were replaced with plastic in the modern era. Aluminum is also used more in modern times. FoMoCo and other manufacturers tended to use a semi reusable gasket or washer since most folks wouldn't go and buy one.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by jerry shook

when changing the oil in my 40 for the first time i noticed there was no gasket, put it back on without one and it don"t leak, should there be one ?.

Originally there was a gasket.

[Ross F-1]

Originally Posted by packyusmc

I also have an O ring.Its small diameter.Do you think it would work. When I took the plug out, didn't look like it had a gasket. It was the stock Ford plug.

No, on the O-ring. There's no recess for it so it will just shred if you tighten the bolt enough.

The copper washers I've gotten recently reflect the high cost of copper; I suspect they have as much copper as a penny these days. They aren't soft enough to do any good. Aluminum is cheap and works great.

[Joe Immler]

Most all of the suppliers of old Ford parts such as C&G and Mac's sell drain plug gaskets. I usually buy 3 or so at a time so I have them on hand. Why bother to make your own? JMO

[Thaplumbr]

Mac van pelt carries them,page 4 of the engine parts

[packyusmc]

I called all over town and couldn't find a copper crush gasket. I ended up with a thick paper gasket the right size. Will see how it works.

[alan]

make one out of a plastic milk jug--needed one quickly and since it works so good I have kept it for 20 years

[Bruce Lancaster]

Skim milk in cold weather, whole in the summer?? Gotta match it to the oil...