Apparently there are different styles of these plugs and mine are different from what I've seen posted. Some sources show a plug much like what is found on an oil pan: a straight-threaded bolt with a sealing washer. This only makes sense on a port that has a machined sealing surface. The surface around my ports is just the casting, so a gasket won't help. Other people show a set-screw type plug with an oring groove. Again, this is of no use without some surface for the oring to contact. What I have is a tapered set-screw plug, with a 10-mm square socket, much like the rear differential housing plug. No gasket.
Drain plug:
Fill port:
Why replace it? Because too many people using a 3/8" socket drive tip have buggered out the plug's socket. This became a real problem when my plugs seized up. Getting the correct 10-mm square socket and using a lot of patience succeeded in removing them.
The thread pitch is clearly 1.5 mm, but identifying the diameter isn't simple because of the taper. Also, the metric taper is a small angle that is difficult to see in photographs. Most web sellers can't be bothered to state whether their metric "pipe plug" is tapered and the first ones I bought were not. The exception I have found is these guys:
www.jwwinco.com
Their site explains that DIN906 is a standard for tapered plugs. I ordered a few sizes and 906-ST-M24X1.5-A fit nicely. I put some anti-seize on this time! It has a 12-mm hex socket instead of 10-mm square, but this looks to be stronger and a hex socket tool is readily available for a 1/2" breaker bar.
Original (left) and replacement (right) plugs:
Drain plug:
Fill port:
Why replace it? Because too many people using a 3/8" socket drive tip have buggered out the plug's socket. This became a real problem when my plugs seized up. Getting the correct 10-mm square socket and using a lot of patience succeeded in removing them.
The thread pitch is clearly 1.5 mm, but identifying the diameter isn't simple because of the taper. Also, the metric taper is a small angle that is difficult to see in photographs. Most web sellers can't be bothered to state whether their metric "pipe plug" is tapered and the first ones I bought were not. The exception I have found is these guys:
www.jwwinco.com
Their site explains that DIN906 is a standard for tapered plugs. I ordered a few sizes and 906-ST-M24X1.5-A fit nicely. I put some anti-seize on this time! It has a 12-mm hex socket instead of 10-mm square, but this looks to be stronger and a hex socket tool is readily available for a 1/2" breaker bar.
Original (left) and replacement (right) plugs:
