Just done my first oil change on my fabia VRS 56 plate, turns out the garage I bought it off had retapped it to an m17. I couldn't find a sump washer anywhere. Eventually got one but its still not sealing fully. I have only found a fresh bolt and washer in a retapping kit for £12. 

The previous washer was squashed and distorted (aluminium washer), so wondering if they had overtightened it. I had to reuse the bolt as I wasn't sure what pitch or anything had been used.

 

Is it a fresh sump job? 

 

If so does it have a sensor or not? It's the BLT engine on a 56 plate VRS. Best place to get one (Ebay or main dealers)

 

Thanks

If it has already got a oil level sensor assembly fitted, then why not just replace like with like.

 

M17 bolt - are you sure about that?  I'm guessing if it has been tapped out a size and is indeed now M17, that the reason that the seal washer is getting wrecked is because it has also been drilled out to suit.  Can't you not just get hold of some aluminium plate of correct thickness and make up some new washers?

 

Edit:- just a thought, as the original bolt size was M14 X1.5, are you sure that you have not drawn out the threaded insert that the garage has fitted along with the bolt?

Edited 7 July, 20169 yr by rum4mo

As above,could have drawn out the helicoil if that's how they have repaired it.

Sumps are cheap enough,just the bolts on the gearbox end are hard to access.you will need 'ball' type ended allen keys.

You can see if you have a sensor fitted just by looking at the bottom of sump,the sensor will be visible.if it does not have one the circular shaped part where sensor sits will just be flat alloy

Ill have a check underneath again. The threaded end measures 17mm (over the thread) so that converts to M17 right?

I haven't got any helicoil or anything on the bolt, and there was nothing in the tray when I drained the oil. So I don't think it was done that way. I think I found the same kit they used here:

 

https://www.bodyshop-tools-supplies.co.uk/product_view.php?id=20935&gclid=CJ7b5uPu280CFdUy0wod4FoHcg

 

Just didn't want to get the wrong pitch. Returning to standard would make life easy for future changes. Although with all the faff of this one I might just get a Pela pump.

 

Are Ebay sumps as good as VW ones?

If you put "M17 crush washer" into eBay's search box, you'll find a range of options in copper or aluminium.  Only thing to check is the maximum OD and whether it'll fit into any recess there might be on the sump.

Edited 7 July, 20169 yr by Wino

Usual bolt sizes would be m10 12 m14 m16

M17 is not something i have used or seen of before. Sounds rather unique. And extremely rare. Id imagine m16 is more likely

Edited 7 July, 20169 yr by BigJase88

As above, not too clever an idea to go for "non standard" sizes, even if they are available, still you need to work with what you have now and a bag of correct washers would see you okay for the life of that car?