The perversity of inanimate objects

[TC Chris]

Whenever some non-living thing does me wrong, I think of the wonderful phrase, "The perversity of inanimate objects." I had another encounter today and, thinking of the phrase, looked it up. One source attributes it to Kipling, by way of a discussion of the Canadian engineers' initiation ceremony, which is interesting too:

https://medium.com/eiffels-paris-an-eng ... 5a5ae3d57a

Another says it's from an American, Mr. Farquhar, in 1856:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistentialism

Whoever, it's obvious to me that they got it right: things conspire against us. Yesterday I went into the Mustang's garage bay to fetch something in front of the car. When I got there my foot slipped, which was a bad sign. I looked down and there was some brown fluid. Feel it--some kind of petroleum product. PS fluid? Engine oil? Bad new in any event. There's not enough room to kneel down and look under, so today I backed the car out into the alley for a look-see.

Peering under, I saw a big drop on the rear crankcase drain plug. That made me feel worse: it must be a leak from above, running down to the rear drain, the lowest point, before dripping. I myself had put the plug in, so it couldn't be loose or stripped. Rear main bearing seal? Aaargh. So I dragged the floor jack out and put it under the front crossmember and there was just enough room to move the handle enough to raise the jack. Add some wood blocks (a week ago I was making a fuss in a custody hearing about some guy who jacked his truck up and let the kids play under it; I observed that no rational adult goes under a vehicle on a jack without blocking) and then I could reach under with a socket on a long handle. Crawling under the Mustang is nobody's idea of fun.

Whoa!! It turned!!

So how on earth does a crankcase drain plug come loose? It's a mystery to me. The device must be conspiring against me....

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Is the seal still on the drain plug?

I don't typically experience mechanical conspiracies. I DO experience technical conspiracies. My cell phone hates me. The time clock at work hates me. I struggle with almost any interaction between me and a computer.

[19&41]

I once had a drain plug that would "loosen" on me. After tightening it a bit extra each time, I found it leaked because the plug was getting ready to strip it's threads. I discovered it when it did.

[TC Chris]

I always wipe the plug before re-installation so I'm 99.99% sure the little seal or gasket is on it. It's captured, as I recall.

And this is the replacement plug. The original one had threads that were close to stripped, so I bought a new one.

And there was no sign of leakage when I backed the car out for an unusual winter run in Feb. (roads dry, temps moderate).

A puzzlement....

Chris Campbell

[Hydrolastic]

I have seen the drain plugs that have a plastic washer and they fail by splitting and then they are loose then split more when you tighten them again. In my young adult years my MG would have an issue whenever my girlfriend would get in. Fuel pump would quit or the exhaust would fall off. It really seemed like the car was sentient. If it was once in a while it was one thing, but every date!

[Ken Doyle]

Always wipe the plug and pan clean with a rag.
Preferably, always use a new washer.
Always start the plug with your fingers, and do not over tighten it.

I''ve run many cars over 200,000 miles, and have never had a drain plug 'wear out'.

[electra225]

I was taught to run the drain plug all the way back in with my fingers. Only use the wrench to tighten it.

[Ken Doyle]

I was taught to run the drain plug all the way back in with my fingers. Only use the wrench to tighten it.

That's the best way, and power tools should be not allowed anywhere near the plug.