brickwall

1998 Lexus ES 300

I was following the DIY to drain/refill coolant and while loosening the rear drain plug it fell out. It is stripped the threads on the bolt quite badly. I can manage to get it screwed back in, but it does not hold a seal.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...r-97-01-a.html

I'm not sure what this bolt is called or what the part number is. I brought it to Napa and Advance Auto who didn't have a replacement. I'm hoping that a replacement will work and the threads in the engine area are okay.

Does anyone know of an equivalent I could possibly get locally, or an alternate idea? The guy at Napa recommended trying some rtv sealant when I put the bolt in, but I'm hesitant to do that.

Thanks in advance.

wonderbrea

ACE Hardware or a similar hardware store would be your best bet.

PFB

No RTV sealant.

LeX2K

Get a replacement drain plug from a wreckers or Toyota/Lexus. To restore the threads, you can use the oil drain plug from the engine they happen to be the same thread, but use a spare not your original. If the threads are too badly damaged to be restored, then the aluminum plate that bolts to the engine will have to be replaced.

It would be better to use an actual tap if you have one of the correct size, I used the oil drain plug because I did not have a tap the proper size.

brickwall

I have a replacement oil drain plug I can try using to restore the threads. How much might it cost to replace the aluminum plate that bolts to the engine? Do you think a local mechanic place would be able to fix it, or would I need a dealer?

LeX2K

If the coolant plate needs to be replaced any good mechanic should be able to handle it, but not sure exactly what needs to be removed to do it. Maybe have to drop the exhaust and some other stuff.

If I'm looking at the parts diagram correctly, the plate is called a cylinder block side cover about $30 at the dealer plus the gasket. But you should be able to restore the threads, the same thing has happened to me twice now removing the plug stripped it badly. This is a poor design the aluminum is very soft plus the plug is aluminum as well the plug should have been a different material. I put anti-seize on the threads to prevent this from happening next time I remove the plug.