So I fitted a new sump plug and haynes says I should tighten it to 30NM which is nothing. Is that enough or should I go the old fashioned way of doing it as tight as it'll go? Or can I somehow destroy the washer this way?

Edited 6 January, 201016 yr by MehMan

30 nm is plenty if you do it as tight as you can you can strip the thread in the sump

Tight's tight, Too tight is fucked

What about the oil filter? What could happen if you overtighten that? I used an aftermarket oil filter the last oil change and it was a longlife one, so it was twice as long as a standard VW filter. I could hardly get a grip on it and it ended up leaking after a month. I used an original VW filter now and it's much better! I could really tighten it, but what if it starts leaking again?

So I fitted a new sump plug and haynes says I should tighten it to 30NM which is nothing. Is that enough or should go the old fashioned way of doing it as tight as it'll go? Or can I somehow destroy the washer this way?

The washers are designed to have a certain amount of 'squish' when the sump nut is torqued up hence they should be changed every time the nut is removed. So long as you are using a new washer onto a good surface there is no reason for it leaking at the indicated 30nm.

Ian.

I've never done an oil filter tighter than hand tight and also never had a problem with them. Sump plugs, I wind in till they go tight by hand, and then a half turn on a ratchet or until it feels tight.

Yeah, things like that just need to seal. 'nick' them up and its fine.

Well, that takes some weight off my shoulders.

Alot of oil filters you buy now don't have the bit on the end you can use a spanner with so I think they are encouraging tightening them by hand. That's what I've done with mine and they've been fine.

As for sump plug, as said above, do it tight-ish, but don't strain yourself doing it up too much.

sumpnut normally hand tight and then turn a bit.

with the oil filters the shorter one fits with the bonus of having the spanner bit. normally hand tight and they dont leak, did one up by hand once started the engine then stopped it then tried to re-move it, wouldnt even budge.

I am a bit paranoid about either over tightening and stripping the sump plug or the sump itself , or not tightening it enough and the plug unscrewing so draining the oil and wrecking the engine. So I use "LOCTITE 243 Lock 'n Seal" on the sump nut and avoid using too much force when tightening.

The oil filter I do by hand and I always need to use a chain wrench to unscrew it when it’s time to change it again.

try putting a bit of oil around the seal of the oil filters. save the seal catching and causing a shit seal. hence leaks.

I am a bit paranoid about either over tightening and stripping the sump plug or the sump itself , or not tightening it enough and the plug unscrewing so draining the oil and wrecking the engine. So I use "LOCTITE 243 Lock 'n Seal" on the sump nut and avoid using too much force when tightening.

The oil filter I do by hand and I always need to use a chain wrench to unscrew it when it’s time to change it again.

bit silly! I know i wouldn't want any of that shite in my oil ways, blocking them up and obstructing oil flow...

Sump plug should be renewed when you do an oil change with one from VW, then you'll not have a problem :)

I am a bit paranoid about either over tightening and stripping the sump plug or the sump itself , or not tightening it enough and the plug unscrewing so draining the oil and wrecking the engine. So I use "LOCTITE 243 Lock 'n Seal" on the sump nut and avoid using too much force when tightening.

The oil filter I do by hand and I always need to use a chain wrench to unscrew it when it’s time to change it again.

bit silly! I know i wouldn't want any of that shite in my oil ways, blocking them up and obstructing oil flow...

Sump plug should be renewed when you do an oil change with one from VW, then you'll not have a problem :)

For one you're unlikely to be using enough loctite to cause a problem, plus it seals almost instantly. no worse than vw using silicone sealant to seal sumps with!

Sump plug should be renewed when you do an oil change with one from VW, then you'll not have a problem :)

Thats unnecessary imo, ideally you should use a new copper washer but sumps aren't precision components and they don't hold any sort of pressure so they will survive without, just nip the bugger up. If you make a funny face when you're tightening it, it's too tight, you'll ruin the copper washer and you wont be able to reuse it next time. Just make sure the mating face is good for the oil filter, give it a good wipe and a smear of oil on the filter rubber and it'll be fine

Trick I used from doing bikes was, to reuse the copper washer, heat it up on the hob in your kitchen until its glowing red, then allow to air cool.

I do the sump plugs up the same as spark plugs, if they use a sealing washer then tighten by hand, then half a turn with a ratchet (180 degrees).

Okay, another question. Could I've made it leak by overtightening it? If I leave the car standing over the weekend for example, a small drop of oil gathers around the sump plug. It doesn't drip, but if I wipe it off I can see the oil.

At least the oil filter doesn't leak.