Oil & Fuel Can't Believe This Happened

[BlacknTan]

Never seen anyone put a torque wrench on a drain plug in my lifetime.
Brian

My thoughts EXACTLY!

And I don't check all the fluids in my vehicles or tractor or other equipment before each use, so I guess I fall into the category of incompetence, but I'm sure I've got lots of company. I might do it when new until I become comfortable with the equipment's characteristics, but after that, I guess I'm taking a huge chance every time I turn a key or pull a cord. I feel bad for the OP's bad luck, but that's just what it is.. A Case of bad luck, bad karma or whatever you want to call it. I don't consider it carelessness, lack of knowledge or maintenance. The stars aligned in a bad way for this gentleman. Could have happened to any of us, and I hope it all works out well for him.

Hindsight is always 20/20...

 

[PHILIP8N]

my current 2011 Toyota Tundra that has a cartridge oil filter--not a cannister--and has a torque # for the cap that has an O-ring and a torque # for the drain cap--that has an O- ring and sits inside the cap. I think the EPA geniuses thought up this cartridge oil filter thing.

My 1950 tractor (designed in 1939) has a cartridge filter. Not too bad, lid comes off top, do not have to lay underneath to access, minimal mess. Now, my wifes 2007 Mazda, what a pita. It has a cartride filter, drain plug on bottom cap does no good, when you pull the bottom cap it makes a mess on me and tools, and I am laying underneath of it. I hate it, what is wroing with spin-on's. Why??? Philip.

 

[Bluegill2]

I've also never heard of using a torque wrench on a drain plug. Been wrenching on stuff close to 40 years, owned 6 tractor and 15-20 vehicles and never had a drain plug come lose.

 

[MoKelly]

This may be a stupid question, but, wouldn't a low oil light or some other warning light have come on once the oil level dropped such that the machine could be shut off before real damage occurs? Don't tractors have that built into the dash?

MoKelly

 

[TripleR]

My thoughts EXACTLY!

And I don't check all the fluids in my vehicles or tractor or other equipment before each use, so I guess I fall into the category of incompetence, but I'm sure I've got lots of company. I might do it when new until I become comfortable with the equipment's characteristics, but after that, I guess I'm taking a huge chance every time I turn a key or pull a cord. I feel bad for the OP's bad luck, but that's just what it is.. A Case of bad luck, bad karma or whatever you want to call it. I don't consider it carelessness, lack of knowledge or maintenance. The stars aligned in a bad way for this gentleman. Could have happened to any of us, and I hope it all works out well for him.

Hindsight is always 20/20...

I'm sure you have plenty of company. Someone who puts a lot of hours on their equipment daily will routinely do a pre op machine check on fluids and walk around. When I was farming, we did this every morning and greased everything up. Now that my use is sporadic with working from an hour or so to all day at different times, my pre op has changed. I keep my equipment well maintained, but I don't check fluid levels etc after each use which might mean checking for every two or three hour run time.

 

[ccsial]

I've also never heard of using a torque wrench on a drain plug. Been wrenching on stuff close to 40 years, owned 6 tractor and 15-20 vehicles and never had a drain plug come lose.

I use a torque wrench on my aluminum engines. Motorcycle and ATV's. They seem to strip easily from what I have read. Don't use the torque wrench on the tractor.

I know a few people who tighten things until they break. If you are not blessed with the touch it is better to use a torque wrench. If my wife changed oil she would need the torque wrench.

 

[cdaigle430]

We all have bad things happen from time to time. In reality its best to check every nut and bolt with a calibrated torque wrench and every fluid level on every vehicle or piece of machinery you own. Its impossible and you would never get everything done. In this case you were screwed by the dealer or person you purchased it from and most likely you will pay the price. For those on this thread who are giving poor advice like you should have done this or that or used a torque wrench my question to all of you is-are you for real?

 

[WayneJessie]

This may be a stupid question, but, wouldn't a low oil light or some other warning light have come on once the oil level dropped such that the machine could be shut off before real damage occurs? Don't tractors have that built into the dash?


MoKelly

By the time an idiot light comes on, it's all over but the cryin'.

 

[MoKelly]

By the time an idiot light comes on, it's all over but the cryin'.

Then what good is having the light anyway? Seems foolish to have the light if it isn't any help until too late.

MoKelly

 

[dodge man]

Unless you just happen to look at the dash right after the plug fell out, you would probably miss the warning light. I'm not sure how much time would go by from when the plug fell out and the engine locked up, but not much more than a minute or two. I know I don't check the oil in my tractor every time I use it, and I sure don't go around and check all my drain plugs and such. I'd say the OP used his tractor the same way most people would.

 

[PHILIP8N]

This may be a stupid question, but, wouldn't a low oil light or some other warning light have come on once the oil level dropped such that the machine could be shut off before real damage occurs? Don't tractors have that built into the dash?

MoKelly

Low oil level is not standard equipment on most engines, especially tractors where you can operate at more severe angles than say, an on-road vehicle. I have seen low oil level shut-off's on stationary gen-sets and compressors, but this is long run unattended equipment. Low oil pressure shut down is normally not on mobile equipment, it is a safety thing. Better to ruin an engine than have it shut off on you in a dangerous situation. If op's plug fell out, he probably lost his oil in a matter of seconds, same with oil pressure. No time to notice light or react. Philip.

 

[sixdogs]

Has he tried to restart the tractor after it cooled down? Seems like it should start?

 

[Bluegill2]

We all have bad things happen from time to time. In reality its best to check every nut and bolt with a calibrated torque wrench and every fluid level on every vehicle or piece of machinery you own. Its impossible and you would never get everything done. In this case you were screwed by the dealer or person you purchased it from and most likely you will pay the price. For those on this thread who are giving poor advice like you should have done this or that or used a torque wrench my question to all of you is-are you for real?

I wouldn't be so quick to say that. I'd be more likely to think vandalism first.

He also has a warranty and insurance!

 

[boggen]

i tend to check all fluids beginning of each day i will be using the tractor/machine. and if i know there is a leaky piece of equipment i will check 1/2 way through day. along with give a quick look over everything in the beginning of the day.

as far as the oil nut. it has not been the oil nut. but various bolts on equipment coming loose to busting to breaking. main reason i keep some wire and pair of pliers on tractor. so i can tie stuff up and limp back to the garage for a good repair.

have lost gas caps a few times over the years. have had oil dip stick for engine bounce loose. nuts on tires come loose. even when things were torqued. i run the machines so hard at times. and beat them to death not to mention vibrations and jacking and hee hawing. the tractors go through running over timbers and ruts and everything else. i am kinda amazed it is not seen more often of something happening.

drain plug / bolt though, would be one of them major "ouchers" ya just "cringe" thinking about it.

not even sure i would even be looking for an "oil" leak behind me. if i was bush hogging. i normally try and keep one eye forward one eye behind me. but an oil leak... not even sure if it would click.

when ya pull drain plug as it is, it does not take but a couple minutes to get all the oil to drain out as it is more so when engine and oil are warmed up to operating temperatures. not sure if a temperature gauge for radiator would even show anything and if it did i doubt i would even catch it myself if temp raised. i normally check my gauges every few minutes, but good amount of time between checking the gauges. once i had the machine up and running for 30 minutes to 1 hour pending on temperatures and what i am doing.

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if it is insured give them a call.

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hopefully you can get things into neutral so you can at least tow it / get it up on a trailer. to start tearing things apart, to diagnose what has happened. or take to a repair shop.

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you say engine will not turn over. but will the starter turn? and sort of clicking sounds? ya i would assume engine locked but.... start at the beginning, maybe someone did vandalize tractor and did more to tractor than just oil plug, or something got burned up, (wire for example) due to un wanted high temperatures.

hope for the best, vs new engine / rebuilding of engine.

 

[savageactor7]

Never seen anyone put a torque wrench on a drain plug in my lifetime.
Brian

YUP, that's my experience too.

 

[mvwicker]

Quote Originally Posted by 257NH View Post:
Never seen anyone put a torque wrench on a drain plug in my lifetime.
Brian

I have to use a torque wrench on my '92 Civic. It uses an aluminum crush washer on a tiny drain bolt in a steel oil pan, and my gut tells me "no way" when I try to tighten the bolt to spec. Any less torque and it leaks; the torque wrench is needed to overcome my reluctance to go "farmer tight."

 

[FunnelWeb]

Never seen anyone put a torque wrench on a drain plug in my lifetime.
Brian

I always use a torque wrench because I'm paranoid about having the plugs tight enough but don't want to over tighten and strip them out.

 

[Rockin' G Ranch]

Called the Sheriff and reported a vandalism to my tractor. The plug had marks on it like someone had used a crescent wrench or pliers. I also notified KTAC insurance and submitted a claim. The dealer came out with a trailer and winch and we got it loaded up and to his shop.
I'll keep you informed. Thanks for all the comments. Hopefully we can all use this as a learning experience.

 

[dodge man]

Hopefully you'll get it fixed on their dime.

 

[jefwyn]

Lesson learned. Always check your fluids before starting out for the day.

Standard practice for any competent equipment operator.

Hope you can get out of it without costing you too much.

Wow, this guy could have major trouble with his, new to him, tractor and he gets a lecture like that. He has more control than I. I would have told you to go **** yourself.