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> Galley plugs, How often do they really fail?
Porschef
post Sep 21 2011, 04:34 PM
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What kind of reliability is had with the factory plugs? I'm sure it's spectacular when they fail, but is it really that often? Is replacing them with threaded plugs just going to let me sleep better or is there more to it?

Any response is appreciated.

Thanks,

Joe
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Cap'n Krusty
post Sep 21 2011, 05:53 PM
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Not often at all, but the cost of failure is high.
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ThinAir
post Sep 22 2011, 09:23 AM
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I had one fail and because I thought it was "just a gauge problem" I didn't believe the oil light and ended up with an engine overhaul. Mine failed on the coldest morning of that winter when the oil was thickest because the engine wasn't warmed up yet.

If you are doing an engine overhaul then replacing them with threaded plugs is something you should do - no question about it. If you can tell that you have a leak from one of the freeze plugs then you are living on borrowed time and need to do it soon. I understand that it can be done without tearing down the engine, but great care has to be taken to avoid metal shavings in the oil galleys.
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Dave_Darling
post Sep 22 2011, 02:57 PM
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I had one pop on my old 1.8, first cold start on a cold morning. I did believe the light, so no permanent damage on that one. I had the car towed to my mechanic, who Did Some Magic ™ and fixed it. I assume he put an oversized plug in, but I don't really know what it was.

--DD
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Rand
post Sep 22 2011, 03:04 PM
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My last 914 dropped a plug on the garage floor in the middle of a cold night. Weird.
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914itis
post Sep 22 2011, 03:25 PM
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It is weird how they all happen when it's cold
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Rand
post Sep 22 2011, 03:55 PM
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Makes sense to me that it happens more often when cold because of thicker oil and higher oil pressure on cold startup. The strange thing about mine is it wasn't running, it dropped in the middle of the night parked in the garage.
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SirAndy
post Sep 22 2011, 04:40 PM
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QUOTE(Rand @ Sep 22 2011, 02:55 PM) *
The strange thing about mine is it wasn't running, it dropped in the middle of the night parked in the garage.

My guess would be different materials between the plugs and the case and when cold, the plugs contract more than the case making them somewhat lose.


Yours was probably already backing out before it finally dropped.
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HAM Inc
post Sep 22 2011, 05:44 PM
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The plugs are made of aluminum.
On our race cases I threaded EVERY soft plug, not just the main ones. You'd be surprised how easy some come out, I was.
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Jake Raby
post Sep 22 2011, 06:12 PM
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Lose an engine to a loose galley plug and you'll take them seriously.
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Porschef
post Sep 22 2011, 06:30 PM
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QUOTE(Jake Raby @ Sep 22 2011, 08:12 PM) *

Lose an engine to a loose galley plug and you'll take them seriously.


Jake,

That part is understood. I'm questioning their reliability.

Thanks,

Joe
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AndyB
post Sep 22 2011, 06:42 PM
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QUOTE(porscheless @ Sep 22 2011, 08:30 PM) *

QUOTE(Jake Raby @ Sep 22 2011, 08:12 PM) *

Lose an engine to a loose galley plug and you'll take them seriously.


Jake,

That part is understood. I'm questioning their reliability.

Thanks,

Joe

Interesting you state that in your initial post
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'73-914kid
post Sep 22 2011, 06:57 PM
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When I bought my car, the original engine had what looked like JB weld, or some sort of hardened epoxy over the galley plugs.. I am not running that case in my car, but is that considered even remotely strong? or is it pretty much a bandaid?

I mean, the goal is to prevent the plug from backing out. If it's epoxied in place, wouldn't that prevent it from ever backing out? I don't know, it seems like a cheap fix IMO, but it does seem to essentially fix the problem at hand..

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Jake Raby
post Sep 22 2011, 07:21 PM
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Anything other than removing plugs, cleaning the galleys exceptionally well and then installing threaded plugs would be considered a band aid.
The fastest way to find your way to mechanical hell is by taking a shortcut.

This post has been edited by Jake Raby: Sep 22 2011, 07:23 PM
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slu234
post Sep 23 2011, 09:18 AM
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Galley plugs, How often do they really fail?


Just once! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)
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r_towle
post Sep 23 2011, 09:34 AM
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Given that we are talking about two different materials and a 40 year old motor...I suspect it has out lived its designed lifespan.

Rich
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HAM Inc
post Sep 23 2011, 11:20 AM
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QUOTE
Given that we are talking about two different materials and a 40 year old motor


The galley plugs are aluminum.
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r_towle
post Sep 23 2011, 12:29 PM
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QUOTE(HAM Inc @ Sep 23 2011, 01:20 PM) *

QUOTE
Given that we are talking about two different materials and a 40 year old motor


The galley plugs are aluminum.

how many different types of aluminum are you aware of?
Its two different materials...one is cast.

Rich
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Porschef
post Sep 23 2011, 12:39 PM
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Ok, it's a moot point now. They're out from behind the flywheel, and they were pretty tight. Well, two were.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/monkeydance.gif)
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HAM Inc
post Sep 23 2011, 01:51 PM
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QUOTE
how many different types of aluminum are you aware of?

As far as I know there is only one "type" of aluminum. It is... aluminum.

I am aware of quite a few different alloys. And yes, I know that the case is cast of A356 and that the plugs are likely stamped from sheet aluminum, probably alloy 3003.
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