Oil Sump plate w/o drain Plug. Why?

[mark_d_mcguire]

Just made a huge mess in my garage trying to remove the sump plate. No drain plug, so it was full of oil, and I didn't get it off very quickly.

Is there a safety reason not to have the plug on an SC race car? If not I'm in search of the tpe I'm used to.

[pwd72s]

I have no idea why...bean counters? But somewhere along the line Porsche decided to eliminate the drain plug from the sump plate. You might search the aftermarket (billet carved) or the wrecked-em yards for an older plate that has the drain plug.

[Steve Marshall]

Starting in late 83SC's and all Carrera's Porsche put the drain plug in the block. These cars have a sump plate without a drain plug. So when you order a sump plate and don't specify the one with the drain plug, you get the one without it. Since all of the stamped steel sump plates are prone to warping, they are often replaced.

The PO probably ordered the sump plate, got the one without the drain plug and just went ahead and installed it.

[randywebb]

yeh - search here -- somebody is making a cast Al version that looks good - not too blingy. Until then, don't forget the drain pan.

Wait until you find out about the bean counting done on the CV joints.

[Steve Marshall]

The cast aluminum ones are great, but they involve the added effort replacing the stock studs because the aluminum plates are thicker.

[project 911]

Check out Mainely Custom for the billet plates.

http://www.mainelycustombydesign.com/engine_components.html

[sean m]

I got the plate with the oil drain plug from Mainely Custom.......it's a quality part and they are great to deal with.

Oh yea, make sure which plate you need, either the "regular sump plate" or the "turbo sump plate". I made that mistake.

Sean

[RichMink76]

Correct me if I am wrong, but if you have an updated oil pump (Carrera pump) you cannot use the old style sump plate because of clearance issues with the drain plug.

Rich

[Early_S_Man]

The purpose for the rounded-bottom sump plate without a drain plug was as Rich noted ... to allow use of the Carrera oil pump with fixed, rounded intake screen to be used in older cases that required a steel sump plate.

[bkreigsr]

Originally posted by RichMink76
Correct me if I am wrong, but if you have an updated oil pump (Carrera pump) you cannot use the old style sump plate because of clearance issues with the drain plug.

Rich

the billet plate (not cast) from Mainely is thick enough so that the plug does not protrude onto the screen

[rvanderpyl]

The no drain plug was from a German regulation to stop people from doing their own oil changes and then dumping the oil. Forced them to go to the dealer where they would suck the oil out with a pump and dispose of it properly. Can't remember where I read this but it could just be a Porsche urban legend.

[sean m]

I'm still a newbie........I had no idea I had a turbo sump pump. I ordered the wrong one the first time and had the problem with the rounded screen.

That's when the people at Mainely explained the difference and sent me the correct one.

Changing the oil is a breeze now.

[Norm Faustino]

I just finished modding my sump plate due to the fact that i could not get the newer style plate to work with my sump screen due to clearance issues so I mig welded a 3/4 " nut to the bottom and added a crush washer then cut it to make sure it was not going to interfere with anything. here are some pics.

[mark_d_mcguire]

Still picking up kitty litter today, there was alot of oil!

The screen was smooth, without an indentation for the plug that I vaugely remember from my other car. So maybe I have a carrera pump. I had a bottom end done in 04 after a piston disinegrated, so I need to check with my wrench to see what he put in.

I'll check out the Mainley item, as I don't need to learn my welding skills on a sump plate.

Thanks for the insight!

[randywebb]

Summary:

1. Mod your own sump plate
2. Buy the other kind
3. buy a new Al billet one
4. buy a new Al cast one - discussed on a recent thread

- Note the reports that not all solutions will work on all cars.

[rs6er]

I just received the billet one with the plug from Mainely Custom. It's a beautiful piece, complete with gaskets, nuts and studs. I thought the new studs were an extra bonus— didn't realize they were required because of the thickness. DOH! Oh well, 6 of the old studs came out when I was removing the cover anyway.

[maxc302]

Hi,
I just bought the Mainly Custom oil sump plate to replace my original pressed steel unit.
The Mainly kit came with two (thin) gaskets; do you use both or just one (and have a spare)?
They are not very thick, and I have a spare OEM from Porsche which is substantially thicker.
Does it need any gasket sealant as well, or do they go on dry?

[rs6er]

Iirc, I just used one gasket and no sealant.

[James Brown]

you know this thread is 6 years old, right

[gptom]

Originally Posted by rvanderpyl

The no drain plug was from a German regulation to stop people from doing their own oil changes and then dumping the oil. Forced them to go to the dealer where they would suck the oil out with a pump and dispose of it properly. Can't remember where I read this but it could just be a Porsche urban legend.

This is the correct reason for the deletion of the drain plug.

Tom