stripped drain plug/am i screwed?

[banjosrunderrated]

I tried to get my (severely overtightened) oil drain plug out pulling back with straight pliers, tried using a chisel to pry back and spin, etc. with no luck. I finally bit the bullet and pried/ripped/pulled and got it out but all the threads were gone. I tried filtering the oil but couldn't find em. You think there's a chance they're still in my pan? I was worried about it, but I've driven it around with no problems--figured if the engine was screwed it would happen right away. Plus they might've been so ripped apart they passed through the filter screen. Am I being foolish by driving it right now? Thanks.

[GSequoia]

How did you repair the threads? Did you cut new thread and get a larger plug? I'd probably think about dropping the pan, cleaning it, tapping the drain plug and using a magnetic drain plug to try to catch that junk. You could always just drop a magnet plug in right now to try to get it.

Sequoia

[5-90]

Well...

1) Metal is "heavier" than oil. They should stay on the floor.

2) The oil pump parts should be hardened steel, while the thread bits from the plug are not. If they get picked up, there should be no damage to the pump.

3) If they get picked up and go thru the pump, a quality oil filter will catch the bits with no trouble.

Screwed? I don't think so. I'd have a serious chat with the yoyo who gorilla'd your oil plug in, tho...

5-90

[OT]

Every vehicle I have owned has gotten a magnet. Most people have blown speakers laying around (if you don't, then your not listening to your music loud enough). What I do is pop off the magnet and just slap it on the oil pan and all but aluminum will be sure to stay there.

[banjosrunderrated]

thanks for the replies everyone. Sequoia, I used a slightly oversized plug as a replacement. It was self tacking. It was a real bitch to get in, but once I got it, I backed it out and in, out and in, and it seems ok. Leaking a little, but I'm not too worried about that, I'll just get a bigger washer. I know I should drop the pan, but it's too frickin cold and I don't have a heated garage. 5-90, I am the jackass that gorilla'd it in. I've found anything in the garage to be a quick hangover cure but it seems to hurt the thought process. I always come at it from the passenger side to pull but this time came through the drivers side cuz of the wall and pulled like crazy until it just started spinning. I am the dumbest f'r around, I know. Thanks for the magnet tip too fellas, I'll grab one tomorrow.

Take care.