arrghh plastic plug..

Anyone any tips on how I can the useless plastic plug out of the top of the thermostat housing on my 300tdi? The previous owner has managed to round the plastic off and I've tried cutting a slot in it but it won't budge.

I've already got a brass replacement but need to remove the plastic one to bleed the system as I've an air lock, resulting in a intermittant heater..just what I need this time of year!

Many thanks

Stilson or mol;e grips if ya can get a grip. or else drill 6mm holes about 5mm deep and use a drift and hammer to tap it loose.

cut two slots 90degrees apart and tap the smaller section out. Even better push some rag down the hole first, so you dont loose the loose bit into the housing. Or remove the housing first.

Or wedge summat into the hole
or drill 2 holes into it and use a pair of long nose pliers or C clip pliers to remove.

have you thought about drilling 2 holes,one at each side of the plastic plug,not all the way through so you dont get bits of plastic in your cooling system,then you could use some long nose pliers to undo it,put a screwderiver between the pliers if you need extra leverage.

hope this helps

Thanks guys, managed to get the plastic plug out with the advice given, however I got a small amount of the plastic debris in the housing, will this be a problem or should it be ok?

Also do you still need the rubber washer thingy when using brass plugs?

Cheers

twice_nightly said:

Thanks guys, managed to get the plastic plug out with the advice given, however I got a small amount of the plastic debris in the housing, will this be a problem or should it be ok?

Click to expand...

cross ya fingers..

Also do you still need the rubber washer thingy when using brass plugs?

Cheers

Click to expand...

Yes or a fibre one??

Most decent plugs come with a washer.
If yu get a bleed one, you rarely need to take it out again.

my brass plug didn't come with a washer but i used a oil sump plug copper one and seems ok
plastic self bleed comes with rubber o ring

lazydog said:

my brass plug didn't come with a washer but i used a oil sump plug copper one and seems ok
plastic self bleed comes with rubber o ring

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Ah, I've re-used the rubber o ring that was under the plastic plug on the new brass one, is that not right then? Their doesn't appear to be any leaks, although I still haven't managed to fix my airlock problem!

what sort of brass plug have yu got? Does it come with a bleed valve?

should be alright aslong as when you nip it up it dont bulge out and not seal

The Mad Hat Man said:

what sort of brass plug have yu got? Does it come with a bleed valve?

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No, it's just a solid brass plug...looks more like something you'd use on your central heating!

The one on the radiator was already done (swapped for brass) but the rubber o ring has again been reused and doesn't bulge, theirs no leaks but would this mean air could get in here?

It shouldn't do,
I sell the bleed ones tho, if yu want £3 a set.
They look like radiator plugs , cos that is what they are.