UPR Drain Plug Leaking?

[JBPLAY3R]

I'm glad things worked out for you and wish you the best, but I'd look to replace the rings the next time the plug is removed.

- Teflon tape can sometimes split, becoming "stringy" and breaking apart. If part of a threaded assembly and outside the environment that is the inside of an oil pan, great. If exposed to it, I'd be concerned about how it will react over time

- It reads like the root cause to the problem and others is the O-rings shrink over time, from exposure to heat cycles, oil and various contaminants. That's not a surprise. Or a flaw of the design. It is what it is

In August of 2024, I contacted UPR and asked about a replacement schedule, how often we should replace the o-rings. The following is their response:

"We recommend clean, inspect, and replace as needed. We do offer spare O rings of the correct size and material on our website.

https://www.uprproducts.com/upr-oil-drain-plug-replacement-o-rings/ "

yeah mine was brand new and leaked straight out of the box which was annoying so wanted to get it sorted asap as i hate little oil puddles under any of my cars, is more of a test to see how long it all lasts. I will always clean, inspect and replace (if needed) the orings each service, ive checked the orings and thread tape a few times since i originally did it and is still all good to this day (few months later). Ive tried a few stock yellow plugs also but they all seemed to seep a tiny bit but i do prefer the upr with 2 orings on it. PTFE teflon thread tape is the one to use as its all good in hot oil and wont deteriorate, each oil change i will replace the tape anyway.
Cheers

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[galaxy]

Because the stock plug has no magnet. And these motors like to shed steel.

FWIW, my stock plug leaked, and as long as I swapped orings every once and a while on my UPR plug, it never leaked. And I could wire it so I never had to worry about it backing out. I think Ford recommends replacing the oil plug every oil change.

Agree with the magnet and I get it, but I wonder if people get leaking/seeping from the factory plug because they replace it too often??

And the "replace" every oil change on Mustang/F150 is misinterpreted. In the manual in this context, the word "replace" means reinstall. Keeping with the context of the manual, any time Ford wants you to physically replace something, that item is accompanied by the word "discard" (I believe). No where in the oil change does it say discard the old plug and install a new one.

On a personal level, a need to replace that plug each use completely escapes me. It's not cheap insurance (dumbest term ever, btw), it's nothing. Sure, it's $4, I get it, but... There's no moving parts, nothing to fail. Maybe the plastic could get brittle over time, IDK. But it just has an amazing track record of no failures, soooo....

I'm at 45K miles on my original plug and zero seeping of oil. I clean and check the oring each oil change, but back she goes.

Oh, and you can also safety the factory plug as well!

 

[WItoTX]

Agree with the magnet and I get it, but I wonder if people get leaking/seeping from the factory plug because they replace it too often??

And the "replace" every oil change on Mustang/F150 is misinterpreted. In the manual in this context, the word "replace" means reinstall. Keeping with the context of the manual, any time Ford wants you to physically replace something, that item is accompanied by the word "discard" (I believe). No where in the oil change does it say discard the old plug and install a new one.

On a personal level, a need to replace that plug each use completely escapes me. It's not cheap insurance (dumbest term ever, btw), it's nothing. Sure, it's $4, I get it, but... There's no moving parts, nothing to fail. Maybe the plastic could get brittle over time, IDK. But it just has an amazing track record of no failures, soooo....

I'm at 45K miles on my original plug and zero seeping of oil. I clean and check the oring each oil change, but back she goes.

Oh, and you can also safety the factory plug as well!

You know, I just usually google these things. I've never actually read it in the manual in the context like you lay out, mostly because it's just an oil change, nothing serious. That makes a ton of sense actually.

Just to clarify for the sake of someone looking at this post in teh future. I never had a "leak" with the plastic plug, but a seep, meaning the oil pan showed some oil on it. But never a drip on the ground.

 

[Vlad Soare]

And the "replace" every oil change on Mustang/F150 is misinterpreted. In the manual in this context, the word "replace" means reinstall. Keeping with the context of the manual, any time Ford wants you to physically replace something, that item is accompanied by the word "discard" (I believe). No where in the oil change does it say discard the old plug and install a new one.

This is correct. That poor choice of words in the service manual has generated a persistent internet myth. The stock oil plug is meant to be reused as long as the o-ring is good.

I don't know about UPR, but I bought a Ronin as soon as I got my Mustang and installed it upon the first oil change. Four years and four oil changes later, it's still in perfect shape, no leaks, no problems whatsoever, and draining the oil is a breeze. Hard to imagine anything easier. Best eighty dollars ever spent.
The oil filter is a different story, though. I wish there was a Ronin for that, too.

 

[DougS550]

This is correct. That poor choice of words in the service manual has generated a persistent internet myth. The stock oil plug is meant to be reused as long as the o-ring is good.

I don't know about UPR, but I bought a Ronin as soon as I got my Mustang and installed it upon the first oil change. Four years and four oil changes later, it's still in perfect shape, no leaks, no problems whatsoever, and draining the oil is a breeze. Hard to imagine anything easier. Best eighty dollars ever spent.
The oil filter is a different story, though. I wish there was a Ronin for that, too.

Buy a oil filter relocator kit?

 

[19gtaz]

The new Ford oil plug, double o-ring and able to open slowly without popping out and making a mess. https://www.amazon.com/2017-Ford-Genuine-Drain-ML3Z-6730-B/dp/B0FJHT6F18?th=1

 

[galaxy]

The new Ford oil plug, double o-ring and able to open slowly without popping out and making a mess. https://www.amazon.com/2017-Ford-Genuine-Drain-ML3Z-6730-B/dp/B0FJHT6F18?th=1

Is that retroactive?

I was searching for that one, and just ended up cruising around a few different sites for products, and they all seem to promote a level of fearmongering and more than not, incorrectly state the factory plug is one time use. People that like to mod everything (I’m in that category) probably see that and either buy into it, or convince themselves the stock plug is garbage. It’s probably the most reliable part on the car, Hahahhaha. I’m the first one to get in line and buy shiney new parts, but this just seems to be an areas where ‘if it ain’t broke….’

 

[19gtaz]

Is that retroactive?

I was searching for that one, and just ended up cruising around a few different sites for products, and they all seem to promote a level of fearmongering and more than not, incorrectly state the factory plug is one time use. People that like to mod everything (I’m in that category) probably see that and either buy into it, or convince themselves the stock plug is garbage. It’s probably the most reliable part on the car, Hahahhaha. I’m the first one to get in line and buy shiney new parts, but this just seems to be an areas where ‘if it ain’t broke….’

What do you mean retroactive? It fits on vehicles that use the yellow plug. I put one on my 2018 F150 5.0 to slow down the oil when I remove the plug.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Yes, this! Asking $20 for two o-rings is beyond ridiculous!



So much for their "lifetime warranty"...

Same thoughts…. Go to ACE or some other hardware store that sells o-rings and get them in bulk - probably get a shitload for $20 and resell them for $5 each …. LMAO…

They’re not special secret o-rings…

 

[DougS550]

Most if not All oil filter and drain plugs are made of Nitrile or Silicone material. I have changed hundreds of oil filters, both cartridge, twist on as well as drain plugs with O-Rings. I inspect O-rings prior to install and if not damaged I do not replace them. But if your conscious drives your decisions then for piece of mind replace them

 

[galaxy]

What do you mean retroactive? It fits on vehicles that use the yellow plug. I put one on my 2018 F150 5.0 to slow down the oil when I remove the plug.

Yeah, guess that’s what I was asking. At first glance, it doesn’t look like it would work replacing the single o ring design. But good confirmation.

 

[19gtaz]

Yeah, guess that’s what I was asking. At first glance, it doesn’t look like it would work replacing the single o ring design. But good confirmation.

I thought the same thing so I took a caliper to the dimensions and they were the same except IIRC the inside diameter of the flow out diameter section was smaller, which is not a sealing dimension, which is a plus for me. Obviously the threads are longer to give you the added control of oil drain flow and that was my biggest concern. Like you I have never had a drip or leak from the original oil plug but I started replacing them them with oil changes after all the debate. I like the double o-ring setup but I never had an issue with the single. I have a friend who broke one of the tabs on an original removing it, but I'm not sure how you would do that. I'm looking forward to not having the oil come out like a rocket onto the stabilizer bar of my 18 F150. You can sit there and hold it in slightly to control the flow (but the oil is hot) and my old shoulders got really tired. I made a plastic funnel/deflector out of a milk jug that worked quite well but decided to try this. I have yet to drain it so I hope that works as expected. It definitely is sealing good.

 

[19gtaz]

Yeah, guess that’s what I was asking. At first glance, it doesn’t look like it would work replacing the single o ring design. But good confirmation.

Also the double o-rings are thinner. I don't know why they didn't just use two of the original size, maybe one of our engineering members can explain that. It may have been to fit two into the space of one.

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