Help! Oil drain plug T273??

[TYMinColton]

Okay, maybe I'm just an idiot, but where in the heck is the oil drain plug on the T273?? I seriously can't find any "view" that resembles that shown in the service manual. Is the oil pan split due to the drive axle?

Here's what I see looking forward from the HST filter. I assume this must be the oil pan as it sits directly beneath the engine, but I don't see a drain plug.


If I look at the "black" unit I'm calling the oil pan from the bottom there aretwo fairly large "bolts" that look like this . . .


Are these "drain plugs"?

Can someone out there send me a photo of the oil plug in context? I'm at a total loss here. . . .

Frustrated in Oregon,
Pete

 

[Jando]

Yes, the oil drain plugs are the two large bolt looking things, one on each half of the bottom of the pan. I had to call the service department with the same question, I was afraid I would be unbolting an oil sump or something.

 

[TYMinColton]

Yes, the oil drain plugs are the two large bolt looking things, one on each half of the bottom of the pan. I had to call the service department with the same question, I was afraid I would be unbolting an oil sump or something.

Bummer . . . I was afraid that was the case. In my case, the red undercarriage that protects the pan has two holes that are supposed to allow access to these bolts, but they don't line-up very well. I may need to unbolt this first just to change the oil . . . .ugh. . .

Wonder why the service, parts, and owner's manuals all show just a single "standard" oil plug?

Thanks Jando,
pete

 

[Jerry/MT]

Bummer . . . I was afraid that was the case. In my case, the red undercarriage that protects the pan has two holes that are supposed to allow access to these bolts, but they don't line-up very well. I may need to unbolt this first just to change the oil . . . .ugh. . .

Wonder why the service, parts, and owner's manuals all show just a single "standard" oil plug?

Thanks Jando,
pete

While you have the "skid plate" off, why not drill out the holes so you can get access to the drain plugs. It's bad enough you have a bifurcated oilpan but to make it poorly accessible, is poor design practice. If your worried about a warranty issue, consult the service department at you dealership. Surely they see this problem regularly. See what they recommend.

 

[TYMinColton]

While you have the "skid plate" off, why not drill out the holes so you can get access to the drain plugs. It's bad enough you have a bifurcated oilpan but to make it poorly accessible, is poor design practice. If your worried about a warranty issue, consult the service department at you dealership. Surely they see this problem regularly. See what they recommend.

We're in total agreement about the design, but I doubt I have the equipment to drill a large hole. The skid plate has got to be at least 1/2" thick steel. Certainly something to take up with my dealer . . .

 

[Stumpshot]

You are probably past the oil change point but-----I loosened all 4 bolts and then removed the 2 rear ones and tilted the skid plate down. It allows enough clearance to get to the plugs without removing all the bolts. The holes need to be torched out larger to be able to access the plugs without unbolting. Next oil change my skidplate will get some serious torch work. Good luck!

 

[TYMinColton]

You are probably past the oil change point but-----I loosened all 4 bolts and then removed the 2 rear ones and tilted the skid plate down. It allows enough clearance to get to the plugs without removing all the bolts. The holes need to be torched out larger to be able to access the plugs without unbolting. Next oil change my skidplate will get some serious torch work. Good luck!

I ended up just loosening two of the bolts on one side of the skid plate. Turned out, this lined everything up underneath and I was able to pull the plugs and drain the oil in no time. Since I probably won't need to change again until next fall, I think can live with this inconvenience and chaulk it up to poor engineering.
Thanks!
Pete

 

[Tom59]

I ended up just loosening two of the bolts on one side of the skid plate. Turned out, this lined everything up underneath and I was able to pull the plugs and drain the oil in no time. Since I probably won't need to change again until next fall, I think can live with this inconvenience and chaulk it up to poor engineering.
Thanks!
Pete

Exactly, just drill the side holes out more to allow alignment. Not the drain plug holes. Much easier and you only need a hand drill and some decent bits. Mine were the same way. Just extend the slots.

I was going to have the dealer fix it, but it was easy enough.