[janitz]

I have a smaller torque wrench for doing those kinds of jobs, actually now that I think about it the large torque wrench bottoms out at 29 nM, and my small one tops out at 29 nM. Are you sure on the torque spec for that job? I could have sworn it was very low and in Nm not ft/lbs.

Your problem may be that your oil plug needs to be replaced. Doing it by the book, the plug is meant to be replaced each oil change to replace the washer. From the VW dealership you'll get the plug and washer as a single unit.

 

[janitz]

Thanks everyone. I believe the plug I have has a washer that doesn't slide off like you would expect.
On all of my other vehicles, I just socket-wrench-tighten as well and never had any problemos

I think Smileybug must have an older plug that is being reused. I asked at the parts desk when I picked up my plug last oil change, the original part had a separate washer but it's no longer current. The current part has the washer as you described as an integrated part.

Plug and washer from VW was only $3 CDN. I do my oil change at 8000km (5000miles), so I figure $3 is not very much, that's basically 3 times a year.

 

[janitz]

Yes, it's for the washer not the plug. VW put out the combined washer and plug so that their dealer techs wouldn't go and do oil changes and forget the washer.

Yes, they had to redesign the plug so that their dealer techs wouldn't screw up. Any questions about why many VW owners prefer to not go to the dealer?

 

[janitz]

I just picked up 5 drain plugs from my local dealership. I have a buddy that works in the Service dept. and gets all parts to me at his cost. He also said that you should just have to "snug them up" and then turn it another 1/8 or 1/4 tun. No need for a torque wrench.

5 drain plugs were less than $10

I like using the torque wrench because it feels like I'm being a very exacting German engineer.

ZEE TORQUE MUST BE CORRECT!