Doing my first oil change and wanted to know what is the white sealant on the oil plugs? Teflon?

 

Just a new o-ring seems to work well when I do an oil change. No leaks for two Yeats.

 

It's Loctite 565.... the dealer sells it if you can't find it anywhere else.

It is on the drain plugs from the factory.

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+1

The 0-rings on the plugs are what "seal" them from leaking.

 

I've -NEVER- used any kind of Loctite on my fluid drain plugs (on several different Harleys), and they've -NEVER- leaked or come loose.

Just make sure the O-ring is in good shape and replace it if it's frayed.

I'd suggest that you DO NOT USE a 5/8" wrench on the plugs when you reinstall the bolts.

Instead, use a 1/4" allen wrench. Thread the bolts in BY HAND, and once they're snug, tighten up "pretty good" with your hand. You won't over-torque it with the palm of your hand. I've seen numerous posts here from guys who used torque wrenches putting the bolts back in, and then.... stripped the threads out.

 

Well, as I said.... it's on there from the factory. Use it or not is certainly up to you.

FWIW.... Not everything with Loctite in the name is a thread locker. In this case I think it's more of a sealer. It hardens just enough that it would probably keep a loose drain plug from just vibrating out.


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Same here. The torque-spec for those plugs is ridiculously high. No way would I put that much torque on a plug going into aluminum.

Good-n-snug is fine, IMO. Never had a leak or stripped threads, and I don't use "sealant" either.

But, to each his own. That's just me.

 

565 is an interesting compound, its use seems to be misunderstood. Steel and Aluminum do not like each other, so on a new assembly out of the factory its use on the dry plug threads really does make sense. 565 offers lubrication and creates a barrier, acting as a sealer and retainer are benefits as well.

 

I have always just wrapped the threads in Teflon thread tape.
Don't know if its necessary but it never leaks. Pretty hard to fix a leak once the oil has been added, could be costly.

 

I have use Teflon plumbers paste for years & it works fine.