VW Transaxle Drain/Fill Plug Tool

Missing LinkZ

VW Transaxle Drain/Fill Plug Tool

a product of Visual Diagnostics LLC

Contents:

[Return to the main MissingLinkZ page...]

Introduction:

If you have ever changed gear oil in a VW water-cooled transaxle, you have had to deal with that 17mm socketed drain and fill plug. In the past, people have used a 17mm allen key and also old lug bolts welded to a steel bar to fashion a removal tool, but those never worked well. A much better solution was a small adapter that let you use any 17mm socket or wrench that you already have (hint: 17mm is the size of the lug bolts on the wheels). The adapter will also work with an 11/16" socket or wrench and will also work with adjustable wrenches as well as with torque wrenches in case you prefer to torque your fill/drain pluigs.

17mm Socket Adapter Removing Drain Plug
17mm Socket Adapter Removing drain plug
Deluxe 17mm adapter Deluxe 17mm adapter
Deluxe Adapter for deep sockets Bolt adjusts for depth of socket

And here it is. Pictured above-left is the adapter, 17mm hex alloy steel bar to fit whatever 17mm wrench or socket you have. Pictured above-right is the adapter fitted to a 3/8" drive ratchet and socket to remove the drain plug, but if you have a 1/2" drive socket, the adapter will work fine in that as well. Works equally well on fill plug, too. Advantages of the adapter is that you can use it with any 17mm socket, and all the extensions, ratchets, breaker bars, torque wrenches, air tools, you have. Also, for deep well sockets, such as shown on the lower row of images, we make a deluze adapter with a center threaded hole and bolt to allow the depth that the 35mm long adapter fits into a deep socket.

A couple of handy tips before trying to remove the drain and fill plugs are listed below:

  1. First, make sure you can remove the FILL plug before you try to remove the DRAIN plug. Nothing like the feeling of struggling to get the fill plug out while the gear oil is draining out the bottom!
  2. Be sure to clean out the socket in the plug before inserting whatever removal tool you are planning to use. I like to use a small pick or screwdriver to get into the bottom corners of the socket and then spray it out with some solvent or cleaner to ensure the tool can fit fully into the socket.
  3. Then tap the tool into the socket of the plug to make sure it is fully seated. If it doesn't feel like it is in there solid, remove it and look for anything hanging it up like dirt or a burr, etc.
  4. Before reinstalling a plug, make sure to clean and inspect the threads. I like to use a wire brush around the outside to get any grit out of the threads. Then wipe off the area around the threaded hole and the internal threads. I find the grit in the threads of the plugs is a common cause of having them be difficult to remove the next time.
  5. Screw the plug in by hand and it should turn smoothly. If it feels gritty or gets tight too fast, pull it out and find out why before cranking it in farther. This is a slightly tapered hole and the plug should get gradually tighter as it is screwed in to make a seal. There are no washers or gaskets or other sealers involved in a leak free plug.
[Return to the top of this page...]

Ordering Information:

We have a limited stock of items such as:

4Crawler Offroad contact link MissingLinkZ contact link

Check out our growing collection of on-line design information so that you can make your own parts. Maybe you have a neighbor or acquanitance that can help or check out a local maker space or adult education machining class. Or engage a local or on-line machine shop to make them for you. Before you ask, no, we're not making any more of these items.

You'll find designs for body lift, suspension components and more, below:

Be sure to check out our Products playlist on YouTube for details on how many of these items were made.

There's a wide selection of on-line 3D Printing and Machine Shop services available today. A few that we've heard of:

We've sold out of this tool. If you want to make your own, pick up a length of 17mm hex rod and cut off a short length.

17mm Socket Adapter 17mm Socket Adapter 17mm Socket Adapter
Quantity:

Quantity:

Quantity:

SOLD OUT SOLD OUT SOLD OUT
~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~
Deluxe 17mm adapter Deluxe 17mm adapter Deluxe 17mm adapter
Quantity:

Quantity:

Quantity:

SOLD OUT SOLD OUT SOLD OUT

Notes:

[Return to the top of this page...]
[Return to the main MissingLinkZ page.. ]

Visitor # 26712 since 21.MAR.2002

[Last updated: 01.January.2025]