New Fumoto oil drain valve broke during install

Old thread but I had the exact thing happen myself earlier this week. My trusted shop installed one for me before the skids went on. A slow leak seemed to indicate an issue with the washer/grommet. In order to try and solve for that the shop went to remove the valve - with the intention of installing a new washer - and the threads seperated from the valve.

Replaced with an OEM plug. I also arranged a return to Fumoto (Amazon drop shipped by Fumoto). Crazy.

 

Torque spec on the Fumoto is hand-tight then 1/4 turn. Think that comes out to about 15ft/lbs. 30ft/lbs is waaaaay too much and will break!

 

Right, they did 1/8-1/4 turn. No more.

 

Exactly, why complicate something so simple and reliable. Imo it's the proverbial solution where no problem exists.

 

The tractor?

 

This is why I’m not convinced the convenience out weighs the risks.

 

I've commented before on the Fumoto valve, stating that they are used in several applications to include: farming, heavy equipment, trucks, both over the road, dump trucks, milk trucks, excavators, dozers, logging equipment, etc. etc. I'm using them on my 4Runner, the 4 stroke snowmobile, Ferris lawn mower, Yamaha side by side and have never had a problem with them, I guess I'm lucky. I hope you guys get this issue sorted out, I would like to hear what Fumoto has to say about the issue, and I definitely understand the being gun shy about them. Also, curious if the other kinds of oil drain plugs have any issues. I was just looking at a Cat engine at work in a log truck and noticed it had a Fumoto on it, if that valve failed going down the road, the cost would be more than our 4Runners are worth! Good luck on the investigation.

 

I'm clearly one of the small exception here. This far their response was an apology and shipping me a new value at no cost. No comments on the pictures, etc.

superiors customer service yes. Beyond that, confidence inspiring? Perhaps not...

 

Customer service sounds good at least. I've had no problems with the two valves I installed on my vehicles. I also bought the brass nipple to use with a hose and drain the oil right into empty jugs to skip the catch pan.

 

Some products fail from time to time. I haven't had an issue with these valves on three different vehicles. And...and I'm not the best when it comes to applying the right torque specs when installing these. But who knows... really, there are so many factors when it comes to handling these things.

 

I chose the ValveoMax and just did my third oil change with it. No problems so far.

 

I have both Fumoto and Valvomax. Not worth replacing the Fumoto but have been buying Valvomax on new purchases since steel stronger than brass. Just had to buy 1 this week for new vehicle added to the fleet.

My first oil change before Fumoto/Motiv added was such a mess.

 

Also same principle on aircraft! Valves on every systems.

 

Yep bought that same brass nipple. Great

 

I would imagine that drain valves like this on aircraft would be official certified parts designed from the get-go to be using drain valves with appropriate materials and dimensions that avoid complete failure by one simple slight overtorquing event during maintainance, or fatigue over time.

I’d think the same for heavy machinery, given the potential for huge damage if the thin threaded tube portion of these valves breaks as easily as the example in this thread. Maybe they were designed for these valves and have much larger threaded drain holes so that the threaded tube of the valve doesn’t have to be made so thin.

Something as thin as the one that broke on this thread seems way too fragile to trust when you have various people touching/maintaining the same equipment. While you wouldn’t think it would break while nobody is touching it, what if the last guy gave it a quick torque check and fatigued the tube, and didn’t think much of a little drip. That part could easily open up over the course of time and empty out a drain pan when you least expect it.

 

Yes obviously A/C parts will go through FAA approval/quality inspection and a price tag that goes with it, use to replace bolts that were 350$ a pop every 2 years on flight controls. The funny part is i never had a single issue with a fumoto valve here! Subi Forester and impreza, Toy 4runner and Rav4, Honda civic, ford escape and F150 what else... what i can say... wrong installation procedures? bad luck?

 

I installed a fumoto today. Fought the urge to over tighten it especially after reading this thread. No leaks and didn’t snap it off

 

Fumoto, Valvomax blah blah blah. What we really need to be talking about is replacing the pcv valve!!!

Who's with me?

 

After checking them out for 6 months, I just don't think I'm their target market. I plan on holding on to my 5G for as long as possible and I'm just not interested for a host of reasons.

There will be a new generation of buyers unlike me to keep the nameplate alive.

For context this is coming from someone who's owned a 3rd Gen, 4th Gen and 5th Gen.

 

Fumoto should develop a line of PCV valves. They'd sell millions.

 

The only thing I don't like about my Fumoto is I lost the plastic "lock" thingy. I have an RCI skid and eventually lost it because I couldn't get it back on correctly and it fell off. I have to contort myself just to get the valve open because of the size of skid hole. Other than that I really like it.

 

The valves used on A/C from Fumoto are manufactured the same way any of their valves are manufactured, they probably get safety wired,as does 95% of aircraft parts, don't believe they have a special section for A/C. The FAA certifies or approves the use of things as miniscule as wire. If a Fumoto valve were to be installed on an aircraft and say the A/P mechanic "accidentally" over torqued it, I'm willing to bet they would throw it out and get another one. There is NO room for error or, "it should be OK" on aircraft. As for the heavy equipment.. of course there are different sizes of Fumotos, the valve on a 15 liter Cat engine is no doubt larger and perhaps thicker in the threaded portion of the valve, and probably a different torque spec. assigned. The point was.. if properly installed Fumoto has been around forever on some heavy equipment, which is a very harsh environment and withstands thousands of hours of vibration, dirt etc. The thing is proper installation is crucial for anything to live up to it's expected standards. Fumoto works for me, and sometime I may try a Valvo-max, they are probably a good product..when used as directed.