If only that were true. 20 years of wrenching on things and occasionally I still manage to confuse myself.

I'm not sure I trust these helicoil thingies. The old-fashioned way to do this would be to drill the hole a bit bigger and tap it for the new size (using a bigger bolt, of course).

 

This is wrong according to everyone else! I turned the bolt left (lefty loosey) which is clockwise to loosen it, I stripped the oil pan threads! Left is clockwise correct?

 

no.

 

Explain to me because I'm seriously lost here. When a clock goes clockwise, the hand is going left correct?

 

Only if your clock runs backwards.

"left/right" refers to the top of the bolt. Left is "<-" at the top, or counter-clockwise. Right is "->" at the top, or clockwise.

The whole left/right thing is dangerous, because left at the top is right at the bottom....

 

oh geez... all these years. Now I really feel like an ass. I always thought it meant looking at the front of the bolt.

 

no, when someone says lefty loosey, it means left as you're looking at the business end of the bolt, or the bolt head. NOT the thread end. lol

 

Lefty Lucy Right Tighty.

It goes with the top of the bolt. Meaning Counter Clockwise would loosen things, and clockwise would tighten them. I have yet to find something that is the opposite (In daily life).

 

Helicoils are actually stronger! They are made from high strength steel, and with more thread surface area you have more pull out strength.The only bitch is getting the helicoil to thread. But you know right away if it worked or not. I actually found out about helicoils from reading F1 magazine!

But that being said... you still have to pull the oil pan to replace OR repair. Might as well get another one. OR upgrade to a baffled oil pan?

 

Oh, I've certainly dealt with a few left-handed thread applications "in real life". Mostly inserts and similar situations.

My air compressor drain valve was left-handed thread. Very confusing. I eventually replaced it with a ball valve and have been happy ever since.