What does it mean to "tap" a drain plug thread?

[baker5150]

If it's a common problem, maybe look at an aftermarket pan?  I personally wouldn't want to replace it with a new pan that could have the same issue with stripping out.
Depending on Make and Model truck, aftermarket pans may be available.

[mazama]

Oil plug on my diesel pickup was loosedid'nt feel like fixing it so I cleaned with brake cleaner and put Red high temp sealer on it,years ago I gashed an oil pan,cleaned it put red high temp on it,never leaked.

[netcoyote]

Unless it's an older truck, dropping the pan may be out of the question. I've seen some pretty tight clearances in newer rigs for pan removal. Better check with someone who knows your vehicle and can give advice. I'd agree that replacing the pan would be the best solution but the devil is always in the details; i.e. pan removal.

[eastsidemallard74]

Just buy an oversized drain plug,it should just re thread the old pan.

[Dan-o]

Just buy an oversized drain plug,it should just re thread the old pan.

I've done this twice with good results.

[Woodchuck]

Bean, take it to a shop, get it done right. Sometimes the peace of mind is worth it.
For me this is like what it would be for you if someone was on here asking for tax advice from the Hunt-Wa collective. Take your own advice, the risk ain't worth it. 

[Dan-o]

Do what you want, but it really is easy to install one of the oversized selftapping ones.

Think of it this way:
  *  America was built by men who could install a selftapping plug.     
  *  Trump would just pay someone else to do it.

[coachcw]

Id try and get a screw driver or a scrapper under the edge of it and spin it out . once you get it out you can see if its the plug or the pan . if the pan is stripped then honestly id just get a new one . no reason to loose your fluid on some mountain road . often I see the drain plugs are sacrificial and loose there threads first.

[Bean Counter]

Id try and get a screw driver or a scrapper under the edge of it and spin it out . once you get it out you can see if its the plug or the pan . if the pan is stripped then honestly id just get a new one . no reason to loose your fluid on some mountain road . often I see the drain plugs are sacrificial and loose there threads first.

Yep. I called my local repair shop and he told me to call O'Reilly/Checker/Shucks as they sell a temporary rubber plug made for people like me, whose education exceeds their intelligence, in case the pan is toast and it will allow me to skate by for a few days whilst I await for a new pan order from Toyota. 

[Bean Counter]

Update: With a gentle pull of the pliers straight down, I was able to get it off with the socket.

How bad is it, doc? 

[et1702]

Id try and get a screw driver or a scrapper under the edge of it and spin it out . once you get it out you can see if its the plug or the pan . if the pan is stripped then honestly id just get a new one . no reason to loose your fluid on some mountain road . often I see the drain plugs are sacrificial and loose there threads first.

Yep. I called my local repair shop and he told me to call O'Reilly/Checker/Shucks as they sell a temporary rubber plug made for people like me, whose education exceeds their intelligence, in case the pan is toast and it will allow me to skate by for a few days whilst I await for a new pan order from Toyota. 

Hey Bean,  on-line car parts source will likely be much cheaper than dealer (e.g., Rockauto.com or similar)  Many have dealer parts too, instead of Chinese knock-offs.

ET

[JimmyHoffa]

Update: With a gentle pull of the pliers straight down, I was able to get it off with the socket.

How bad is it, doc? 

yeah, that plug has seen better days.  Is the hole destroyed too?  Or did it survive at the expense of the plug?

[Encore 280]

Find a small cylindrical magnet that will fit in the hole and move it around inside to see if you can pick up any metal shavings. You don't want shavings in your oil. Even if you drained the oil there may still be shavings in there. Check to see if the bad plug is magnetic or not. Some plugs are so they pick up any metal that's in that area of the pan. I would get a new plug and see how it screws into the pan, you'll be able to tell if the threads are good or bad, cheaper than buying a new pan. Don't over tighten.

[syoungs]

Looks to me that the plug pulled the threads out off the pan,  if it were me I'd spend the 150$ and be done with it forever, knowing it's right.

[jackelope]

Update: With a gentle pull of the pliers straight down, I was able to get it off with the socket.

How bad is it, doc? 

Definitely don't try to tap anything. You really need to be looking at the condition of the pan itself and not the plug. Those plugs are designed to do that. You'll ruin the plug before you ruin the pan. What's the threads in the pan look like?
Maybe the threads pulled out of the pan or maybe the threads on the plug flattened out because it was overtightened.