Since 1960, Volkswagen has installed an oil drain plug, although this was not the norm with all engines, many engines have left the factory without this possibility. It is very useful for draining the oil without spilling, but it also has a disadvantage: the oil screen is not cleaned each time it is drained, although this is clearly indicated in the maintenance manual. The speed of work and laxity of the mechanic play an important role in this regard, which probably explains why this option was not applied to all engines.
Without the drain plug, the cover must be removed and the seals replaced, the oil screen must then be cleaned or replaced (not applicable to diesel engines). But as passionate people, we do things the right way. So we will drain the oil through the drain plug, then remove the cover to clean the screen.
This bolt has a fairly thin head, which can easily be damaged (if the socket wrench is placed on it at an angle). Once the corners are worn out, it is better to replace it.
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