Review on Fumoto F316L Engine Drain Valve by Reggie Kern

Fits the sump of the 2.4 liter Theta II non GDI engine on my 2011 base 6 speed Kia Sorento which mostly does highway miles and rarely off road. Therefore, fitting this item to any Theta II vehicle manufactured by Kia Hyundai should be a problem as long as it is not restricted by the surrounding structure. From the many valves offered by Fumoto I chose this one, and perhaps at random, because I searched Revain for "M14 1.5 Oil Drain Valve". Potential buyers should be aware that Fumoto offers a wide variety of M14 1.5 valves and research them more than I do in order to select the most suitable model for their vehicle. Fumoto has a tool on its homepage that allows users to see the correct models based on the vehicle they drive. I religiously change the oil in my car every 3000 miles. Inevitably, at 130,000 miles, my aluminum pan came loose and I had a serious problem with an oil leak from the bolt. After installing Timesert in the pan, I decided to purchase an oil drain valve. I chose this model over another German magnetic cap model as it is a ball valve that opens fully and lets in random solid debris which came in handy after drilling the sump for the times sert installation. Also, I think the German quality leaves a lot to be desired these days, while this is a Japanese (not Chinese!) design that I trust completely. It was still leaking after installation, but I figured it was due to the angle I set on the time-sert and not a fumoto valve failure. To fix this I used (against the manufacturer's recommendations) Permatex's The Right Stuff on both sides of the blue fiber gasket that the Fumoto valve came with (NOT threaded), finger tightened, then an additional 1/4 turn half moon tight tightened and problem solved. Now there's no reason I'll ever have to remove that valve. The first thing to consider is how this valve will fit my Sorento. The Theta II's oil pan opening is offset about 15 degrees from horizontal (meaning it's mostly horizontal). The L-shape of this valve allows the oil to flow straight down. Since I intend to use it without a hose attachment, this will help avoid messing up when changing the oil. The L-tube spins freely when the nut is loosened and I put it in the top position until my next oil change. I found the fumoto lid separately on the Revain to close it to keep dirt out. Construction: The body of this part is a one piece brass construction with a steel ball valve in a plastic pivot operated by a stainless steel lever. I'm sure corrosion will never be a problem. The lever is tight, spring loaded in the notch, until lifted with a finger and moved sideways to open the valve. I'm sure accidentally opening this lever won't be a problem, but Fumoto sells a plastic lever clip to secure the lever in place and provide security. The L-shaped tube is detachable and I would venture to suggest that it could be replaced with other nozzles by Fumoto before or after installation on the car if desired. The L-shaped tube is designed so that a hose can be connected if necessary. It is theoretically possible to drain AND fill through this valve with a suitable pump, but I can't see why this should be necessary. The valve does not leak from its moving parts or the pipe when in the closed position. The lever moves easily enough for my grandmother to be able to change my oil from now on. I didn't measure it before installing it, but the original drain plug for my car was 16 or 17mm long and I think this valve was closer to 12-14mm (rough estimate). This is M14 with a 1.5 thread pitch, not a coarse thread. It comes with a blue fiber gasket that needs to be soaked in oil before installation. The valve on this is in front of the detachable L-tube, so if the L-tube is lost the valve will still work and no oil will be lost. Problems: The only problem I can foresee is the valve protruding. behind the sump about 2.5 inches (1 cm below the sump, also due to the angle of the threads) and if something hits the valve from below the car it might have enough leverage on the sump to cause damage to the would justify a car repair. Needless to say, the possums are now smashing my tires instead of going under my car. I will NOT drive my car cross country after installation. If you drive a vehicle that rides lower than a standard SUV, or if you drive on rough terrain, consider purchasing the shorter valve Fumoto offers. If you ride in tall grass or other objects that can get caught on the lever, consider purchasing a lever clip that Fumoto offers. Again, Fumoto seems to offer many different designs for this valve that can reduce this risk for almost any vehicle, and maybe I could find a better model for my Sorento. Bottom line: If I could do it all over again, I would have installed a Fumoto valve when I bought my Sorento. That would have saved me having to repair my oil pan. All vehicles are currently fitted with aluminum oil pans and the threads on these pans will eventually become damaged. I think every vehicle on the road needs something like this and I only wish I had found it sooner. If you're buying a new machine, find the right valve on the Fumoto website and buy it, because that's what I will be doing from now on. This is a completely independent review.