V6 TDI - Stripped threads in the bolt hole for injector hold-down bolt - Any ideas?

helluvadeal · Oct 3, 2023

I've got a 2015 V6 TDI.

It appears that the threads on the bolt hole for my injector hold-down bolt on #4 are stripped as I can't get a new bolt to bite. Once I looked twice at the old bolt, it looks like the threads from the bolt-hole came out wrapped around the threads of the old bolt that I removed.

This is a donor engine that I bought from LQK, and I think that this bolt was probably overtorqued.

I had to pull the injector because I've been having some seeping oil from underneath the injector, so I was going to try swapping the copper washer, o-ring, and put a new bolt in and see if that cleared it up.

Not sure where to go from here, and I'm pretty sure the VW dealer wouldn't touch it.

I don't think just trying to tap the hole would work as it'd probably need a thread insert of some kind. Thinking of taking it down to a machine shop to see if they'll drill it.

Anyone ever dealt with this before?

ValveCoverGasket · Oct 3, 2023

any pics? is there not enough meat there to run a helicoil?

SaVAGeSoot · Oct 3, 2023

More than likely because they re-used the torque to yield bolts that you're not supposed to..... so when you torque them again, they've already stretched and you are now over doing it.

TouaregHauler2021 · Oct 3, 2023

Fix it with a time cert.

helluvadeal · Oct 4, 2023

ValveCoverGasket said:
any pics? is there not enough meat there to run a helicoil?

I haven't taken the valve cover off, so I don't have any pictures of the threads deep inside where the bolt screws into the hole. Just a picture of the outside of the injector.

It should be plenty deep enough to run a helicoil, I've just never done any of that myself. The only tap work I've done was just on some sheet metal covers for an airconditioning unit years ago.

I talked to the tech at the VW dealer, and he was making it sound like it's a super sketchy thing to do a helicoil in there. He said it would probably take 6-8 hours to pull the valve cover, install the helicoil, and put it back together. I got the feeling he'd never done it, and didn't want to do it.

But I was just seeing if any folks on here had ever had to do this before, and if it was straightforward enough, at least for someone who knows what they're doing.

helluvadeal · Oct 4, 2023

SaVAGeSoot said:
More than likely because they re-used the torque to yield bolts that you're not supposed to..... so when you torque them again, they've already stretched and you are now over doing it.

I think you're right.

I spent some time digging through here on this issue, and I think that's probably why it was seeping oil from the injector to begin with, which is the whole reason I started this lol.

PRY4SNO · Oct 4, 2023

+1 for helicoil

New2Tregs · Oct 4, 2023

+2 on Heli-Coil as I don't think there's any way of fixing the current threads.

TouaregHauler2021 · Oct 4, 2023

I know people like the helicoil and they are cheaper, but on a location like this a time sert is a bit better as you will have no issues in the future if you ever have to do the injector seals again and torque down new bolts.

SaVAGeSoot · Oct 4, 2023

Pssst...... it's "S"

SaVAGeSoot · Oct 4, 2023

And just in case anyone is wondering what these northerners are yapping about.....

helluvadeal · Oct 5, 2023

SaVAGeSoot said:
Pssst...... it's "S"

Ha thank you for this. I was pretty confused for a bit.

I did a bit of reading about this and promptly ordered a time-sert kit.

SaVAGeSoot · Oct 5, 2023

helluvadeal said:
Ha thank you for this. I was pretty confused for a bit.

I did a bit of reading about this and promptly ordered a time-sert kit.

I'm not going to steal @TouaregHauler2021 's thunder.... I was only being the spell check police and stuff... he's the one who suggested that approach!

helluvadeal · Oct 5, 2023

SaVAGeSoot said:
I'm not going to steal @TouaregHauler2021 's thunder.... I was only being the spell check police and stuff... he's the one who suggested that approach!

Of course, of course!

Thanks to all for pointing me in the right direction!

nadenny1980 · Apr 26, 2025

Hi can you send me the link for the exact Time sert set you used as mines done the same ty in advance d

nadenny1980 · Apr 26, 2025

helluvadeal said:
Ha thank you for this. I was pretty confused for a bit.

I did a bit of reading about this and promptly ordered a time-sert kit.

Hi do you have the link for the kit you purchased please my injector has done the exact same fml thanks in advance

V6 TDI - Stripped threads in the bolt hole for injector hold-down bolt - Any ideas?

helluvadeal

ValveCoverGasket

SaVAGeSoot

TouaregHauler2021

helluvadeal

helluvadeal

PRY4SNO

New2Tregs

TouaregHauler2021

SaVAGeSoot

SaVAGeSoot

helluvadeal

SaVAGeSoot

helluvadeal

nadenny1980

nadenny1980

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities