E30 radiator drain plug clip??

[PhilC]

It’s absolutely lashing it down today so I have been doing some tidying in the garage.

I noticed what appeared to be coolant leaking from the drain plug on the radiator. I have literally just changed the coolant and obviously pulled the drain plug to do this. Now, while feeling under the plug this little insert clip came out in my hand. What is it for and what is it called? Is it necessary?

It comes out of where the coolant drip is. The double O rings on the plug will be further into the radiator than the slot is so I am assuming that they stop the coolant coming out and the little clip thing has another purpose?

Im going to order a new plug which I hope will solve the leak (the old one was pretty ropey to be honest) but I need to know what the clip is for.

TIA

[Son of Marty]

Is that a crack where the drip is sitting or a seam in the plastic, if it's a crack it can be repaired with epoxy after a proper cleaning of the area,

[PhilC]

It’s a seam. The coolant is coming out of the hole where the little clip goes. However, I suspect that the fluid is leaking as the seal on the drain plug is bad. The seals go way past where the hole is as you can see by the pic below.

It seems to be a common issue, quickly followed by the drain plug getting stuck in the rad so Inhave that to look forward to. A new rad is £64.

None of this tells me what the little plug is for though 😔

[PhilC]

Well I’m no closer to knowing what the little clip is for but the new drain plug is in and the leak appears to have ceased. The plug was indeed missing one of its o rings.

I’m not entirely sure of the point of the plug is, it is far far easier to drain the system by removing the bottom hose. Less likelihood of damaging the plug too 😀