Sump refitting

[tom t]

I have replaced the oil strainer on a previous car, have just done one on a a3 and cannot get the 2 bolts in the middle of the gearbox to fully tighten.
Probably a bit of silicone in them. What's the best way to sort this? As I don't want to be rounding heads of the bolts. I haven't filled it with oil yet.

Do you think I'd be ok going to a garage that's open tomorrow and asking them to do them up with an air gun? Or will that balls up the bolts too?

[Muttley]

Do you mean the gearbox-to-sump bolts (as opposed to the sump-to-crankcase ones that hold the sump joint closed)?

How do you know they aren't fully tightened - is there a gap between the bolt head and the gearbox - if so, should there be a washer there? Sorry to ask dumb questions, but I can't see the work from here and I'm trying to picture in my mind what might be wrong.

If it is hydraulic threadlock, the only answer is to take the bolts out completely, clean them up and clean the sump threads out - paper towel wrapped round a piece of dowel should work. Once it's set, the sealant should break up and come out eventually.

Torque to 45Nm. That's easy to achieve by hand, if you can't do it then an airgun isn't going to be any better.

[tom t]

Cheers m8. It's the bolts for the sump to the block that im talking about. Yeah tried taking them out and cleaning the bolt just ran out of time yeaterday, and yes I can see thread of the bolt still.

[Dan1720v]

Your not lined up properly then. Remove the sump and start again and only crack each bolt in by 2 turns, then you'll have every bolt in its hole before tightening.