Stuck Oil Drain Plug/filter!!!

[Crazy E]

I went to change my oil today and both the filter and drain plug were not moving. I sprayed PB all over the plug but it wasnt going anywhere. Even worse, the plug seems to be stripped. I dont really want to drill out the plug (that would be a pain in the @$$), but I gotta get the plug out somehow. Any ideas?

 

[Lunch_Box]

Is it stripped or not moving? If it is not moving let it soak in penetrating oil for a while and try to loosen it again. If you have any air tools you could try an impact gun, but that also would give you a better chance of stripping it too.

 

[dsm4life]

the plug i would hit up with PB make sure car it totally cooled down. As far as the filter when mine got stuck i just got a pair of big channel locks and turn that baby right off. I mean use commen sense dont crush the ficken thing on there but just to break the seal.

 

[Enigma_Man]

For the filter:

My filters are always "welded" onto the housing after a few thousand. I bought a "filter wrench" to help get them off, and it makes a world of difference.

For the plug:

Let it soak in PB for an hour or so, use the biggest socket/wrench you can get on there, and use a cheater pipe to help out.

-Jesse

 

[Crazy E]

I already sprayed PB all over the frickin thing, but ill put more on later tonight. The filter wrench I have is too big (strap type) so Ill have to get another one I guess. Its just kinda crappy cuz Im trying to get this done in my dorm parking lot, and dont have access to alot of tools or money to buy tools. Girls kept looking at me funny when I was out there too

Anyway, thanks for the tips so far

 

[dsm4life]

if the plug is stripped. First step is going to get a new plug before you do anything ! After that it doesnt metter how much you F' up the plug cause your not gonna use it again anyway. Dry that puppy off and get vice's and pull turn that sucker. Then throw it out.

 

[2GeNTSi]

Doesn't the drain plug require only about 17 ft lb. of torque? Mine is usually pretty easy to loosen up, same with the filter, I can do it by hand but I have the Fram filter with the grip thing on the bottom.

 

[4g63tsiawd]

heres a diffrent way to get the filter off take a long screw driver and a hammer bang the screw driver all the way threw the filter and turn the screw driver to loosen the filter remember lefty loosy righty tighty

 

[Crazy E]

looked at it again today, the plug is stripped, the socket would always tiwst off whenever i tried to turn it...this sucks

what should I do now? I think I'll prolly just take it to a shop to get a new drain plug or something....that won't be too expensive, will it?

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by Crazy E
looked at it again today, the plug is stripped, the socket would always tiwst off whenever i tried to turn it...this sucks

Okay, wait. Is it the THREADS that are stripped, or the HEAD OF THE BOLT?
Toss some ViseGrips on there and turn it.

what should I do now? I think I'll prolly just take it to a shop to get a new drain plug or something....that won't be too expensive, will it?

From the sound of it, you should. Just a local mechanic, no dealers. Figure fifty bucks. Pay them to do the oil change, too.

 

[Crazy E]

Its the head of the bolt....and i dont have vice-grips

From the sound of it, you should.

I feel like a loser, I cant even change oil! I hate going to shops, I always feel like a woman, or one of those rich guys that doesnt know jack about there Saab or something

Oh well, theres only so much you can do in a parking lot with a can of PB and a $10 set of tools

 

[dsm4life]

dude a big pair of channel locks will get that filter right off. As far as the bolt for the drial plug you dont want to mess with it unless you have the right tools. You dont want to do F' ing up with oil pan. If you dont have the correct tools then get someone else to do it and bite the bullet. Or go buy a pair of vice's and try later. The easiest jobs become so difficult when you dont have the correct tools. i know first hand

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by Crazy E
Its the head of the bolt....and i dont have vice-grips

Oh, you need to fix that. But there's not really much point when you're still stuck with working on things in a parking lot.

I feel like a loser, I cant even change oil!

No, no no. The _loser_ will be when we find the sonofabitch who put a goddamned drain plug in that tight in the first place. We'll demonstrate just how.... uncomfortable.... it can be when one's nuts are too tight.

BATTER, UP!

It's not your fault, unless.... YOU put it in that tight the last time.

 

[DSM_AWD_TSi]

I have the same problem. I even cut open the filter and still can't turn part of the filter that screwed onto the engine. The last owner turned it too freaking tight! Is there a good way to take it off?

 

[gbell]

OK I'm going to bring this tread back from the dead since I have a similar problem.

I went to change my oil today and my drain plug is stuck. It will loosen up for most of a turn, but then I can feel it retighten, and no matter how many times I turn it doesnt come out, so it seems like my threads are stripped.

Couple more problems to go along with this, first I put a bottle of motor flush in before I went to drain it, so I can't drive it anywhere now.

Second, I had a shop change the oil last time because it was in for new belts so I figured I'd just have them change the oil while they were at it. I'll calling them tomorrow and hopefully they will take care of it since I haven't touch the drain plug since then.

If they aren't willing to take care of it, I'm kinda screwed so I'm looking for advice to get that plug out.

Thanks in advance

 

[Locke]

If the head of the bolt is rounded, try the suggestions in this thread. http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=256700

If the threads are stripped, hold the bolt with locking pliers (or some-such-thing) and bore it completely out. Tap it out larger, and put in a matching washer-head bolt and nylon washer. Might be wise to pull the pan off to make sure all the metal shavings are out.

 

[gbell]

Its the threads that are stripped.

Ya I had the same idea of taping it for a larger drain plug just a little bit ago, I just need to get it out first.

Also good call about the metal shavings

 

[Defiant]

NAPA should have self-tapping drain plugs. Coat it with grease the first time to catch the chips.

 

[SwitchSkier]

I'm going to bring this thread back again. I have the same problem as the guy above me. The threads are stripped on my oil pan bolt. I've changed my oil a million times, but was putting it back on after redoing the oil pan gasket, and for some reason tightened it too much because I'm an idiot. It spins both ways and can wiggle back and forth a tiny bit. I've tried grabbing it with vice grips and pulling/turning it, but it will not move out AT ALL. I tried putting a ply bar in to pry it as I turned it, but its still not coming out. I really don't want to pull the pan again because I just put everything back on yesterday. How can I get it out!?

 

[Locke]

It spins both ways and can wiggle back and forth a tiny bit. How can I get it out!?

Try this:

If the threads are stripped, hold the bolt with locking pliers (or some-such-thing) and bore it completely out. Tap it out larger, and put in a matching washer-head bolt and nylon washer. Might be wise to pull the pan off to make sure all the metal shavings are out.

 

[SwitchSkier]

Try this:

If that means to grip it and pull it out really hard. I've been trying but I can't get it out. I have an oversized self tapping bolt ready, I just need to get this damn one out.

 

[Locke]

If that means to grip it and pull it out really hard. I've been trying but I can't get it out. I have an oversized self tapping bolt ready, I just need to get this damn one out.

It means to grip the head with pliers or something to prevent it from turning, and drilling the bolt out.

 

[SwitchSkier]

It means to grip the head with pliers or something to prevent it from turning, and drilling the bolt out.

O ok I'll do that tomorrow. That sounds like it should probably be done with the oil pan off the car, so it looks like I'm taking it off for the second time this week.

 

[SwitchSkier]

It means to grip the head with pliers or something to prevent it from turning, and drilling the bolt out.

Ok I am still wondering what the best way to do this would be. I need to drail the oil before I remove the pan. If I start drilling the screw out first, oil is going to get all over me/my drill. Is that my only option?

 

[BoostFrenzy]

I had this same problem with my first oil change. The plug was hard to get off, and then once I got it off, I thought it was all good from there. But then I got to the filter and I couldn't get it off for the life of me. So I went to a Kragen and got the proper sized filter wrench. I get back to the car, start wrenching on it, and...the wrench breaks mad. Long story short, I had to lay under the car for a good hour and a half trying to get both off. (Filter ended being taken off just by hand. Brute force is very good for this). Just remember for anyone else that has BOTH of these problems, be aware that if you jam a screwdriver through the filter first, oil will go everywhere.