Oil Drain Bolt

[Nrw7]

I went to change my oil today and when I went to take the bolt off it wouldn't budge. So I kept trying to get it to loosen but all that happened is the head began to get stripped :cuss: . Now here for the question. Is there any way to get it off or should I just take it somewhere and have them do it? Also I do not have access to power tools. So yeah can anyone help.

 

[nomov8sho]

This has worked for me on other cars when the quicky-**** has super-torqued the bolt:

-Drive the car until the engine is nice and hot
-Park car like you're going to change the oil
-get a cold-pack, ice cube in a wet paper towel, whatever from the house
-Hold the cold thing against the bolt for a minute or 2
-quickly remove the cold thing and try to loosen the bolt
-remember not to take the bolt more than a few turns loose unless you like really hot oil.

Good luck.

-Josh
Blue '93 MTX

 

[TYSHO]

Use the biggest rachet and position it where you can whack the end with a hammer, that should do the trick unless the head is stripped pretty bad. If the head is stripped too bad, buy a set of Bolt-Outs by Craftsman...they're specifically designed to remove bolts with stripped heads. If you don't want to purchase them, just take it to a oil change service center and have them install a new bolt when they button it back up.

 

[Nrw7]

Thanks I'll try the ice trick tomorrow. If not its off to a oil change shop. That and I'll try wacking the heck out of it.

 

[91 SHO PLUS]

Vice Grips!

The oil drain plug in my '91 PLUS was stripped & would not
come off with a socket or wrench.
I used my vice grips as tight as I could clamp them
on the bolt & then tapped the vice grips with a hammer
until it busted loose.
I would also buy a new drain plug (obviously) to put back in after
changing the oil.

Good Luck!
Jeff

 

[white93atx]

I had to weld a bolt onto mine. The heat from welding helped loosen the bolt. Good luck getting it out.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Another alternative to the hot/cold method, is a new item by CRC Industries called "Freeze-Off". I've not used it yet, but it appears that it would be easier to use to cool-down the oil pan bolt, than the ice-cube trick:

CRC Freeze-Off, 11.5 oz.

​

It's $5.93 at Advance Auto Parts and $5.99 at AutoZone. I haven't seen it in O'Reilly's yet.

 

[Nrw7]

Well I tried again today using the ice trick and vice grip and hammer method but no luck at all. I even put my feet against the curb and started pushing with two hands on the wrench and still got nothing. I want to say the threads might be crossed but I don't know.:banghd:

 

[ice111103]

My last ditch effort on bolts its to hammer on a smaller socket onto the head of the bolt. Sometimes its hard to get the bolt out of the socket after you get it off but it works. Since its on the oil pan you want to be carfeul not to hammer it too hard.

I know you said you don't have power tools but sometimes i use a grinder to cut a slit acroos the head of the bolt so it looks like a flathead screw and can get it off.

If all else fails you might have to drill and tap it out.

Good luck.

 

[Nrw7]

Now if it does need to be drilled and tapped I would have to take the pan off right? Which I have a big feeling that it has to be tapped cause that bugger ain't moving.

 

[ice111103]

I would recommend taking it off to drill and tap since metal shaving will be going into the pan.

Did you try a smaller socket? Sometimes you can bang on a standard socket on a stripped metric bolt and vice versa.

 

[LJRuddy]

Have you tried a pipe wrench? The harder you turn it on the bolt, the tighter it will grab. If you can get a long enough wrench on it, you can really put som torque on that bolt and it will not slip off as long as you have a good firm grip around the head.

 

[Nrw7]

Did you try a smaller socket? Sometimes you can bang on a standard socket on a stripped metric bolt and vice versa.

Have you tried a pipe wrench? The harder you turn it on the bolt, the tighter it will grab. If you can get a long enough wrench on it, you can really put som torque on that bolt and it will not slip off as long as you have a good firm grip around the head.

I'll try those tommorow. I would try it tonight but I don't feel like putting it back on stands right now. That and I'll have to go buy a new bolt.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Before you go doing anything irreversable - who last serviced the oil and over-cranked/cross-threaded the oil pan bolt? I think I would take it back there and let them deal with it....

"Mr. Nrw7 - there is a problem, in that someone previously cross-threaded the oil pan drain plug, and we'd like your approval to make the repairs....

Well, let me check my records on who last changed the oil....

Ah, it appears in looking at the file on my laptop here, that you guys last changed the oil and no one has service it since. So, you guys did what to my car....?"​

 

[Nrw7]

I'll have to see if I can find the reciept the P/O gave me. So you saying I should drive it out to that place?


This bolt defiantley isn't moving.

 

[AREA 91]

Get the next biggest 12 point socket and pound it on. Should work like a champ. Yse a 1/2 inch drive socket and rachet, if you have it.

 

[bigred56k]

did you get it off yet??? this happened to me a couple weeks ago so i went to the local auto parts store and they sold me a set of sockets. they are simmilar to these here at sears. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0333896383.1178555995@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccddaddkkmmhjdfcefecemldffidfno.0&pid=00952161000&cat=Hand+Tools,+General+Purpose&subcat=Bolt-Out,+Taps+%26+Dies&vertical=TOOL&ihtoken=1

Good luck

 

[Nrw7]

but its a matter of getting it to turn that I'm having problems with and I am put some big time force onto it.

 

[bigred56k]

just give it **** it well come off..i was a lil nervous when mine wouldn't budge so i just put a pipe on the socket wrench with that socket and she broke free.

 

[Devin]

Pipe wrench.