Stripped Oil drain plug!!!!

[Chris Jennings]

I stripped my freakin oil drain plug...what can i do? the metal is so freakin soft all i have been able to do is make it worse.....impact wont work...gator wrench socket wont work, vise grips dont either.....any ideas???

 

[noSHO]

Chris Jennings:
I stripped my freakin oil drain plug...what can i do? the metal is so freakin soft all i have been able to do is make it worse.....impact wont work...gator wrench socket wont work, vise grips dont either.....any ideas???

Go to a shop to get it removed and be more careful next time. You can pick up steel drain plugs that aren't as soft as some of the other Al ones for future use.

 

[LI_SHO]

did you strip the threads on the plug...or did you strip the threads in the oil pan itself?

if its the threads on the head of the plug, get the car heated up, then clamp down as best you can with locking pliers.

 

[DavidT]

this, my friend, is the time to fork out $20 and have a quick **** shop change your oil for you thumbs_u
This way, you get your oil changed and you get your drain plug fixed probably for no additional charge. This is about the only time/reason I have ever went to one of these "shops".

 

[luigisho]

You may have to drill into the middle and get an extractor in there. Shouldn't be too difficult since the metal is soft.

BTW, Anyone who hasn't done this yet: no 12pt. wrenches only 6pt or a socket (6pt.).

 

[DavidT]

oh yeah. You could try the Sear's Craftsman "Bolt Out" set. thumbs_u Work great on rounded off bolts!

 

[Chris Jennings]

the prob. with the extractor idea is that the drill wont fit up in the space to drilla straight hole throught the plug....what can i do for that then?>

 

[luigisho]

I don't have an ATX so why can't you get in there? If the y-pipe is in the way drop it. Only 6 nuts to remove.

 

[OSHSHO]

Once you do get that bolt out, spend $12 and get the Fram "quick change" fitting (assuming you ;oand on doing your own oil changes)...I've had it for a year, and it works great. The only thing you remove is the brass "cover" over the fitting, and that is only a little over hand tight. Hack

 

[Chris Jennings]

yeah...i already have one bought, but i cant get this damn bolt out... tmorrow i am goin to try to hammer a smaller socket onto it and see if i can get it off....or i will then proceed to jb weld a nut on to the front of the bolt-head and takea crack at that... wish me some good luck for once with this freakin car

 

[SHOZ123]

Doubt if JB Weld will work. You are turning it the right way? lefty loosy, right tighty? A Visegrips should remove it if there is any head left on.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Since nobody else has chimed in on this aspect, I might as well... wink If you're planning on drilling the middle of the plug in order to get an extractor in there, be sure not to drill to deeply into it or you're going to end up getting doused by oil and possibly get some metal shavings in the pan.

FWIW, a right angle adapter on a drill, or even a Dremel should make it easier to drill a pilot hole in the plug.