2000 XC70 Oil drain plug issue

[Enid Puceflange]

OK, so here's the problem - my increasingly elderly XC70 is incontinent

At some point in the past it obviously had an oil change at a quick change place, and they stripped out the drain plug. In it's place they put one of those "universal" drain plug replacements, that have a butterfly arrangement like a drywall fastener. Now, I'm OK with buying a thread insert kit and adding a threaded insert so I can use a proper oil plug again, but I'm stumped as to how to get this butterfly thing out. So - my question is: has anyone else had a similar problem, and if there isn't a good solution, what happens if I undo it all the way and it drops into the sump?

Thanks!

[rmmagow]

I think it expands a rubber plug when you tighten it. Loosening it should then let you pull out the plug and do the rethread thing. I never used one of these on purpose, but I'm pretty sure it won't drop into the sump.

[Enid Puceflange]

This is the thing I'm talking about



The sprung bit on the threaded rod will undo and fall off I think - it's designed to push through the hole and expand/bite onto the back of the drain pan.

[JDS60R]

I loosen them up and use a piece of strong wire or a magnet probe to attach to the butterfly part. I like the metal loop of wire the best. Bend the wire over itself for 4 inches. Insert the metal wire past the butterfly and then come back so both ends of the metal wire are sticking out of the hole. The remove the bolt and then pull out the butterfly. Be careful of any extra pieces in the design.

If you have good hand eye skills you can bend some welding wire ( or a coat hangar) and use it to lever the butterfly so it will come out the hole the way it went in without unscrewing the center bolt from the butterfly.

Then do a Time Sert and you are on your way

[Enid Puceflange]

Very cool, thank you!