1999 V70 Ridiculously Rounded Drain Plug Advice

[dosbricks]

I'm beginning to think the treads in the oil pan must be pretty good on these cars

[timmybdaddyof3]

stupid side note...if worse comes to worse there are several 850/s70/v70's of all flavors out here at a pull it yourself bone yard...pm me and i'll dig you up a used pan (they usually charge me around $20 and i am in there at least once a week)

[deepsouth]

Thanks! I'm gonna give it another go tomorrow--sooooo tired of staring up at that bolt. I'm beginning to believe that it's a sentient being and its sole purpose for existing is to drive me nuts.

The pulling the pan route has crossed my mind more than once. I may be in touch soon!

[cn90]

This will not be easy, let me tell you my story from 2004, 10 years ago...

The Jiffy Lube (I should have known better!) tightened the bolt so hard that at the next oil change, I could not undo it. Went to 3 shops, all gave up.

Then shop #3 heat the bolt.
Yes, you can heat the bolt with propane torch, the oil will be drained anyway.
Propane flame is not hotter than your gas stove, so no worry about oil burning (you drain the oil anyway).
It finally came out, and this is with good bolt with all 6 sides intact.
Since your bolt sides are all mangled, you will have a hard time with this.

If you somehow get the head off cleanly (this is difficult because you don't want to damage the mating surfaces), then once the head is off, the stud simply spins out.

Yes, the oil pan threads are very good...

Needless to say, I have changed my oil since then...

[xHeart]

stupid side note...if worse comes to worse there are several 850/s70/v70's of all flavors out here at a pull it yourself bone yard...pm me and i'll dig you up a used pan (they usually charge me around $20 and i am in there at least once a week)

A well said option!

I would not arm wrestle with drain-plug bolt for reasons you may regret later. It is aluminum, and you may already have a compromised thread at the oil pan drain.

Few gentle but firm taps over the wrench handle at 7-8 O'clock once it has a bite on the bolt, wrench teeth facing downward at 4-5 O'clock -- no BF hammer.

[erikv11]

But dropping a pan full of 4 quarts of oil will be an awkward, messy fiasco too, they don't just drop straight down there is a fair bit of maneuvering required ... I guess I would crack it open then siphon off the oil but that's an option but it would be far, far down the list for me. Like only after I ruined the old one trying. For sure try heat, that should be very high on the list.

What a pain, sorry, hang in there keep trying things it will give!

[cn90]

Or leave the drain plug alone and use Vacuum Oil Extractor (? Pela brand etc.).
Chances are with the car this age, you won't keep it 5 years from now.

[regent]

My redneck thought (if you can call it that) : I think that the 'suction method' with the Vac Extractor really sucks , and it looks a lot easier to drill and tap an auxiliary drain opening in another low point of the pan, then go buy a spare plug, and then forget all your worries.

[cn90]

FYI,

I am old-schooled and still drain via the plug but many people use suction method, including some Mercedes dealers...

[deepsouth]

looks a lot easier to drill and tap an auxiliary drain opening in another low point of the pan, then go buy a spare plug, and then forget all your worries.

I really like that idea. I'm off to find a metal file and smaller pipe wrench and give it another hour before I result to more drastic measures! I have spent entirelytoo much time on one frigging bolt.