REALLY stuck oil pan drain bolt

hrm · Post by **hrm** » 17 Jul 2008, 13:45

So the previous owner must have zinged he drain bolt back in with an impact wrench (or maybe the oil change shop he used) the bolt head was mangled and it is stuck in there TIGHT.

So far I've tried the correct sized socket, a slightly smaller socket hammered on, a pipe wrench and a set of craftsman bolt removers. (They're supposed to tighten and cut into the head as you pull...which they do until they carve off what little is left of the corners on the bolt head).

So now what i have is a severely mangled drain plug head, and still havn't managed to get it to budge. Oh and I tried to heat the pan up with propane to hopefully loosen around the bolt. nothing.

anyone have any other good ideas for getting this stupid thing out? other than buying a new oil pan?

Thanks in advance.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 17 Jul 2008, 13:55

Pipe wrench?
Bummer...Good Luck!

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 17 Jul 2008, 14:17

I had this happen to a Honda several years ago- mistake was getting a Jiffy Lube to do the oil change on it. I got it off with the pipe wrench. I guess you'll have to keep trying. Let me suggest that you check to make sure you are turning it the correct way (and not tightening it more)...Righty Tighty....Lefty Loosey... (in otherwods, counter clock-wise). I would grab it good with a pipe wrench and hit the end of the pipe wrench with a hammer to boot. Good luck with that and please tell us how you finally get it off.

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 17 Jul 2008, 15:00

How about drill into it and use an extractor? Use an angle grinder to grind the head completely off of it, to relieve the friction against the pan. (edit: upon thinking about this more, drill first then grind the head off. You don't want to spin the shaft of the bolt into the pan, when drilling).

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 000P?mv=rr

I'm surprised that the pan didn't crack with that much torque on it.

-Chuck

hrm · Post by **hrm** » 17 Jul 2008, 16:29

thanks for the tips. I'll try it again with the pipe wrench. I might also use a cutoff wheel and cut a slot through the head and use a piece of steel like a flat head screwdriver - although I'm sure that will just mangle the head even more. I've got it out there now warming up so I can go at it again.

and yeah lefty loosey righty tighty. I even doubted myself and checked twice

Post by **Sperry** » 17 Jul 2008, 19:15

The oil plug?

We're supposed to change the oil?

I had a wheel lug stuck on. Sears [never again] screwed it up, big time.

Volvo dealership had no luck, but were compelled to charge me anyway.

I took it to my old mechanic. He had it off in ten minutes.

The moral? Pay a good mechanic at a "normal" shop to remove it.
If the pipe wrench does no good.

hrm · Post by **hrm** » 17 Jul 2008, 19:20

I haven't paid a mechanic to do work for me in quite a while - although I was afraid I was soon going to either have to take to a mech. or replace the oil pan

anyway - I got the drain plug out. If in doubt get the welder out!! It's ugly but it got the job done. Was hard to see to weld with the car just up on ramps. Got that new larger nut welded on, put the wrench on it, and 1 whack and she started coming right out.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 17 Jul 2008, 19:40

Almost looks like the magnetic drain plug they sell too.
Anyway, good job getting it out. Did it even have an aluminum washer on it? Trick is to cinch the plug up just enough to flatten the washer some...about 25-28 ft. lbs.

hrm · Post by **hrm** » 17 Jul 2008, 20:55

nope no washer. i'm sure that's why they tightened it gorilla tight to keep the drip from dripping (which it still did anyway)

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 17 Jul 2008, 21:09

Well anyway, glad you got past this one...hopefully you won't find to many more annoying hurdles like this on your new ride.