Striped oil pan plug

[project13]

So I wanted to flush and change my oil on my Saab that I just picked up, I jack it up and try to un do the oil plug and the darn thing was on ROCK soild!!!

I kept trying to get it but it just striped the bolt. darn previous owner put the thing on so darn tight!!!!

So I bought a new one and am going to try to get it off tonight, any ideas on taking it off???

I figure if it gets to it I might be able to get some vice grips on it real tight and use my small sledge hammer and tap it loose

I need some ideas!!

[jonnyfgroove]

I like the vice grip idea. I have had success with a small pipe wrench as well.
Of course, these only apply if the plug is already rounded off good.

[wonkyhamster]

I had this happen to me when I changed the oil for the first time after buying the car. The PO must have been on steroids! Vice grips adjusted very tight is the way to go. Put a tube on the handle for extra leverage.

[RBatsch]

I'd be most careful with a hammer anywhere near an alloy casting.

If the Visegrips fail then I'd try to get an angle grinder in there to flatten two sides for an open end wrench. Do use the real 'Visegrips' and not some knock-off....I had a few of those and threw tham all away after they got all bent out of shape and destroyed the bolt even more.

I've also heard that those cam type box wrenches are pretty good for stripped hex heads.
Robert

[project13]

god that thing was on tight!!!
And rounded off really good.. I had to take the next size down socket and pound it on to the bolt then I kept trying to pry it off, gave up and grabed my small mini sledge hammer and started to slowly beat it off, finally it came loose..

God the last person that put that thing on must of been freaking superman!!!
then I flushed the engine and filled it back up...

But when I jacked it up I noticed that my passenger side tie rod end was shoot! so looks like I'll be doing that soon... Darn!

But everything else looked good!

[jonnyfgroove]

Originally Posted by project13

God the last person that put that thing on must of been freaking superman!!!

Or a knucklehead with an air wrench...

[earthworm]

Don't forget the poor sealing washer that is now ultra compressed....
The trouble is, the male of the species is taught to make things tight, and the tighter the better..Most of us are in this trap - its hard to leave
There is little taught on dynamics, physics, torque wrenches, common sense, even psychology.....and respect for others..

[longjon76]

Might I take this opportunity to point out that, if the PO (or his/her dunderheaded mechanic) was the sort that will put 80ft/lb of torque on an oil pan plug they may also be the sort to put unnecessary torque on the lug nuts as well? And, that you may wish to test their "tightness" while not in an emergency situation?

[StormCrow]

It might be that the PO/mechanic didn't actually reinstall a copper washer, thereby 'welding' the nut to the sump - was a washer present when you dragged the old one off?!

[tonto2k]

My plug is the same, stripped. I pumped the oil out through the dipstick hole

Apperantly you shouldn't do this in a petrol because of sludge but it doesn't affect diesels.

[project13]

Originally Posted by StormCrow

It might be that the PO/mechanic didn't actually reinstall a copper washer, thereby 'welding' the nut to the sump - was a washer present when you dragged the old one off?!

Well there was a washer on there, I to expected to not find a washer on the plug but there was one on there..


Must have been a idiot with a air gun!!

[Snaab:)]

Idiot or just some locktite on the threads?

[project13]

Trust me the thing was in there VERY VERY VERY tight!!!

[eckyboy]

Originally Posted by tonto2k

My plug is the same, stripped. I pumped the oil out through the dipstick hole

Are you joking tonto??????????????
I had to weld a nut onto the plug on an old Capri years ago to get it off !!!

[tonto2k]

No seriously I pumped the oil out through the dipstick hole followed these instructions: http://f64.nu/oilchange/

Its not as messy as doin it the traditional way and you don't have to jack the car up either