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Help my Oil drain bolt is stripped!
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:08 pm
by Crazy88s
So I've been trying to get my oil changed and realized that someone (not me) had rounded out the oil drain bolt it's uber tight it almost look like the person that did it last had used a impact drill, I don't want to screw or up so I will take it to the shop tomorrow. Is this something that's going to be a big problem or is it something that the dealer shop will be able to fix pretty easy, I am really annoyed that who ever changed it lasts I stripped the bolt.
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:16 pm
by Tazio
I would try to get a good grip with lockjaw pliers to see if it can be knocked loose with a few taps from a hammer.
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:30 pm
by skully93
I bet the shop can get it off of there and replace it. Hopefully they have one, they run pretty cheap.
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:57 pm
by BuddyRaton
Tazio wrote:I would try to get a good grip with lockjaw pliers to see if it can be knocked loose with a few taps from a hammer.
I wouldn't be slapping vise grips or channel locks on it. I would use an impact driver (NOT an impact wrench).
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:12 pm
by GregsBuddy
It will remove more easily if the engine's hot.
I like the impact approach. Short,sharp,shock does it!
rounded oil drain plug
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:20 pm
by mikebuddy
vise grips will probably work best, a impact driver is for screws not bolts. Did you get the problem solved
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 7:25 pm
by GregsBuddy
Correction:
An electric or pneumatic impact wrench will work very well, if the head of the drain bolt isn't destroyed. If destroyed, Vicegrips are your friend.
Hopefully, you won't need to Helicoil the drain threads.
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:53 pm
by Tazio
He said the drain bolt was rounded out and he probabably didn't have the right tool which is why I suggested 2 wrong tools improperly used might get the job done.
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:34 pm
by GregsBuddy
Two wrong (tools) could make a right!
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 5:18 pm
by Snap
GregsBuddy wrote:Two wrong (tools) could make a right!
Oftentimes one tool is holding another.
Back to the topic, I bet you can get a file, dremel or grinder on the bolt head to make an appropriate grip for a proper tool.
Once you get it fixed, always use a box or socket wrench that grips all faces of the nut. It's not a bad idea to use appropriate anti-seize compound on the treads if it's going to be an appreciable amount of time before the next service. The spark plugs in our Subaru used to be a bear to get out because the factory apparently didn't use anything. It took so much effort that I thought the threads might strip.