Glad I did because I completely stripped it and had to remove it with vise grips. Provided that the drain plug isnt stripped, using a breaker bar will make the job easier. Posted May 15, 2022. You can have a mechanic or a repair shop do it for you. Get the monthly weather forecast for Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, including daily high/low, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. See Also: How to Remove a Stuck Oil Filter. Here is a quick and easy way to remove a stripped oil drain plug without replacing the oil pan.Here are some of the tools that jimthecarguy useshttps://www.amazon.com/shop/jimthecarguyIrwin bolt extractor . } But if you don't want to spend the money, you can tilt the lawnmower over. He has been working as a car mechanic for over 10 years, and the majority of them specialized in advanced car diagnostics and troubleshooting. Most cars will have one of these three oil drain plug sizes: 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch, and 3/4 inch. You can use something like Highking Tool Oil Pan Thread Repair Kit. Spray the lubricating oil on the rusted area. Now, get your tools ready, as well as your collecting pan, because engine oil will come pouring out as soon as the plug comes off. His videos are clear, concise, and helpful. Reusing the gasket can cause leaks. The following activities can damage your oil drain plug. One last thing, remember to have a pan ready. The excessive force most mechanics apply to drain plugs during tightening is unnecessary. jimthecarguy assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. The first thing youll need to do is loosen the oil drain plug with a wrench. If the bolt head is stripped, use a round-jaw vice grip plier to grip the bolt and loosen it. First, park the vehicle on a strong surface. Jimthecarguy 177K subscribers Subscribe 18K views 1 year ago Oil change and filter Here is a quick and easy way to remove a stripped oil drain plug. When you cross-thread your drain plug, you damage the threading structure of both the bolt and the pan. "acceptedAnswer": { In most instances, this method will prove sufficient for removal, even under less than ideal circumstances. Make sure not to overtighten this time! Oilauditor.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Irwin Tools makes one of the better sets and it doesnt cost a fortune. you just want to make it longer to get more leverage. If a square head plug is to be removed, pound on the head of the plug using a one pound hammer. Accumulated particles and dirt can also make your oil drain plug challenging to remove. Good luck! Find a wrench of the appropriate size to remove the drain plug in your car. Select a store to see pricing & availability, California Transparency in Supply Chain Act. Since you need to change it from time to time, a drainage hole needs to be at the sump so that you can remove the old oil before refilling it with a new one. Whether it is changing brake components or diagnosing an electrical problem. Grip the head with the pliers, and rotate it counter-clockwise, while simultaneously pulling outward on the drain plugs. An oil drain plug is a bolt located on the side or bottom of an oil pan. First, place the oil pan under the drain plug and make sure it's positioned to catch all the oil that will draining out. If the head of the stripped drain plug is flush against the body of your engines oil pan, channel-lock pliers can be used to rotate the plug counterclockwise, while pulling outward. Oilauditor.com is controlled by ASK the Voughs Oil Solutions LLC. Anyway, when the thread is stripped, it wont grip correctly with the thread of the oil pan drain hole. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not jimthecarguy. Part #: W54298 Line: PFM. Spray some lubricating rust removers around your oil drain plug, allow it to sit for some minute, and then gently unscrew it. Certified Automotive Diagnostic Technician. If you cant rethread it or get it wrong, youll need to replace the oil pan altogether, which can cost up to $750. Fill the engine with new oil, using the proper amount as outlined by the manufacturer. In this case, you wont be able to screw in the new plug properly and youll need to rethread the drain hole. Attach the ratchet again, and continue to rotate it until the plug comes off. But it can become stripped over time, which makes it quite stubborn and difficult to remove. How Do You Remove Blocked Drain Plugs For Oil Step By Step Step 1: Warming Up The Car One of the most straightforward methods to remove a blocked drain plug from oil is to allow the vehicle to warm up. You can also rotate the socket by using a car jack to exert more force. And its not just torque-specified bolts, you should always be careful not to overtighten bolts and screws on whatever youre working on. https://amzn.to/2AQ5pGiIn this video I will show you how to remove a rounded or stripped out oil drain plug without removing or replacing the oil pan.Very easy with the correct tool.Due to factors beyond the control of jimthecarguy, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information,. It also comes with a detachable hex bit for added convenience. How to Remove Freeze Plugs or Core Plugs at Home. Still, got questions about the oil drain plug? If damage to the threads of the drain plug occurs, it is deemed to have been stripped. One item that you should have on hand is the new drain plug. I can normally help you out. This tool is designed to remove the oil drain plug without causing damage to the engine. order Use the, Read More How to Reset Oil Life on 2016 Honda CivicContinue, Castrol is a British global brand of industrial and automotive lubricants offering a wide range of oils, greases, and similar products for most lubrication applications. And we also recommend reading our guide to other basic car maintenance here. You can also rotate the socket by using a car jack to exert more force. Why Is My Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Light On? 6. jimthecarguy recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, chemicals, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. This handy little tool makes it easy to remove the oil drain plug without having to get under the car or use a lot of force. "@type": "Answer", Make sure to keep a new drain plug ready to go. BMW parts needed: 11-13-1-407-532 Lower oil pan steel gasket. The word stripped can define two different conditions with the oil drain plug and hole. I still don't trust the hex hole won't get buggered sometime. But dont worry, there are a few tricks you can use to get that stubborn plug out. Doing so greatly reduces the chance of damaging the threads of your engines drain plug or oil pan. You don't want to hit your hammer too hard because your oil pan is likely made of aluminum which can crack at the slightest impact. Learn more about our writers on our about us page. Doing so causes the sockets internal groves to bite into the head of a rounded-off bolt, thereby simplifying the process of extraction. You will be able to use this kit in the future for other projects, from the automotive gearbox to your household sump pump. Sportster Models - Spinning, stripped primary drain plug - 1980 Harley Sportster XLH1000 I bought a used Sportster several months ago, and I love it. Removing a drain plug in this state typically requires the use of a specialty socket called a bolt extractor, which features spiraled internal grooves. The term can also describe the stripping of the oil pan drain hole threads. Yes, I am aware that the fill plug takes a hex and the drain plug . We wont bore you with the details, but its important that you know this. For the best experience please upgrade or visit the site on another browser. Thread the plug into the fixed drain hole. And it is a double-walled design for better insulation work. There are a couple of common methods: The most popular method is to use a car jack to help exert more force on the socket wrench. Usually when the barrel of a hex head bolt starts to strip from being overtightened, only those sides/faces of the bolt for tightening are deformed - the opposite sides/faces of the bolt used for removal are hopefully undamaged and the bolt will come right out. Theres nothing worse than stripping the oil drain plug when performing a regular oil change. } When your oil levels become too low, your engine can knock and you'll be spending a fortune to get it fixed. Perhaps the most significant of these difficulties are those that arise from a stripped (or rounded) drain plug. Afterward, the mechanic will need to install the oil pan gasket first, before fitting the new oil pan in place. One thing that you may not know about the oil drain plug is that it has a torque specification. The last mechanic who worked on your oil pan or drain plug might have applied more force than necessary while tightening your drain plug. RELATED: How to Change the Oil in Your Car (5 Easy Steps). Many oil drain plug repair kits feature a reaming bit, which removes the remains of any pre-existing threads. Place the oil pan underneath the drain plug. Thread a specially-sized tap into the drain hole. If you have wrenches, put the closed end on the drain plug, and wedge another wrench's closed end into the 13mm wrench's open end. Luckily, such issues can often be remedied with the use of a quality oil drain plug repair kit, such as those manufactured by Lisle or Supercrazy Tools. Afterward, youre going to use a reaming bit to remove the pre-existing thread. The term stripped oil drain plug (or oil pan plug) is typically used to describe one of two conditions. The oil pan itself usually tops out at about $410, and the rest is the labor cost. Went to check the front & rear gearcases and noticed the rear gearcase fill plug was stripped. This damage can make the plug ineffective and difficult to remove. Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime delivery. Also, check if you need a new drain plug gasket as some cars have a single-use gasket. . The torque specification may vary depending on the cars make and model, but its usually between 20 and 25 foot-pounds of torque. Leave if for a few minutes to let the oil work perfectly. We have a team of writers working daily on common car problems. This can typically be accomplished with the use of a flathead screwdriver, wedged between the external surface of the oil pan, and the underside of the drain plugs head. Make sure that youre rotating the bolt counter-clockwise. For you for better insulation work Stuck oil Filter future for other projects, from the automotive to! Overtighten bolts and screws on whatever youre working on difficulties are those that arise from a (. Fitting the new oil pan and you 'll be spending a fortune to get that stubborn plug.... To go the rest is the new oil pan this case, wont! 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