BILLD518

My last oil change, I was in a hurry, took my 08 C6 to one of those quick oil change places. Now I'm paying for it. I'm (was) changing oil, and I've tried everything trying to remove the oil pan plug. I was using a six point socket with a ratchet, and could not budge it.
I'm 6'6" tall 350#, so I'm not a weak guy. So I used an impact for about an hour, until I finally rounded the head off. I've tried vise grips, and small pipe wrench with no luck,
Does anyone have any idea's that would help me get the plug out.
Thanks,
Bill

MINI&aVette

Had this happen on my mini. Let the engine get hot and you should be able to get it out. Have a new one to put in just in case.

DSOMC6

You can use an easy-out if you stripped off the head.

EVRose

WOW! How'd they get it on there that tight I wonder. I've been in that situation many times (not all with oil plugs) and never had vice grips fail as a last resort. I'm not gonna ask if your sure your turning it lefty loosey.

BILLD518

I thought of that, and it will probably work.
But I had it up on stands changing brakes, and it would just be a good time to change the oil.
I'm going to take it some where tomorrow that has a rack.
At least I will be able to get to it better, and it will be hot.
Thanks

BILLD518

I have no idea how they got it tight.
I just hope they didn't cross thread it, and force it all the way in.
I was standing outside their "customers not allowed) barrier watching the best I could. But three of them started taking turns pushing buttons trying to reset the oil life, I went in. One of the guy's told me I couldn't come in there, and I reminded him who the car belonged to, and told him where he could kiss.
By the way, I was a mechanic for twenty two years, so I do know the righty tighty thingy.
Bill

Parrish416

You can use an easy-out if you stripped off the head.

CO Lightfoot

To prevent this from happening again, replace the plug with a Fumoto valve.

Description & part numbers on Bugman's website (see "Oil Change"):
http://www.bugmanweb.com/c6/c6index.html

redzone

If worse comes to worse you can tack weld a nut to the head of the oil plug to have a full place for a socket to bite to.

Justasheet

I never thought of that. You're pretty smart. I'll have to remember that trick.
Jeff

glass slipper

Sorry to say, but this is the most likely. There's no way the drain plug can be that tight unless they cross-threaded it and galled the threads. Galling is a welding action that starts at the microscopic level and progresses if you continue to screw it in. As long as you keep the bolt moving, the metal stays "liquid/soft" and it can be worked all the way in/out. Once you stop, the metal cools and the bolt is "stuck". When you get it out, you'll have to heli-coil the oil pan threads (making sure you use lock-tite to seal the heli-coil) or worst case scenario, replace the oil pan. You need to go back to the oil change place and demand they reimburse you for damages.

You'll probably have to drill the bolt out...no need to tell you to be as accurate as you can with the center punch as I'm sure you've drilled out your share of stuck bolts in 22 years of turning wrenches. Good luck with it.

AORoads

I understand your situation, but after having worked on it to the point of rounding it off I really doubt the quik lube place will take responsibility at all. You can try, but I doubt it very seriously.

I think we all have oil change stories, most of them horrible. Sometimes you get lucky, but mostly not. Hope you get it fixed relatively quickly.

wildbadbill

Well,I'd probably leave it in place and drill a size smaller hole and tap it for a ne , smaller bolt- basically use the old one as heli coil.
Or if u really want it out use a grinder and shave on both sides of th bolt head tomake it rectangular and put some good size wrench on it , good luck

j_digi454

I'm not sure that's a good idea. Where will the shaving go? Into the pan.

vettro

Let us know how you made out ...? Worse comes to worse, find a way to drain it - and buy a new pan...

KarlK

rightie tightie, lefty loosy

Kenny94945

OP.........Did you get the bolt out?

Was it cross threaded?

ALVETTE00

Why not take it back there and raise hell with the shop manager?

REVAK

Alternate approach, grind or file new faces on the hex , [create a new , smaller hex ], take a 6 point impact socket of a size that is tight to the point of needing to be hammered on. Heat the pan around the plug with a propane torch, [do not overheat ] , use an impact gun in short bursts until you see movement , then run it out. You may need a 1/2" air impact gun [ verses ,say , a 1/4" or a 3/8" battery powered tool ] . Good luck , sorry for your trouble.

joe lawson

If you get the bolt out you may need to retap the threads and you will need to pull the pan to do this to capture the shavings. I don’t think you would want to leave the in your pan. So if this sound right to you, you will be better of pulling the pan to start with.