Oil Change Help!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,983
Likes: 6
From: Redondo Beach Ca
Oil Change Help!!
First time changing my own oil. I'd rather the dealer not touch it if they don't have to. The problem I have is the oil drain plug is extremely tight. I don't want to strip anything. Will the wrench break towards the passenger side or the drivers? I assume it will break towards the driver's side, just don't want to strip anything! Thanks 
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Sometimes the drain plug is put on way too tight. Good that you got it loose.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
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From: Granville Ohio
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16'17-'18-'19-'20-21
Replace the drain plug and tighten to 18 lb-ft using the torque wrench or until you are satisfied that it is tight enough. Do not over tighten the drain plug; the repair for damage may cost you your next child!
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Fremont (Livin' On The Fault Line!) CA
Glad to hear you were able to get it loose 
Just a suggestion for you in case you run into this again on another fastener; I have two different length "cheater" pipes in my toolset; just some scrap metal piping (conduit type of piping that you can get at Home Depot or Lowe's) that easily slip over the end of my ratchets (I have a couple of Craftsman ratchets that have round/thin handles). One of my cheaters is about a foot long and the other is several feet long
The cheater is sometimes mistakenly called a breaker bar (another useful tool to have around too
) but works beautifully in cases like this to give you additional leverage in loosening the stubborn fastener without damaging it
Larry
Just a suggestion for you in case you run into this again on another fastener; I have two different length "cheater" pipes in my toolset; just some scrap metal piping (conduit type of piping that you can get at Home Depot or Lowe's) that easily slip over the end of my ratchets (I have a couple of Craftsman ratchets that have round/thin handles). One of my cheaters is about a foot long and the other is several feet long
The cheater is sometimes mistakenly called a breaker bar (another useful tool to have around too
) but works beautifully in cases like this to give you additional leverage in loosening the stubborn fastener without damaging it Larry
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 992
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From: Granville Ohio
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16'17-'18-'19-'20-21
Glad to hear you were able to get it loose
Just a suggestion for you in case you run into this again on another fastener; I have two different length "cheater" pipes in my toolset; just some scrap metal piping (conduit type of piping that you can get at Home Depot or Lowe's) that easily slip over the end of my ratchets (I have a couple of Craftsman ratchets that have round/thin handles). One of my cheaters is about a foot long and the other is several feet long
The cheater is sometimes mistakenly called a breaker bar (another useful tool to have around too ) but works beautifully in cases like this to give you additional leverage in loosening the stubborn fastener without damaging it
Larry
Just a suggestion for you in case you run into this again on another fastener; I have two different length "cheater" pipes in my toolset; just some scrap metal piping (conduit type of piping that you can get at Home Depot or Lowe's) that easily slip over the end of my ratchets (I have a couple of Craftsman ratchets that have round/thin handles). One of my cheaters is about a foot long and the other is several feet long
The cheater is sometimes mistakenly called a breaker bar (another useful tool to have around too
) but works beautifully in cases like this to give you additional leverage in loosening the stubborn fastener without damaging it Larry
Breaker with a cheater on it:
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,718
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From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '12
Glad you got it loose. I had the same problem once. It was just overlight tight from the last dealer oil change. I had to get my air ratchet out to get the damn thing loose. No damage, but it was highly annoying.
Also remember, it's easy to forget about the orientation of the drain plug before you do your lefty loosey, righty tighty. Make sure you look at it head on (like BobbyG said), not from the backside.
chris
Also remember, it's easy to forget about the orientation of the drain plug before you do your lefty loosey, righty tighty. Make sure you look at it head on (like BobbyG said), not from the backside.
chris
nice pics 
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Picking on the weakest kid in the yard.
Can be impossible to use a breaker bar or cheater bar on the drain plug of a car on jack stands in the driveway. Damn ground gets in the way. Looping one wrench onto the end of the other can also be very useful. Twice the length plus a bend.
thats how it goes.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,983
Likes: 6
From: Redondo Beach Ca
When Chevy did the last oil change they over tightened the drain plug as well as the oil filter. MY can wrench was almost slipping to get it off. That's why I choose to do it myself now. Thanks for all the help, that's what makes this forum so great!