stuck oil drain plug
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 177
Likes: 25
stuck oil drain plug
Hi, I have the car on ramps and can get a wrench on the drain plug but can't get enough clearance/leverage to free the bolt. My thought was to put a jack under the wrench to get the required oomph. Since I have a history of making things worse what do you think of this idea: genius or dumb?
Thanks, Larry
certified DIYer . . . Destroy It Yourselfer
Thanks, Larry
certified DIYer . . . Destroy It Yourselfer
Popular Reply
May 1, 2021, 08:49 PM
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,082
Likes: 7,398
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Make sure you are using a tight fitting 6 point wrench. 12 point is bad in this case.
I would either double wrench creating a breaker bar or I would hit the one wrench with a hammer. Shock is your friend.
I would either double wrench creating a breaker bar or I would hit the one wrench with a hammer. Shock is your friend.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,771
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From: Orlando Florida
I have used the technique to loosen an otherwise impossibly tight lug nut before -- but -- silly as this may sound -- double or even triple check that lefty is loosey and righty is tighty. Break a wheel stud, the other four get you to the garage. Strip the oil pan, not so much...
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,082
Likes: 7,398
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Make sure you are using a tight fitting 6 point wrench. 12 point is bad in this case.
I would either double wrench creating a breaker bar or I would hit the one wrench with a hammer. Shock is your friend.
I would either double wrench creating a breaker bar or I would hit the one wrench with a hammer. Shock is your friend.
Drifting
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 1,663
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From: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, metro area
Mr Black is on track. My 99 Vert had an insanely tight oil pan plug when I got it last year. Got a good quality, 6-point. Held it snug, and began striking the wrench with progressively harder strikes until it broke free. It did not go back on that tight.
Cruising
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 14
Likes: 12
Best chance to not round the head is using a 6 point wrench and turning it firmly by hand while striking it rapidly with moderate force with a rubber hammer. Run the car till the oil gets up to temp first then turn it off and do it while the oil is still hot too. Just don't get it all over yourself. Brake it out but leave the plug in loosely until it cools down if you're worried about it.
Last edited by Big Olly; May 1, 2021 at 11:03 PM.
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A piece of pipe over the wrench helps create more force (torque) for breaking the bolt free.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Somewhere, Florida
St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
When I first got my car and went to get the oil changed, the gorilla who had done it before me had it so tight that the only way I got the plug out was using an air hammer on the flats to forcibly spin it.
This, and many other reasons, is why I do all my own work.
Good luck with yours.
This, and many other reasons, is why I do all my own work.
Good luck with yours.
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Hi, I have the car on ramps and can get a wrench on the drain plug but can't get enough clearance/leverage to free the bolt. My thought was to put a jack under the wrench to get the required oomph. Since I have a history of making things worse what do you think of this idea: genius or dumb?
Thanks, Larry
certified DIYer . . . Destroy It Yourselfer
Thanks, Larry
certified DIYer . . . Destroy It Yourselfer
I agree with other posts. But-If the hex is totally rounded, you may have to resort to vice grips set VERY TIGHT, or even a small pipe wrench. I'm sure you'll get it. However, if you have the front end elevated, you won't get all your old oil out. Actually, the recommended procedure on the C5 is to have the REAR ELEVATED an inch or so higher than the front. Once you do get that plug out, if the hex is rounded, just pitch it, and buy a good magnetic drain plug. Just order the mag plug ahead of time! Best of luck to you.......
Last edited by grinder11; May 4, 2021 at 02:12 PM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 289
Likes: 102
From: Texas
If it's really on and starting to get stripped, I used Bolt extractors on the head. They will bite and not give.
If you are not stripped, I'd hit it for a couple of seconds with an impact gun (electric or otherwise) and it should loosen. that's if you can't get a breaker bar on the wrench to muscle it off.
I keep my Ryobi electric impact around for those situations.
If you are not stripped, I'd hit it for a couple of seconds with an impact gun (electric or otherwise) and it should loosen. that's if you can't get a breaker bar on the wrench to muscle it off.
I keep my Ryobi electric impact around for those situations.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 177
Likes: 25
stuck oil plug
Thanks for all great suggestions. Just to make sure, on a '99, the bolt loosens left? counterclockwise? So, if I have a wrench on the bolt, and the wrench is pointing toward the driver;s side (parallel to the garage floor) I would move the wrench up, toward the driver's seat? Is that right?
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,082
Likes: 7,398
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Thanks for all great suggestions. Just to make sure, on a '99, the bolt loosens left? counterclockwise? So, if I have a wrench on the bolt, and the wrench is pointing toward the driver;s side (parallel to the garage floor) I would move the wrench up, toward the driver's seat? Is that right?
Cool Hand Luke of W MI
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,292
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From: Winona Lake, IN
18 ft-lbs doesn't seem like a lot at all, but that is what the FSM says. When I bought my car mine was on gorilla tight too and I was able to get it off with a quality 6 point socket. Good luck OP!
4th Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
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Yes, I know this is an old thread. I bought a C5 where a gorilla clearly put the drain plug back in. I used a breaker bar with a good 6-point socket and a floor jack to break the plug loose, and it worked great! Then I moved back to the filter armed for battle with my racketing filter tool and my long-handled ratchet only to find that the filter was installed finger tight by a toddler. So that’s prolly where all the oil under the car is coming from. Now both are installed correctly, and I can move on to the coolant leaks and under-nose damage. Soon I can actually drive the monster.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 2,948
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From: North Coast
Yes, I know this is an old thread. I bought a C5 where a gorilla clearly put the drain plug back in. I used a breaker bar with a good 6-point socket and a floor jack to break the plug loose, and it worked great! Then I moved back to the filter armed for battle with my racketing filter tool and my long-handled ratchet only to find that the filter was installed finger tight by a toddler. So that’s prolly where all the oil under the car is coming from. Now both are installed correctly, and I can move on to the coolant leaks and under-nose damage. Soon I can actually drive the monster.