Oil Change from Hell
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Falls Church Virginia
Oil Change from Hell
ALCON, just a tread about my first C5 oil change today. Got her jacked up (Dam thats a low car) (but I like it)
. Came time to remove the drain pug and it would not move. I tried every thing short of diamite
. When I finally believe it or not brought out the impac drill. Talk about sweating one
. After about three hits if finially came loose
. Man what a stressful event. I have no idea who changed it last but it must have been a shop. Needless to say the rest went well. My point make sure if you get some shop to change your oil for you. That he doesn't use a air impac thats presure is set to mount lug nuts. Only 18 PSI is all you need. Take care
sgm2004
. Came time to remove the drain pug and it would not move. I tried every thing short of diamite. When I finally believe it or not brought out the impac drill. Talk about sweating one. After about three hits if finially came loose. Man what a stressful event. I have no idea who changed it last but it must have been a shop. Needless to say the rest went well. My point make sure if you get some shop to change your oil for you. That he doesn't use a air impac thats presure is set to mount lug nuts. Only 18 PSI is all you need. Take caresgm2004
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
You're lucky - I did the first oil change in the wife's '02 the other day and there was already a helicoil in there. Apparently, the PO had the dealership stooges do his oil changes and they went the extra mile with their impact tools. 
They're the same guys who overinflated the snot out of the tires so that the TPS monitors went nuts a few miles after I picked up the car when we bought it. 
They're the same guys who overinflated the snot out of the tires so that the TPS monitors went nuts a few miles after I picked up the car when we bought it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 5
From: Newtown Square Pa.
I just snug mine up fill it with oil and let it sit for a hour or so and check for drips.If I leaks a little I just snug it up a little more I usually do it on a Saturday afternoon when I have plenty of time.
How would anyone get a impact gun on there anyway?
How would anyone get a impact gun on there anyway?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
I think you meant 18 ft-lbs instead of Psi, but it does not really even need to be that tight.
With the built in rubber gasket, I have always just made the plug snug with a 6 inch wrench, and have never had one come loose.
Back when cars had metal oil pans, I have seen mechanics tighten the plug so tight that they cracked the oil pan, and ended up having to replace the pan. At least you can rethread the aluminum if the threads get messed up, but who wants that? On my brother's Camaro, I ended up putting a hydraulic jack under the wrench handle and slowly using the jack to break it loose. Almost lifted the car before it came loose. Absolutely no reason for the plug to be that tight.
With the built in rubber gasket, I have always just made the plug snug with a 6 inch wrench, and have never had one come loose.
Back when cars had metal oil pans, I have seen mechanics tighten the plug so tight that they cracked the oil pan, and ended up having to replace the pan. At least you can rethread the aluminum if the threads get messed up, but who wants that? On my brother's Camaro, I ended up putting a hydraulic jack under the wrench handle and slowly using the jack to break it loose. Almost lifted the car before it came loose. Absolutely no reason for the plug to be that tight.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; Mar 29, 2009 at 09:18 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,798
Likes: 8
From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
Back in the day I've seen them so tight that the spot welds broke on the brace on the inside of the pan and that was the end of that. Only fix was removing the pan for a couple tack welds or pan replacement. At least with a stripped plug they sell over sized plugs.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Falls Church Virginia
I think you meant 18 ft-lbs instead of Psi, but it does not really even need to be that tight.
With the built in rubber gasket, I have always just made the plug snug with a 6 inch wrench, and have never had one come loose.
Back when cars had metal oil pans, I have seen mechanics tighten the plug so tight that they cracked the oil pan, and ended up having to replace the pan. At least you can rethread the aluminum if the threads get messed up, but who wants that? On my brother's Camaro, I ended up putting a hydraulic jack under the wrench handle and slowly using the jack to break it loose. Almost lifted the car before it came loose. Absolutely no reason for the plug to be that tight.
With the built in rubber gasket, I have always just made the plug snug with a 6 inch wrench, and have never had one come loose.
Back when cars had metal oil pans, I have seen mechanics tighten the plug so tight that they cracked the oil pan, and ended up having to replace the pan. At least you can rethread the aluminum if the threads get messed up, but who wants that? On my brother's Camaro, I ended up putting a hydraulic jack under the wrench handle and slowly using the jack to break it loose. Almost lifted the car before it came loose. Absolutely no reason for the plug to be that tight.
the older I get. sgm2004