Oil drain bolt stuck
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 427
From: Dunedin Florida
Oil drain bolt stuck
i went to change my oil today and the 15mm drain bolt just won’t break loose. I am afraid to really throw some torque on it because I feel that could break it off or damage the pan. Is this possible? Any suggestions?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,815
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From: Brighton MI
Somebody clearly over-torqued it last time. 
Your best approach is to use a box end wrench and hit it with a 1# hammer on the other end. The shock of the hammer blows should break it loose without actually breaking the bolt. Start with light blows and work you way up until it breaks loose.
Oh, and don't hit your hand with the hammer.
Your best approach is to use a box end wrench and hit it with a 1# hammer on the other end. The shock of the hammer blows should break it loose without actually breaking the bolt. Start with light blows and work you way up until it breaks loose.
Oh, and don't hit your hand with the hammer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
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Be very sure you are actually UNLOOSENING the bolt. Righty tighty - Lefty loosey.
A friend and I spent hours trying to get a spark plug out of some lady's 390ci Ford. It wouldn't budge. We eventually found we were tightening it not loosening it. We both got turned around because of how hard it was to get to the plug and how cranked around we were and how little force (luckily) we were able to put on the plug in that position. I don't remember why or how we discovered our error. We just shrugged and got on with the rest of the tune-up. Set your ratchet BEFORE you crawl under and start banging.
A friend and I spent hours trying to get a spark plug out of some lady's 390ci Ford. It wouldn't budge. We eventually found we were tightening it not loosening it. We both got turned around because of how hard it was to get to the plug and how cranked around we were and how little force (luckily) we were able to put on the plug in that position. I don't remember why or how we discovered our error. We just shrugged and got on with the rest of the tune-up. Set your ratchet BEFORE you crawl under and start banging.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 427
From: Dunedin Florida
I actually was able to get a ratchet wrench on it and of course it was set to loosen and not a budge. The stealership must have used loctite red on the thing.
note... unloosening is the same as tightening.
note... unloosening is the same as tightening.
Last edited by Crosis; Dec 12, 2019 at 05:45 PM.
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Burning Brakes
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From: Wichita Falls Texas
Over the years I have had to take a small pipe wrench or a good pair of vice grips to take off a drain plug it it gets rounded off.
If you can't break it loose with a regular box in or 6 point socket you may need to try it.
I have never seen or heard of one that twisted off and left the thread in the hole.
Just use some strength and get it done!
Good luck!
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Usually when something like a drain plug gets stuck it needs shock more so than torque.
Get yourself and impact and it will come right off. If you don't want to do that, then as suggested hit your wrench with a hammer.
Get yourself and impact and it will come right off. If you don't want to do that, then as suggested hit your wrench with a hammer.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
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From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '18
Hit it with your purse. 
I'm just kidding. Make sure you use a 6 sided wrench. You can link two wrenches together two amplify your torque. That's probably your best bet. Getting the oil good and hot is probably a good idea. If the drain plug is that tight, chances are the filter is tighter than a sumbitch too. Getting everything good and hot first is your best bet to get both off.
I'm just kidding. Make sure you use a 6 sided wrench. You can link two wrenches together two amplify your torque. That's probably your best bet. Getting the oil good and hot is probably a good idea. If the drain plug is that tight, chances are the filter is tighter than a sumbitch too. Getting everything good and hot first is your best bet to get both off.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Douglas County WI
When you get to the filter, get up as close to the top as you can with the filter wrench. If it is on really tight you may end crushing the filter and then you got problems. Don't ask how I know this.
Le Mans Master
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From: Southeast Missouri
That's the best solution. Start with the impact set low, gradually increase the amount until it moves. It'll give . . . . . .
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