I feel very fooloish but i cannot get my oil drain plug off. Does it remove by turning clockwise or counter clockwise.
thanks

 

Counter clock wise. A rubber mallet carefully hit on the end of the ratchet should break it free.

 

"righty tighty, left loosey"

 

Getting under the car always messes me up on turning direction...it shouldn't make any difference to someone who's wrenched all their life, but it does.

Your C6 has the engine oil drain plug on driver side of the pan. BE CERTAIN of the correct turning direction, then use a long-handled socket wrench like a breakover handle or long torque wrench. With the wrench handle BELOW the drainplug, push/pull the handle toward the rear of the car to loosen. For example, if the long wrench handle is at 8:00 o'clock position as you look at the drain plug, you would pull down and to the rear. Gradually increase the force on the handle until the drain plug starts to move.

When you put it back, torque your drain plug to 18 ft-lb. DO NOT overtighten...the LS2 oil pan is aluminum and the threads can be stripped if you overtighten.

CAUTION: Once the drain plug is turned about one turn or less, it should be loose in the threads...you should be able to virtually "spin" it out manually. IF, the drain plug continues to have strong resistance to turning after about one turn, you may have threads that are already stripped and are galling to the drain plug. If this occurs, I would stop turning immediately. Drive the car directly to the nearest dealer at the first opportunity...they can change the oil after they repair the drain plug threads.

 

 

I'm no expert but, when I have trouble with a bolt, I use a closed end wrench. It will have a better grip and less chance if stripping than an open end wrench.

 

True. Using an closed end wrench is normally a good strategy...the closed end grips the hex better than an open end, and it's short length makes it more difficult for the average person to overtorque fasteners.

However, in this case, he's either turning the wrench the wrong way, and/or the plug has been WAY overtightened during the previous oil change. He needs a LONG socket wrench to allow him to apply an unusual amount of torque for this drain plug, and easily control the application of that torque. He should hold the socket tightly in position with one hand, and apply torque with the other hand.

He HAS to be sure his turning direction is correct, however, or he will be make the problem far worse...maybe FUBAR.

 

Or a six point socket. You don't want to round off the drain plug, treat it carefully.

 

But getting under the car can make it confusing. And passing the 12:00 and the 6:00 positions can make it confusing too.

Lefty loosey, righty tightie, depends on where you catch the bolt at.

I always imagine the car being on a lift. I would approach the oil drain plug facing the rear of the car. Thus to loosen the bolt from this position, if my wrench were at the 3:00 position, I would start heading to the 2:00 position. If my wrench were at the 7:00 position, I would start heading towards 6:00. Is that left loosey, righty tightie????

If I were approaching one of the swaybar bolts, I would approach that from the rear of the car. If my wrench were in the 6:00 position, I would start heading towards 5:00 to loosen it. And 7:00 to tighten it.

Clockwise/counterwise facing the bolt is a much better rule than "lefty loosy, righty tighty" :

 

For some of us maybe, my son uses the "lefty loosy, righty tighty" cause he (aparently) grew up with digital clocks.

Whatever works for you is what you should stick with!

 

I've been working on cars so long I don't think about it, I just do it. The box wrench is a good idea but some times you can't get enough leverage and a breaker bar is necessary.

 

 

Use the old right hand thread rule:

Point your right thumb toward the plug and rotate (curl) your fingers naturally around your thumb. That's the direction to tighten the plug. Turn opposite to loosen.

This always works, even upside down laying beneath your C6.

 

Counter clockwise.

 

Yep

 

With a 6 point closed end wrench, you can use a piece of pipe as a wrench extension. It will come out!!

 

Use a bigger hammer

 

All these suggestions work...but way too much work. Just punch a new hole in the pan.

 

Use a 6-point impact socket with 1/2-inch impact wrench
Use a low setting first maybe impact will loosen plug
I changed oil in my 2006 and plug was not that tight I used a 3/8-drive ratchet with 13 mm 6 point socket
Looking at plug it loosens by turning counter clockwise

your corvette must be under Warranty take it to the dealer. If he breaks it he fixes it

John

 

The plug will come out by turning in either direction if you have enough leverage, but I would try counter clockwise first.