Stuck Oil Drain Plug

[chiwawadan]

I purchased an SUV which had always been serviced at the dealership and upon purchasing decided to go ahead and do my own oil changes. The dealership must have bodybuilders for employees, because I can NOT get the oil drain plug out.

I have a couple more tricks I'm going to try - I have limited tools though. Just curious, anyone experience this and have any additional tips from those below?

Various tips I've read:
-Always use 6-sided socket
-Use longer socket wrench for more torque
-Use breaker bar for more torque (don't have...haven't tried)
-Penetrating oil
-Heat
-Cold
-Put a hydraulic car lift underneath the socket wrench and use the car lift to push the socket wrench up toward the car (using the car's weight to unstuck the bolt) **This one's next on my list to try

If my last attempt doesn't work, I'll probably go get an alignment done and ask the shop to try to loosen it for me while they're doing the alignment work!

Or anyone nearby have a breaker bar and a pipe? 

[Rainier10]

Lefty loosey. 

[chiwawadan]

Lefty loosey. 

Yeah yeah yeah. No issue there. 

[blackpowderhunter]

it was probably installed with an impact.. 
where are you located?
just go pick up a breaker bar, sounds like itll come in handy for you at times.  this harbor freight one will do the trick for not much money
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-25-in-breaker-bar-67933.html

[jackelope]

it was probably installed with an impact.. 
where are you located?
just go pick up a breaker bar, sounds like itll come in handy for you at times.  this harbor freight one will do the trick for not much money
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-25-in-breaker-bar-67933.html

Any shop where a technician installs an oil pan drain plug with an impact should be shut down by the BBB.


If it was me, and you know where the car was serviced, I'd be taking it back there. Let them fix it.

[Jake Dogfish]

I’ve slipped the jack handle that came with my Saturn on the end of the wrench to get a few tough ones loose.

[Woodchuck]

it was probably installed with an impact.. 
where are you located?
just go pick up a breaker bar, sounds like itll come in handy for you at times.  this harbor freight one will do the trick for not much money
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-25-in-breaker-bar-67933.html

Any shop where a technician installs an oil pan drain plug with an impact should be shut down by the a surgical air strike.


If it was me, and you know where the car was serviced, I'd be taking it back there. Let them fix it.

fixed it

[RockChuck]

Lefty loosey. 

  this was going to be my advice 😂

[HikerHunter]

My wife took her car to Jiffy Lube once without me knowing. She surprised me because I was super busy with other things at the time (probably hunting season...). The next time I tried to change her oil, I broke my socket wrench trying to get it off...

You don't need an actual breaker bar, as Jake Dogfish mentioned. A short section of PVC or steel pipe will do as well. That's what finally got mine off.

[huntnfmly]

As mentioned in another thread on this same subject and in my experience you need to cuss at the drain plug a couple times and throw your socket wrench across the garage at least once and then try it again and it will come loose😆😆

[chiwawadan]

As mentioned in another thread on this same subject and in my experience you need to cuss at the drain plug a couple times and throw your socket wrench across the garage at least once and then try it again and it will come loose😆😆

Certainly already tried this!

[Westside88]

This may be a dumb question, but have you warmed the vehicle up prior to trying to remove the drain plug?

[jackelope]

As mentioned in another thread on this same subject and in my experience you need to cuss at the drain plug a couple times and throw your socket wrench across the garage at least once and then try it again and it will come loose😆😆

Certainly already tried this!

Knucklebuster yet?

[Stein]

I would use an impact.  Before I had one a 2.5# sledge on the wrench would often work well.



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[RockChuck]

I would say impact as a last resort because if it goes wrong your hosed, IMO best bet is pipe on a heavy duty ratchet with a good 6pt socket (impact socket would be my choice due to thickness)