AZ-Accord

My wife took the car to get the oil change , and the place said they couldn't do it cause the oil drain plug needs to be replaced, as well as the oil pan. Does this sound right? The car has about 130,000 5 speed, no oil leaks coming from the bottom that I can see of. If I have to change the oil pan, is it easy to do?
Thanks for the help.

BLKFLSH

If the threads in the pan are stripped, I would replace the pan. Chances are you would have to remove something, either part of the exhaust, or a frame cross member. Don't know for sure what's in the way. Who did the last oil change? I would not bring it there again.

AZ-Accord

Firestone did the oil change, thanks for the response.

dan_g

I think there is a way to fix stripped bolts. Do a search here or online. How did the shop know the bolt is stripped unless they opened it?

Also try and shop around for oil changes, nowadays the dealers have good coupons for oil change. I pay $10-15 for oil changes + tax + shop supplies at dealers with coupon.

You don't have to accept all that they recommend. It also means you have to educate yourself and study what problems are genuine and what are marketing pitch.

Good Luck.

WLH

Dan G is right, you have to remove the plug to see and know if it is striped. The oil would then have run out the hole while they made the diagnosis on the threads. Seems a bit fishy. My daughter got her oil changed at a WM in Scottsdale and all seemed fine until I tried to check the oil and the dipstick would not come out. I have since researched oil pan removal (04 Accord V6 auto) and it appears to be moderately difficult. You do have to remove a cross member and some other brace. A DIY like me could probably do it in 2-3 hours. You should take it to someone you trust if you're not comfortable making a call on the threads.

WLH

Dan G is right, you have to remove the plug to see and know if it is striped. The oil would then have run out the hole while they made the diagnosis on the threads. Seems a bit fishy. My daughter got her oil changed at a WM in Scottsdale and all seemed fine until I tried to check the oil and the dipstick would not come out. I have since researched oil pan removal (04 Accord V6 auto) and it appears to be moderately difficult. You do have to remove a cross member and some other brace. A DIY like me could probably do it in 2-3 hours. You should take it to someone you trust if you're not comfortable making a call on the threads.

Racer02gtstang

If than pan is stripped buy a oil plug at Honda from like a 2000 Honda insight. They are longer and will normally buy you a few oil changes till you can afford a pan change. Make sure you use ultra flange on a v6 aluminum pan

Racer02gtstang

By the way you do not have to remove the crossmember to do any v6 oil pan on a Honda. You can jack up on the ac compressor bracket and fit the pan out of any of them. I do the pans in less than 45 min but its on a lift. And use ultra flange which has a min of a 3 hour dry time. Best to sit 24 hours if you have the time

Racer02gtstang

The Honda dealer can put in what's called a time sert into the pan. It's very hard to put one in on a v6 due to clearances of the subframe. But it's a good fix and adds metal threads for the drain plug. They can sometimes leak if not put in completely straight. The best fix is a new pan

AZ-Accord

I just got to doping the oil change, and the bolt looked good, no sign of wear or tear, and I looked on the inside threads and they looked good too. The only thing I noticed was when i was screwing it back on, after a few turns with by hand, I had to use a wrench to put it back on, then tightened it to manufactures torque.
Question, I put in 5w-30 instead of 20, is that a big deal or should I immediately dump and put in 5w-20? The only difference I noticed was a little rougher idle and when I took the dipstick out there was a noise coming out, I guess I would describe as a whine.
Thanks guys.

BLKFLSH

A lot of owners use 5w-30, especially in the summer, so no problem there. In cold weather I would switch back to 5w-20, but it's not a big deal. You took the dipstick out, while the engine was running? Also not a big deal, but you have to stop the engine to check the oil.

AZ-Accord

Yeah the engine was running when I took the dipstick out.