I tried changing the oil in my gf's car this morning but the damn drain plug would not come off.. She has been taking it to SpeeDee ever since she got the car, I was thinking that they might of over tourqed it.

Any suggestions? Btw: I am using a 17mm Socket wrench.

 

put a metal pipe over it for some extra torque!

 

How about a crescent wrench and a hammer? Or some sort of breaker bar.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by timmy8151 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How about a crescent wrench and a hammer? Or some sort of breaker bar.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for the suggestions..

What exactly is a breaker bar?

 

crescent wrench & hammer?

I don't want to be there when that thing either A) strips the head of the bolt or B) goes flying into your leg.

Use the box end of your 17mm wrench and either use a hammer (i would figure you would have already tried that) OR get a pipe and fit it over the end. You'd definatley be able to break it free then.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by teg92 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">crescent wrench & hammer?

I don't want to be there when that thing either A) strips the head of the bolt or B) goes flying into your leg.

Use the box end of your 17mm wrench and either use a hammer (i would figure you would have already tried that) OR get a pipe and fit it over the end. You'd definatley be able to break it free then.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks, I'll try all of those suggestions!

 

Could it be because I was driving for about 30 min and the plug might be expanding?

Should I try it when the car is colder?

 

they might have cross threaded the plug.

as stated by others, use either a breaker bar or metal or hard plastic pipe as an extension on the ratchet for that extra leverage.

 

make sure your turning it correctly

 

make sure the car is cold First!!!!!!!!!

 

Breaker bar that bish!

 

You might want to take it back to them "SpeeDee", if they did strip it or mess it up then it is thier responsibility to fix it. If you remove the bolt yourself and find out it is stripped or messed up, they won't fix it or cover it...they'll just say you don't know what you are doing or you cross threaded the bolt and are trying to blame them. So I'd say take it to them this last time, and watch and make sure they don't over tighten the bolt this time or cross thread it and then do all her oil changes yourself for now on. And as far as the crescent wrench and hammer idea forget that, you will just end up stripping the bolt or killing something with the hammer.

 

make sure you put a washer on the drain bolt after you get it offl.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RedGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">make sure you put a washer on the drain bolt after you get it offl.</TD></TR></TABLE> doesn't really matter. you could if u had one handy but i wouldn't go into a panic if you didnt put one on.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hatchback &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Could it be because I was driving for about 30 min and the plug might be expanding?

Should I try it when the car is colder? </TD></TR></TABLE>

that shouldn't be the problem because i always change my oil at operating temperature (which is recommended) to get as much of the contaminants out as possible. and the people at the quick lube change the oil when the car is hot as well, granted they have more leverage standing up, but, that can be eliminated as a problem. hth

 

physics rules =P

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thaiphob &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">make sure the car is cold First!!!!!!!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

wrong. you want it to at least idle for a while till it gets to temp, me i just drive around run my errands and change it when i get home. its real hot but i dont give a **** really.

 

Definitely change it while hot, the oil flows out much better, and you will end up draining out more of the old oil.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by teg92 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">crescent wrench & hammer?

I don't want to be there when that thing either A) strips the head of the bolt or B) goes flying into your leg.

Use the box end of your 17mm wrench and either use a hammer (i would figure you would have already tried that) OR get a pipe and fit it over the end. You'd definatley be able to break it free then.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ive done that alot.....no problem with it

 

if its striped, get a vise grip and clamp it really really tight, then get a small sledge hammer and start pounding.

good luck

 

dont forget
rightie tightie
lefty loosie
OK
use a breaker bar with a socket less possibilities to strip it
and its better when hot..

 

No no...best combination is 18" breaker bar with a 6pt shallow socket and a BFH to motivate it

 

You should be able to generate a few hundred lbs-ft of torque with a good breaker bar. If you still can't pop it loose, it might be time to hit the gym.

--
Tom

 

Make sure you use a 6 point wrench or socket on it. Most cheap tools are 12 point. You stand less chance of stripping it.

 

I tighten mine to 33 ft. lbs. as specified per manual. It shouldn't be any tighter. To necessitate the use of a breaker bar to remove a drain plug shows gross negligence in the proper procedure of doing an oil change. The people working at the shop you used either don't care or don't know any better. I wouldn't use their services anymore and make a formal complaint to the operations manager.

I use a torque wrench to tighten all the bolts on my cars. If you don't have a torque wrench, use the following guideines. Tighten the drain plug finger tight (with crush washer, of course), position the wrench at 4 o'clock position, and 33 ft. lbs. will be achieved around the 6 o'clock mark. With the oil filter, do the same but half the travel as the drain plug.