As with wheel bolts, individuals tend to overtighten oil drain plugs because they’re terrified of what might happen if they come loose. Performing an oil change correctly might be the difference between a cheap oil pan replacement and a costly oil pan replacement.
A lot of leverage and anti-seize lubricant are your best bets for removing a blocked oil drain plug from your car.
In this guide, I’ll teach you a few techniques to achieve the leverage you need to remove the vehicle’s undercarriage without damaging it. Working under a car necessitates special attention to safety, as I’ll demonstrate throughout this guide.
Six Methods To Remove a Stuck Oil Drain Plug
Nothing more than a simple hex head bolt is needed to close the oil pan’s drain plug. To make things even more difficult, oil that has been smeared into the threads by the vibrations might solidify into a sticky material, making it impossible to remove the plug.
Overtightening the oil drain plug is a much more typical cause of it becoming stuck. Once we’ve managed to free it, I’ll show you how to do it properly.
This is a dangerous job, so please take care when working beneath the car because you may have to pull or hit the plug, which could cause it to fall off the jack and stand. A mechanic’s trench or a lift are the best places to work on this task.
A towering curb in your area is a good alternative if you can’t get into either. Despite the fact that it’s not perfect, it will offer you enough area to maneuver without putting the car at risk of toppling.
Last but not least, keep in mind that anti-clockwise rotation is required to remove bolts. Tight on the right, loose on the left. It may seem insignificant, but when you’re buried beneath a car, it’s easy to overlook. My memory is a little hazy, so I’ll remind you rather than risk your snapping the bolt off.
List of Useful Tools
It’s possible that you’ve already used some of the items on the list to try to remove the plug. I’ve arranged them according to strength, starting with the hand wrenches and working my way up to the extra long ratchet.
To loosen the bolt, I like to use sockets instead of a traditional wrench because they provide me greater control. Use the extra-long ratchet, but make sure the drive is compatible with your socket set before you buy it. You won’t have to worry about anything because the ones I’ve provided are compatible.
1. Spray Anti-Seize Spray
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Using anti-seize spray may not be able to go into the plug as easily as it could, but it’s a little price to pay. Spray the plug and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping the top and sides of the nut with an old cloth to increase the nut’s hold.
2. Start With The Standard Ratchet
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Sockets can be used if the bolt is lubricated as much as feasible. Make sure the socket is securely attached to the bolt before attempting to unscrew it with anything less than a forceful effort. In order to avoid a complex repair task, avoid smoothing out the bolt head completely.
3. Wrench & Hammer
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If the socket isn’t working, you’ll have to use some muscle power. To begin, don a pair of gloves and make sure the car is stable.
To keep the wrench in position, place the boxed end on the bolt and press on the bolt with your thumb. Take a hammer and swing it at the other end of a wrench with your free hand. The hammer must have access to the wrench so that you can strike it at the proper angle. If you strike it too hard or miss the wrench and hit the oil pan, you risk cracking the pan.
4. Extra-Long Ratchet
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It’s better to use an extra-long wrench to get more leverage than to hammer a wrench. This method has the drawback of requiring a lot of space to turn the ratchet, but if you only need a few inches of space, it should work. The regular ratchet can be used to remove the bolt completely after it has been dislodged.
5. Impact Wrench
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In the absence of a powerful impact wrench, you may pay a tire store employee to use their air-powered wrench to remove the bolt. Although I’m not a fan of impact wrenches, we have to look into all of our options if we want to complete the project. There are a few things you need to check before using an impact wrench.
When the plug begins to move, you must release the trigger quickly. If you keep your finger on the plug for too long, oil can leak into your pricey wrench and possibly onto you.
6. Use a Car Jack
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This strategy completely blew my mind when I saw it demonstrated in a youtube video. A car jack provides more leverage than you’ll ever need, and that’s why it’s so vital.
You can check out the video to see how this strategy works instead of me paraphrasing it.
How To Remove a Stripped Oil Drain Plug
There are a few ways to remove the oil drain cap if you’ve stripped it during the process. Using an iron piece as leverage and welding it to the drain plug usually works, but there isn’t much area to work on the drain plug and the oil is combustible. Things’s also easier to do it this way, plus you’ll have an extra tool in the process.
Tools You’ll Need:
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Steps To Remove a Stripped Bolt
- Put on a pair of gloves.
- Try different bolt extractors to find the one that will fit. The extractor bites into the bolt head, so it needs to be tight.
- Hammer the extractor in place with precise hits. Don’t apply too much force or hit the oil pan as both can damage it.
- Once the extractor is stuck in place, attach the rather and unscrew the bolt.
- Find a high-quality replacement bolt to seal the oil pan.
How To Change Engine Oil
In the context of this discussion, I can also tell you how to complete the procedure of changing the oil. You’ll need an oil pan in addition to the equipment needed to remove and reinstall the drain plug.
FAQs
How much should you tighten the oil drain plug?
Because the thickness of the plug and the manufacturer’s specs determine the exact amount of torque, you’ll find torque figures ranging from 20 ft pounds to 33 ft lbs online. Screw it in with the ratchet; you’ll know when it’s tight enough without needing an exact measurement. Continuing to press past that point will just lead it to become stuck once again.
How much is an oil drain plug?
Because the drain stopper is only a higher grade bolt, you can acquire one for a few dollars. Because of the drain plug’s importance, I recommend paying a little more money to obtain a high-quality drain plug made of strong steel.
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Summary
If the oil drain plug becomes clogged, there are a number of approaches you can take to free it. To avoid stripping the bolt head, it is necessary to be cautious, work carefully, and use high-quality tools. I strongly recommend conducting an oil change at home rather than taking the vehicle to a professional.
