leej323 Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 Anyone have some techniques for loosening a stubborn oil drain plug? The damn thing won't budge. I swear I was hanging by my wrench underneath the car. No power tools or breaker bar at my disposal... Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahDL88 Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 Tap the end of the plug, like you were driving a nail, not full blows, but some love taps, and then try and tighten it, but not a lot, then it should let go and free up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leej323 Posted November 22, 2005 Author Share Posted November 22, 2005 Tap the end of the plug, like you were driving a nail, not full blows, but some love taps, and then try and tighten it, but not a lot, then it should let go and free up. Hmm... I'll try that. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subarian Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 If you have a combination wrench, you can put the box end on the bolt. Then use another box wrench and slip it over the open end of the wrench. That will allow you to approximately double your torque on the wrench. Alternately, you can use a cheater bar. It's just a length of pipe that will slip over your wrench handle and allow you to apply more leverage. I have several different lengths. It works best if your wrenches have a good warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nkx Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 a $5 1/2" drive 12" breaker bar and a 3' long piece of 1x1 box steel will coherce pretty much any bolt out with little effort on your part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86subaru Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 does your subaru have a skid plate ,if so remove it first ,much easier to gey to plug, i found that out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Olsen Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 umm yeah...cheeter bar.... = lots and lots of pain.... i broke a 1" drive breaker bar using a cheeter bar... landed 15 feet away.... decided it was time for a lunch break after that.... suppose a smalll one on a car bolt isn't a bad idea tho... good luck.... dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattiandruss Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 I had to take out one that had been super tightened and rounded off by a quickie oil change place. Used a pipe wrench, but you will have to get a new plug afterwards. Do this as a last resort. Russell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredrogers Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 What about some PB blaster? I have had good luck with that and stubborn bolts. -=fred=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leej323 Posted November 22, 2005 Author Share Posted November 22, 2005 does your subaru have a skid plate ,if so remove it first ,much easier to gey to plug, i found that out Yeah, took off the skid plate. About to try this again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueTrain Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 you sure you're turning it the right way? actually i was over at a friends a few months back and he was reefing on his drainplug and i looked underneath and he was turning it the wrong way.. sooo it does happen.. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robm Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 Vise grips and a hammer. With any luck, it won't do as much damage as a 12 pt combination wrench slipping on the hex of the plug. To prevent this, change the crush washer. They last for about 3 oil changes before they get too flat to seal, and then the torque requirements on the plug get so high that it becomes way too much work to remove. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subarian Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 Whatever you do to get it out, let us know. The suspense is killing me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subiemech85 Posted November 23, 2005 Share Posted November 23, 2005 I use a IIRC 17mm 6pt socket and wratchet or 6pt wrench and a hammer to tap the tool to loosen, it works, BTDT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leej323 Posted November 23, 2005 Author Share Posted November 23, 2005 Whatever you do to get it out, let us know. The suspense is killing me! Haha, got it out. But not by any of the ways mentioned above. Maybe a combination? I tried spraying some WD-40 on it and waiting for a bit. Got back under and pulled/pushed away... no luck. I even tried tapping the wrench with a hammer to hopefully gain some slack... still nothing. I was about to give up but decided to try using my 12" socket wrench and pull while on two feet from in front of the car. I swear I was about to pull the car off the jackstands and just like that the plug came loose. Had to go out and buy a set of oil filter pliers to pull out the filter, but that's the easy part. I want a beer now. Thanks again for all the suggestions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredrogers Posted November 23, 2005 Share Posted November 23, 2005 I am glad you got it off. That would suck to not be able to change your oil. -=fred=- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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