rounded sump plug

[berra in gong]

Hi all, new to the forum but a long time lurker.

so trying to do my oil change today i rounded my sump plug in one movement :O, and i was wondering if there was any joyus back yard mechanics in the wollongong region that are feeling kinda enough to give a uni student a hand to remove it or a step by step guide, as i dont have many tools, have limited experience and i picked the worst weekend to do too :/

thanks in advance

[arj127]

Shoot down to Supercheap and buy some vice grips, they should get it out.

Order a new sump plug from Holden next week. Use the right socket next time dude.

[Rusty]

If vice grips don't do the trick, smash a smaller socket onto it.

[berra in gong]

I thought i had the right wrench, 19mm ring/open, it was tight in the ring but yeah just slipped and spun when i put the force while stuck.
would supercheap/repco have a sump plug or do i Have to go order though a holden dealer?

[Rusty]

Supercheap or repco will either have it or will be able to order it in. Check prices from Holden also though

[Pickle']

I thought i had the right wrench, 19mm ring/open, it was tight in the ring but yeah just slipped and spun when i put the force while stuck.
would supercheap/repco have a sump plug or do i Have to go order though a holden dealer?

repco will POSSIBLY have one but supercheap you've got close enough to no chance i believe and even if they have something it will more then likely be wrong.. im going with what rusty said but.. if it doesnt come off with a pair of vice grips smash a smaller socket on there

[berra in gong]

okay thanks for that guys sounds like its a project for next weekend once the shops are open again.

[VYMAD]

When my son bought his VT, we went to do an oil change and I have never seen a sump plug so tight before! It rounded off pretty quick, vice grips wouldn't work, didn't have stilsons. Ended up having to weld an old spanner onto the sump plug. God knows how the dumb sucker that tightened it got it that tight. Or maybe it had been so long since oil change that it siezed.
Wreckers or Holden probably be easiest to get new one, my son got his from Holden.

[Brett_jjj]

Mine was rounded off when I first got my car,I ended up getting it out with vice grips, I ground new flats on the plug again with a bench grinder,I took it down a size or two,Its 17 mm now.It was only supposed to be a quick fix until I could get another one,but it worked so well,that its still there years later....

[pablo]

The correct spanner is 19mm, ALWAYS use a ring spanner, never an open end or even worse, an adjustable. The bolt is 14mm X 1.5mm pitch.
A big trap for the begginer, beside using the wrong tools, is when laying on your side to undo the bolt, is to get ballsed up and pull the spanner the wrong friggin way, tightening it more, I know, I have done it my self...LOL!

[berra in gong]

lol, i dont have any other oil change experince other then my vt, but if i do two oil changes in a row the second one is easy as pie, cause ive tightened it alright with no leaks, where as when i get it back after a mechanic service its like the guys are on roids :P

another quick question guys, any one know the dimensions of the plug, make it easyer to find when i head to repco tomorrow? spoke to the local one today, he said there was a few different ones for the vt, but he didnt have any either way, but the next towncentre does. my car is a 00 series II exec if that helps?

[pablo]

I just gave you the dimentions of the plug above!.....This is what the original one in my bus measures. ..I didn't mention the length, but it would be around the 20mm mark.

[berra in gong]

sorry my bad was excpecting a thread size but now youve said it, makes sense.
and thanks again.

[Mick1988]

19mm socket and a long breaker bar if you're struggling to get it off. Should be towards the back of the car to loosen.

[VUte89]

If you want to be even more cautious use a 6 point ring or socket not 12 even less chance of slippage

[berra in gong]

a days work on it has yeilded nothing!!!, you can see the teeth marks from the vice grips and its a good socket size smaller with the amount stripped off it from the grips. but the b still wont turn. looks like I will be paying for that next service leave it to the Professionals

[NVMYVT]

hey mate, just go to your local engineering place and get them to tack weld a nut to the back of the plug,,, (just remind them its only a cast alloy housing so don't over heat it) then hit up a wrecker or holden for a new one,, had to do it more than once, everytime i buy a new car some twat has rounded the diff plug

[Myfirstone]

funny... i have the same problem today... doing the oil change first time . I pretty much stripped it rounded even with vice grips. I ended up pumping the oil out via the oil filter . took for ever , but its done. I'm think the mechanic in currumbin tighten it with an air powered wrench, like they do with the tyres. When u get a flat u just can't get them off.

For interest sake , can i take off the sump instead. to get better grip on the sump nut.?

[Rhin0o8]

another quick question guys, any one know the dimensions of the plug, make it easyer to find when i head to repco tomorrow? spoke to the local one today, he said there was a few different ones for the vt, but he didnt have any either way, but the next towncentre does. my car is a 00 series II exec if that helps?

The size of the head is 19mm
the size of the thread is 24 mm

when you have your socket on the head of the bolt, dont just pull down with all your strength. - Give it a jolt as you start to undo it. this will crack the seal and make it easier to undo.
6 sided socket is probably best to use.

[montey56]

Im not sure, but it seems that all vt's have extreemly tight sump plugs, i have yet to come accross one that isnt almost stuck on and most are a pain to get off, but i have not stripped one, make sure you use a single hex 19mm socket and that way it cant, well shouldnt be able to strip itself.

[9C1pack]

For those who do not know what a single hex is..
A single hex has an internal shape exactly the same as the bolt/nut, whereas the normal socket/spanner has twice as many bumps, and only grips the bolt/nut by the top edges of the bolt/nut and strips them easily.
A wheel brace is an example of a single hex
Do a google image search "single hex socket" and see for your self.
I went to a second hand shop and bought the correct size black impact socket, works a treat.

[slowandlow]

another way to get it off if u r still stuck. angle grind a thin slot in the middle if the rounded plug. then use a flathead bit in a socket on a breaker bar or socket wrench to undo it. or use a screwdriver if u r tough

[berra in gong]

sorry to bring this up again guys, but i still cant get it off, tried vice grips and i just cant get them to hold they just strip it further, i dont have access to a welder or the knowledge to tack on another bolt,

i was wondering if there was anyone in the wollongong region who would be happy to take an attempt at it for me before i bite the bullet and book it in to the mechanics and let someone else deal with it?

[wrx884]

take it 2 a mechanics 2 get a nut welded on. but b4 u do buy a new sump plug and make sure it comes with a new washer. ALWAYS replace the washer every time u do an oil change. Then the nut only has 2 b firm and not over tight.

[VYMAD]

Yeah, mate you gonna have to get a nut or old spanner welded on. A decent mechanic shouldn't charge you much to do it. You could even get him to nip it back up loosely to get you home so you can still change oil yourself. And yeah, buy the new plug and washer before you take out the old one. Holden dealer is best bet, tell them model, month/year of build and they'll give you correct one off the shelf.