I NEED HELP with sump plug/bolt thing

[Denno]

I am having a major issue with changing the oil in my damn car. I can't get the old stuff out because the plug/bolt don't turn. It's on pretty damn tight. I've tried lots of different tools, but now after trying to many things, and having them just turn on the bolt without the bolt actually moving itself, the bolt is starting to resemble a circle rather than a hexagon....

How on earth do I get this pain in the ass off?

Thanks

[greenacc]

serious question, Are you turning it the right direction ? anticlockwise !?
have you tried a good single hex socket ?

[sandbar1000]

Vice grips may be the only way now, if the bolt is rounded, some times a sharp blow with a hammer on the bolt will loosen it....


davo.....

[nicko]

If all else fails, cold chiesel into the bolt and then buy a new bolt.

Tip: Drive to get a new bolt before smashing your old one and then having to walk to the auto shop

[Denno]

yeah was going to right way. Tried the vice grips, and also sockets, spanners, adjustable spanner, even the freakin plyers lol.

I've got it off now, but it cost me $35 for this chunky as tool from sprint which got it off. So it's off now. Will have to go back to sprint though cuz the new bolt that the guy sold me is too small, wtf.

[GLITRES]

that happened to my girlfriends car 2weeks ago, i ended up stripping the sump screw and had to take it around to her dads cause i couldn't get it off and i didnt have many tools to choose from.
he ended up using multigrips and alot of muscle.

Tip: When putting the screw back in don't screw it in real tight, do finger tight the like half a turn. it will get tighter over time with the heat and all.

[lad79]

i had same prob this week on the new VT, used a rattle gun to get it off, which is prob what they did it up with and why it was so tight.

bought a genuine new plug and washer from holden for $11.20 too

[davway]

is a common problem.
i had the same issue because some f-wit used silicon on the thread.
the easiest way to remove the bolt is with a blow torch.
heat it up and get the vice grips and it will back right out with ease.

[lumina01]

i had same prob this week on the new VT, used a rattle gun to get it off, which is prob what they did it up with and why it was so tight.

bought a genuine new plug and washer from holden for $11.20 too

damn i paid $3.90 for plug and washer from holden about 2-3 weeks ago

[Dayvo]

Try using a pair of stilsens( spelling) They look like a pipe wrench . The more pressure you use to undo the bolt the tighter the grip .

[drift-it]

had the same trouble with mine..although none of the above tools/equipment worked...thats where a 19mm nut and a welder came in handy. spot welded the oustside of the nut onto the sump plug and welded the middle right up...then used a single hex impact socket and a 700mm breaker bar with 1m of exhaust pipe for extra leverage...

[lad79]

damn i paid $3.90 for plug and washer from holden about 2-3 weeks ago

thatd be right, think the dealer up here is a bit pricey for everything

[greenacc]

why do people do em up so tight ? its not a freakin head stud

[deanos70]

another way to get burred diff plugs or sump plugs off is to weld a nut onto them then undo as per usual, just remember whenever welding on a car always disconnect your battery and becareful near fuel lines or fuel tank

[lad79]

why do people do em up so tight ? its not a freakin head stud

too cheap to buy a new washer i guess

[Denno]

well I finally got it off, it cost be $35 to by this TengTools thing which is made to get rounded off bolts out. Then the new sump plug that the guy sold me was too small, so I had to go back and get another one of them, he found a bigger one, but as I was walking out to my car (well dad's car) I was looking at the one I pulled from my car and the one he had given me, and the one he had given me was too big, by like 1mm. So I went back in there and he told me that there is a third size, which he didn't notice before, but after looking for it for a few mins, he told me that he didn't have any, and that it's a pretty rare plug because he had never sold one, ever.
I ended up having to ring autobarn, he said he had one but when getting there it was the same as the other one from Sprint which was a fraction too big. On the way home I just stopped into Repco to try my luck and they had one the exact right size! ($13 though, ouch!).

So a easy job of an oil and oil filter change turned out to be a real head case lol. But it's done now .

[lad79]

and you know itll be easier next time too

[Denno]

and you know itll be asier next time too

Indeed it will be. I'm actually looking forward to turning that brand new bolt the next time haha :P

[lad79]

Indeed it will be. I'm actually looking forward to turning that brand new bolt the next time haha :P

lol As long as you DIDN'T do it up with a rattle gun, or use locktite! hahaha

I'm about to tackle mine tomorrow, getting adventurise. Doing, serpentine belt, thermostat, new coolant, radiator hoses, plugs, leads and today i ripped out all the dash surround(the coin holder/console surround/stereo surround and cluster surround). Is looking awesome so far.....after I realised the indicators dont work when you have the Hazard switch disconnected. Which is hard when u dont use the indicators for 260klms, then when you get somewhere realise they dont work and the switch is sitting at home) wish me luck putting it all back together(did 4 coats of plastic primer and 6 coats of enamel paint so should be quite scratch resistent).

Lovin this car, shoulve bought one sooner.

[Denno]

lol As long as you DIDN'T do it up with a rattle gun, or use locktite! hahaha

I was very careful :P, I did it up to finger tight, then grabbed the spanner and turned it another half turn. Nothing has leaked out the plug yet, so I'm guessing it's all good .

And yes, good luck with ya workings.

[lad79]

One other thing ive noticed with the plug I bought and from prior cars, did the new plug have a washer on it?

[Denno]

the new plug I bought did have a washer on it, but it was slightly larger than the width of the bolt itself, so I used the washer from the old bolt... It is the same circumference so it doesn't stick out, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter that I've used the old washer .