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Rounded oil drain plug

L

lawadm1

New member
So I decided to start changing the oil myself in my '05 GTP, and I get under the car to find an almost rounded out bolt. There was no way that thing was coming off with a 13mm socket or wrench. Anyone else run into this, and what are the options? It's not exactly an easy bolt to maneuver around with the tranny pan right there to try and use a "bolt out" socket. I may just have to cut my losses at this point and take it to the shop to see if they have the tools to do it.
 


I just could not get the leverage needed for the vise grips with just the ramps that I have. I took it up to the chevy dealer, and they actually put it up on the lift, got the leverage they needed and got it loose. And then they just snugged it up for me. And all it cost me was $8 for a new plug that they had in stock. Whew!
 
By "bolt out" socket, do you mean a six sided a size smaller + hammer? Vice grips are last usually.

Oh, the pan right there... Yeah, idk. I can't even get any socket in there.
 
No, the bolt-out sockets are designed with cutting edges in them so they can bite into a rounded off bolt/nut and allow it to be removed.

 


Yes. Bolt out sockets are exactly what Fordman listed. I would've went that route if the dealership hadn't helped me. Up on the lift, they made short work of it with the vise grips. I was just glad to see that bolt loose.
 
I've had to use a chisel to get oil drain plugs out before. It was my first oil change on the car, and the most recent oil change on it had been done at Valvoline according to the sticker on the windshield. They must have used a Snap-On impact gun turned to full torque and kept hammering long after it was too tight.
 
I love my big vise-grips...

I have a 12 inch pair that'll even fit on the spindle nut. Too bad they don't fit on the inner tie rods though....
 
pipe wrench crushes vise grips of any size, pipe wrenches are made to turn pipes, pipes are round last time i checked, cant say ive ever had a pipe wrench break free that was adjusted properly on the item to be loosened.

vise grips help make bolts round to start with lol
 


They only make bolts round if you don't get them tight enough...

12 inches is quite a bit of leverage. :D especially when you use channel locks to get the vise grips closed. Lol
 
dollars to donuts a pipe wrench bites tighter and works better tho. dont need channel locks to clamp em shut either, spin the wheel.
 


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