Porsche Al allen drain plug - impact?

[masraum]

I went to change the oil on the Boxster for the first time. The drain plug seems REALLY tight, and the back of my mind had UncleBilly's thread about getting out a stripped drain plug.

What I was using was an 8mm allen wrench (not socket and ratchet, since I ended up not having an 8mm hex socket). It felt like the allen wrench was "giving" a bit, so I stopped pulling. I tried tapping on the Allen wrench with a tool as a makeshift impact, but working under the car as I was, I didn't have the necessary space for a good effort.

I have 2 thoughts
1 - pay someone to do the change one more time so it's their problem
2 - get a little 3/8" battery powered impact and 8mm hex socket to get the the thing out myself

Thoughts on something better that I may have missed?

[JackDidley]

Heat. A little mapp gas torch should loosen it up. Heat the sump around the plug, not the plug.

[john70t]

Get a new plug before.
Sound like they are now a wear item.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by john70t

Get a new plug before.
Sound like they are now a wear item.

Yep, I've already got a new plug and crush washer.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

Heat. A little mapp gas torch should loosen it up. Heat the sump around the plug, not the plug.

I have never used heat on a fastener before.

You mean something like this?

[908/930]

Is there room to get a bite on the OD of the plug with a small pipe wrench?

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by masraum

I have never used heat on a fastener before.

You mean something like this?

Yes. I'd be tempted to just take it to your service guy for this oil change though.

[look 171]

After you get the drain plug out, use this (find the one for your Cayman). Problem solved. Not sure if it will stick out of the bottom of the oil pan, but I put one in my kid's $Runner. The drain is well up in there under skid plate with an access hole. Connect a vinyl tube to a jig, let it drain. No mess. Drains a bit slower then having the drain plug open, but it allows him to finish his ice-cream.

https://www.amazon.com/Fumoto-F-104-LC-10-Lever-Engine/dp/B07D9D6VDF/ref=asc_df_B07D9D6VDF/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693585715857&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11545022409465309270&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030984&hvtargid=pla-570196057325&psc=1&mcid=fc1fb3c4c08c39b083d0faf8bb7f9ece

[masraum]

Originally Posted by 908/930

Is there room to get a bite on the OD of the plug with a small pipe wrench?

Nope, this picture is crap (I was trying to get a visual on the hex in the plug), but you can see that there's a protective ring around the plug that sticks out at least as far as the plug.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

Yes. I'd be tempted to just take it to your service guy for this oil change though.

Yeah, but that's a huge pain too. My service guy is 80 miles away. Working out the logistics of getting the car there, and then picking it up again (and not rushing the guy) sucks. That's why I'm trying to do the oil change myself (for the first time). The last time, I took it to a shop that's only 42 miles away (that has a good rep). They seemed to do a good job, except that now I've got this plug that I'm worried about removing, and I'm not sure if it's just one of those things or due to something that the last guys did (I don't trust most mechanics any further than I could throw one).

[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

After you get the drain plug out, use this (find the one for your Cayman). Problem solved. Not sure if it will stick out of the bottom of the oil pan, but I put one in my kid's $Runner. The drain is well up in there under skid plate with an access hole. Connect a vinyl tube to a jig, let it drain. No mess. Drains a bit slower then having the drain plug open, but it allows him to finish his ice-cream.

https://www.amazon.com/Fumoto-F-104-LC-10-Lever-Engine/dp/B07D9D6VDF/ref=asc_df_B07D9D6VDF/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693585715857&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11545022409465309270&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030984&hvtargid=pla-570196057325&psc=1&mcid=fc1fb3c4c08c39b083d0faf8bb7f9ece

Under most circumstances, I'd think that was a good idea, but I think that would stick down farther than the drain plug which is VERY low. The sump has what I assume is either protective for bumps or maybe just strengthening ring around the plug and is super low on the car. I think if one of those stuck down 4-6mm lower than that protective ring it would be dangerous. I think the ground clearance of my boxster is ~3.7". I wouldn't want to reduce that for something like an oil drain plug.

[Rusty Heap]

Just did an oil change, it's a torx bit. I had a tool from the 1980's, a VW Bug CV Joint bit fits perfect.

want me to loan you mine, I'll ship.

[Rusty Heap]

I'd post a picture but stupid pelican takes 18 minutes to upload a 2 meg file at times.

[A930Rocket]

This is interesting, as I just topped off the differential in my 330 yesterday. I had installed new plugs when I installed the differential a couple years ago. I ended up having to modify/grind a 9/16 Allen to fit properly. I don’t know what I used to tighten it back when…

Do you have a larger hex, that you could modify to fit better?

It’s hard to tell on my phone, is it a torx or hex. I have to look closer at mine next time.

[look 171]

What the hell was wrong with a steel nut like all auto mfg used in the pass? Fancy Torx and all the bs only means we have to buy from them. Is there an after market simple drain plug from an foreign auto parts house that fits? I am not sure and have never looked into it. Too low for my fat ass to crawl under to see.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Just did an oil change, it's a torx bit. I had a tool from the 1980's, a VW Bug CV Joint bit fits perfect.

want me to loan you mine, I'll ship.

I don't think it's a torx. The 8mm hex fits really well. All of the replacement parts are also 8mm hex. Wayne's 101 Projects also says that it's an 8mm hex.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Just did an oil change, it's a torx bit. I had a tool from the 1980's, a VW Bug CV Joint bit fits perfect.

want me to loan you mine, I'll ship.

I had a few 80s vehicles with VW motor/transaxles, and those took triple squares (I've still got 'em).



That's definitely not what my plug is.

[Jeff Alton]

This style extractor will get it out, done many this way that were previously stripped or overtorqued....



Never had this method fail to remove a messed up plug.

Cheers

[masraum]

Originally Posted by look 171

What the hell was wrong with a steel nut like all auto mfg used in the pass? Fancy Torx and all the bs only means we have to buy from them. Is there an after market simple drain plug from an foreign auto parts house that fits? I am not sure and have never looked into it. Too low for my fat ass to crawl under to see.

There are a bunch of aftermarket options.
I bought the top one, "Febi Bilstein," for $7. I considered one of the models with magnets (Rennline or LN Eng) @ 4-5x the cost, but then I'd had to have to replace those with every oil change, like I'm planning to do with the cheap ones.

You can bet your aß that I'll be using a torque wrench to get the plug to 37ftlbs (and the oil filter cover to 19ftlbs)

[look 171]

Why not the stainless or a steel one that can take a bit of abuse from your wrench? If the one you bought alum?