Help!! Rounded off-oil Drain Plug

Justin944 · 03-07-2005, 01:07 PM

I'm sixteen and have owned my 944 since I was fourteen. I have enjoyed it thoroughly but have run into a problem. I tried to change the oil and managed to round off the oil drain plug. I really need to fix this problem. I have already have ordered and recieved a new drain plug among other things. I have suffered greatly in not having my car and in having to drive my mom's expedition.
Any information in the form of advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanx alot.
-Justin

P.S.
Some of you may know me from reading any number of GT350mike's posts since I am his son.(I believe he posted at least once or twice about me hitting the cars in the driveway)

bearone2 · 03-07-2005, 01:18 PM

it's not the end of the world.

get it up in the air so you can get some leverage and use some vice grips to get it off.

make sure you use the correct wrench/socket next time.

Macfreak007 · 03-07-2005, 01:49 PM

yeah, vise grips should do it... btw its a 15mm bolt for future reference, get a good wrench on that thing!

strath44 · strath44's Garage

Maybe you could file it down to a 14mm?

[When I'm doing the oil and can't get it up in the air I use a long extension bar (with the wheel off) with the socket on the end so that it extends out past the wheel arch and you can get some good leverage on it this helps a lot (my sump plug always seems very stiff even when torqued correctly on the last change). If you don't have a long extension I suppose you can make one out of multiple small extensions but might be a bit wobbley.]

Zero10 · 03-07-2005, 02:35 PM

How rounded is it?..
Maybe a 6-point 15mm socket will still get it off, or else perhaps a 15mm wrench?...

ae1969 · 03-07-2005, 03:35 PM

Visegrips are your friend................

Or you could try an acetylene torch. After the mishaps you have had driving the car up the driveway.............. maybe that would be better.

hehehehehe

(just kidding No torches)

Moneyguy1 · 03-07-2005, 06:12 PM

My God..

How much torque you guys put on those things? All you need is enough to crush the washer.

On more modern cars, they use a neoprne(?) o-ring in a groove. overtorque that and watch the leaks...

Justin944 · 03-07-2005, 07:26 PM

Alright I went to Walmart and looked at a gimmicky tool. Then came home and another hour on the car. (I was changing the oil while it was still up on jackstands for a bumpershock repair and thermoswitch replacement) Earlier I attempted to raise a vise up to the bolt on a floor jack, but soon gravity kicked in and i broke my finger. I am gonna sleep on all this info tonight and come at it tomorrow.
Thanx for everything in advance.
-Justin

Zero10 · 03-07-2005, 07:27 PM

I torque mine to 35lb/ft, but they tend to lock on there with all the heat cycles, and crap on the roads and such. I set my torque wrench to 70lb/ft and it clicked before the drain plug came loose....

ae1969 · 03-07-2005, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Justin944
Alright I went to Walmart and looked at a gimmicky tool. Then came home and another hour on the car. (I was changing the oil while it was still up on jackstands for a bumpershock repair and thermoswitch replacement) Earlier I attempted to raise a vise up to the bolt on a floor jack, but soon gravity kicked in and i broke my finger. I am gonna sleep on all this info tonight and come at it tomorrow.
Thanx for everything in advance.
-Justin

NOT A VISE FROM A WORK BENCH!

VISE GRIPS................

LOLOLOLOLOL

ITs ok we all do silly things................ but that was funny.

Tomorrow is another day. Take care of the finger.

rucool · 03-07-2005, 08:57 PM

If it is realy stuffed you can always drill and" easy out" it .
but unless you have had practice useing this sort of tool pay some one to do it for you as could cause furthur damage.
good luck.
russell

bigyagi · bigyagi's Garage

vise grips will work, but if its really stubborn, you can use a pipe wrench. the 10" one should be fine. as you apply leverage, the serrated edges will "bite" into the bolt head, and lock solid. rough and ready, but it works.

auh · 03-07-2005, 11:27 PM

oh yeah, i remember your dad talkin about getting you an SUV cause youve damaged 2 cars pulling into your driveway. I was one of the people that said "let him keep the 944, the truck will do much more damage" Sears sells a tool that cuts into rounded off bolts and frees them. idk if they sell it for sockets or just drill guns though

Lawrence Coppari · 03-08-2005, 05:01 AM

Is this thread for real or is it some sort of hoax....

legion · 03-08-2005, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by auh
Sears sells a tool that cuts into rounded off bolts and frees them. idk if they sell it for sockets or just drill guns though

I believe they're called "Bolt-outs". I have some. Got them for Christmas a few years ago. Never used them.

VINMAN · 03-08-2005, 05:22 AM

I had to use a pipe wrench to get mine off, after bringing it to a quick lube place. The only and the last time I will ever do that again. Normally nobody touched my vehicles but me. But it was a cross country trip. and I decided what the hell, let me get the oil changed before the trip back.
The idiot must have used a breaker bar with a 10 ft pipe to tighten it.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Justin944
Alright I went to Walmart and looked at a gimmicky tool. Then came home and another hour on the car. (I was changing the oil while it was still up on jackstands for a bumpershock repair and thermoswitch replacement) Earlier I attempted to raise a vise up to the bolt on a floor jack, but soon gravity kicked in and i broke my finger. I am gonna sleep on all this info tonight and come at it tomorrow.
Thanx for everything in advance.
-Justin

Guys... don't feed the troll. It's probably one of the Honda rice boys trying to mess with us.

glenncal1 · 03-08-2005, 10:44 AM

I like the post about trying to jack up a vice, I think you lock the bolt in the vice and then turn the car around it, remember that you will turn the car clockwise!

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Lefty Loosy. Righty Tighty.

TSNAPCRACKLEPOP · TSNAPCRACKLEPOP's Garage

sometimes, you can carefully invert the vehicle, and drain it out the hole it went in. leaves less residue inthe pan, and reduces that pesy oil filter mess.