Help! Stripped drain plug

bklyn · 08-13-2011, 06:24 AM

Ok, I changed the oil at least 10 times on this thing and now the oil plug strips out. Can anyone advise how to get the plug out now? Thanks!

JFP in PA · 08-13-2011, 10:19 AM

Large diameter easy out, the plug is toast anyway.

popes996 · 08-13-2011, 10:39 AM

Hole cutter bit in a drill, drill until you get to the sump washer and the plug itself will spin out easy as pie (the shoulder - bearing on the washer - is the load point, once that's gone, the threaded section is loose)

bklyn · 08-13-2011, 10:49 AM

The largest easy out I have is a #3 from craftsman, I will go to sears and see if they make one larger. Thanks guys!

faverymi · 08-14-2011, 06:30 AM

If you have access to a welder, tack weld a shorten bolt. Takes 5 minutes works all the time and very cheap!

I've never try JB welding a bolt letting cure overnight. Should give you enough grip. In case you don't have a welder and running out of options.

bklyn · 08-14-2011, 06:42 AM

Felipe that might be a good idea, I was going to go to sears today and check for a set of larger easy outs but Harbor Freight has a set for about 7 bucks. If this fails your idea will be next. I think between the numerous oil changes and my insecurity of a bolt never being tight enough this happened.

JFP in PA · 08-14-2011, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faverymi

If you have access to a welder, tack weld a shorten bolt. Takes 5 minutes works all the time and very cheap!

I've never try JB welding a bolt letting cure overnight. Should give you enough grip. In case you don't have a welder and running out of options.

I would really like to see you weld a steel bolt to an aluminum drain plug.......

bklyn · 08-14-2011, 10:46 AM

JFP, from that one liner, I guess thats not going to work.

JFP in PA · 01:07 PM

The only way I know to weld aluminum to steel is using a bimetallic transition metal insert, where one side is steel, the other aluminum. Bimetallic transition materials are available commercially in combinations of aluminum to such other materials as steel, stainless steel and copper. These inserts are best described as sections of material that are comprised of one part aluminum with another material already bonded to the aluminum. The method used for bonding these dissimilar materials together, and thus forming the bimetallic transition, are usually rolling, explosion welding, friction welding, flash welding or hot pressure welding, and not arc welding. The welding of these steel aluminum transition inserts can be performed by methods such as GMAW (Mig) or GTAW (Tig). You weld the steel side to the steel object, and then weld the aluminum side to the aluminum object.

I doubt most people operating out of their home garage are in a position to even attempt it..........

dad911 · 08-14-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

I would really like to see you weld a steel bolt to an aluminum drain plug.......

use an aluminum bolt ?....

Quote:

Originally Posted by bklyn

....... I think between the numerous oil changes and my insecurity of a bolt never being tight enough this happened.

As a security blanket get a torque wrench. As you've found out the hard way, too tight is often worse than too loose..... Drain plug is 37 ft-lb

JFP in PA · 08-14-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad911

use an aluminum bolt ?....

And I suppose you are going to "stick weld" this with an arc welder?

dad911 · 08-14-2011, 03:22 PM

No, I'd stick it with chewing gum....

Seriously, I'd try an extractor like this:

bklyn · 08-15-2011, 08:14 AM

Well, I picked up the set of extractors from harbor freight, now I will have to wait for the weekend just in case I run into a further problem.

BYprodriver · BYprodriver's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by bklyn

Felipe that might be a good idea, I was going to go to sears today and check for a set of larger easy outs but Harbor Freight has a set for about 7 bucks. If this fails your idea will be next. I think between the numerous oil changes and my insecurity of a bolt never being tight enough this happened.

I'm guessing you were using a cheap hex wrench. Snap-On has never failed me & Craftsman &> less always will eventually when you are talking hex wrenchs. A Snap-On hex socket might remove it now & you will want 1 in the future.

JMatta · 08-15-2011, 08:37 PM

Do yourself a favor and order the LN drain plug...considerably more robust and magnetic, on top of it.

Spacebird · 08-16-2011, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Do yourself a favor and order the LN drain plug...considerably more robust and magnetic, on top of it

+1, just be sure that you don't overtighten it or you'll be buying a new oil pan!