Need help with Rounded Engine Oil Drain Plug

[tomy]

I'm a new owner of an 89 Silverado. I was attempting to change the oil and wasn't able to remove the drain plug. I tried to use a 13/16 socket on it and I justed rounded the corners. Any advice on what to try next?
Thanks

 

[1-ton]

Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosee

Gator Grip Socket

Grind two flat edges, and a pair of locking pliers

 

[tomy]

Thanks but I tried the locking pliers and they just kept digging up the head. The head of the bolt is a low profile and it's really difficult to get a bite on the edges. Any other suggestions?

 

[dontoe]

Counter-clockwise. Lock 'em down real tight. Otherwise I suppose the 'ol drill and easyout. Might file or grind a notch and chisel and hammer or trash a screwdriver tapping against the notch.

 

[ryoken]

twist sockets work killer for this kinda stuff..

Craftsmen makes some prolly.. heres the Snap On link to show you what they look like.. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=65856&group_ID=11664&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

saved my tail many times and perfect for what your trying to do...

 

[tomy]

Thanks for the suggestion but the bolt out sizes are too small. I need one to fit a 13/16 bolt and the largest the Bolt out goes is 11/16. Any more suggestion?

 

[sweetk30]

do you have air chissle?

 

[tomy]

NO air chisle I just have basic hand tools. I didn't think changing the oil was going to turn into such a project!

 

[sweetk30]

do you have a sharp hand chissle and good size hammer? i have a neat trick for you if you do. it works all the time for me at work on customers cars.

 

[tomy]

I do have a hand chisle and a hammer. What's the trick?

 

[sweetk30]

o.k. try to under stand this. take chissle and cut in to plug in to the center of plug at the gasket lip on plug, when in about 1/16-1/8" take and angle chissle to hit plug and move it to the removale direction. and the shock of the hammer and the bite of the chissle should work.


try to get the motor hot first to expand the plug and pan a little. or heat the plug with small torch if you have one.

DONT CUT THE PAN this is a given tho. just a reminder to you .

this works best with air chissle and stright bit thats why i asked you.

if you dont feel good with this take to a shop and see if thay will do it for you.

hope this helps. if not clear on this ask me to clearify it .

 

[red77blazer]

Technican b says:

the chisel thing is what i usually do, if that doesn't work get a file and clean the bolt up a bit, spray some wd-40 or pb blaster on it and let it sit, get a 6 point socket and tap it onto the bolt, if it is rounded off file it down to the next metric or standard size and then tack a socket and tap it on with a hammer, (get a shallow socket) when its on get a ratchet and give it a quick pull, if that doesn't work or nothing else will chances are if you take it to a shop they will want to replace the whole pan for liability reasons, if thats the case- go buy a pan for cheap if you can't find one i may have one, and put it on yourself and save some money.

Let us know what's up

 

[tomy]

Thanks everyone. I'm headed out to the garage to try the chisle trick. I'll let you know how it works. Now if only my girlfriend would quit telling me how stupid I was to buy a 16 year old truck

 

[Z3PR]

Take it too one of those oil change places and let them deal with it, LOL.

 

[HarryH3]

What plug are you trying to remove? The engine oil drain plug is 9/16's, not 13/16's.

 

[tomy]

It's the engine Oil drain plug and it's definitely 13/16. Maybe the previous owner modified it. It's the only plug on the engine oil pan.

 

[darkshadow]

get a new pair of vice grips on it and make sure your going in the right direction, working over head upside down can confuse you.

if not drill a hole in the nut and tap an ezze out in there and use it then put a new 9/16 one in there

 

[diesel4me]

Try this.....

I've gotten some pretty badly mutilated drain plugs out with a pipe wrench!--they bite in and grab even a rounded one pretty good..
The chisel idea might work,but one slip and it goes right thru the oil pan!(especially with an air chisel)--since most oilpans are rusty and weak after 16 years,you might want to try all other options first,like welding another nut onto the drain plug if you have access to a welder...if not,maybe one of those special sockets that grab rounded bolts would work--I got a set for christmas from my brother,on my rusted junks it saved me quite a few headaches already!(Sears sells them in the "Craftsman" tool line)..

 

[3rdshiftdesign]

I prefer to weld another nut on

 

[beater_k20]

i've got both a 6" pipe wrench and a set of twist sockets in my toolbox, dont know how i ever lived without either of them...