Help fast!

[bigtruck94]

I am changing the oil in my pickup for the first time in the pickup. I looked underneath it and the drainplug was stripped. Not all the way stripped, but when I put the socket into it, I could feel it tearing up the bolt. Any advice???

 

[Earl43P]

Vise grips should remove it.

Might want to drive to the auto parts store and pick up a new one before you drain it.

 

[RonD]

Well you have to get it out and that bolt will have to be replaced.
Vise grips, pipe wrench, reverse drill bit if it comes to that, but it's gotta come out and can't be reused.

So if you can still drive the truck head to the parts store and get a replacement drain plug WITH the crush washer.
The washer is so the bolt can be snug and leak free without a lot of torque.

If you think the oil pan threads might be stripped then pick up a "piggyback" oil drain plug at the same time, you can always take it back if you don't need it.
The oil pans threads are often softer than the bolts threads, so over tightening the drain bolt can ruin the pan threads, if this happens you can get a piggyback oil drain plug, some are self tapping.
The piggyback drain plug is two bolts, the larger is hollow the smaller is the plug.
The larger is installed in the striped hole using sealant, re-tapping or self tapping, it stays there permanently, the smaller bolt/plug is now the new drain plug, this prevents further damage to the oil pans threads on future oil changes.

 

[RustedRanger]

In an extreme emergency to get by......there is a rubber drain plug they make that pushes in. It has a hole you insert something (like heavy wire) and as you push it in it stretches the rubber...when you pull it out it's diameter expands sealing the hole. I'm not sure if they still make em but I wouldn't trust it for long term use.

 

[bigtruck94]

Well tried vise grips. Hasn't even budged. anything else?

 

[RonD]

Pipe wrench

 

[brinker88]

I had to drill mine out and use an easy out when I first got my truck.

 

[pillen140]

Irwin makes damaged bolt removal sockets for like $15. Bought a set like 10yrs ago and use them all the time

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Pipe wrench

X2

Works like a charm.

 

[bigtruck94]

tried pipe wrench, vise grips, round off sockets, and a socket. Easy out is my next thing.

 

[Doofy]

A pipe wrench with good sharp teeth should do the trick. You may need to give it a tap with a hammer to help embed the teeth a little in the damaged plug.

 

[Andy D]

PLEASE!!! Dont use an EZ out. You really dont want to snap it off. I have good luck with my cheap Chinese impact socket set. Find the next smallest size and drive it on . Before I used the sockets, I used to start a bad bolt moving with a dull cold chisel.

 

[bigtruck94]

I tried everything, so it's gonna go to the shop today and they will take it out and put a new plug in it. Hopefully it won't be over tighten the next time I do an oil change myself.

 

[martin]

if it's that bad a hammer and chisel is the only way to go, but use a proper hammer (3 lbs or better).

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

If its really bad... I like to weld a 1/2" nut to it, let it cool a bit and turn it right out with a 3/4" wrench.