Hosers OVER-torqued my Oil Drain Plug!--> CROSS-threaded by MoFos!

[fixizin]

Yeah, the FORMERLY-great '___ ______ ' in Pimp-ano Beach, FL, which handed me my PVH hubs (they DO fall off when old), then failed to diagnose the months-later "death shimmy" may have screwed me again... had them do the oil & filter while in for new tires... and now that drain plug won't budge, even with a 17" breaker bar! (Dealing with a hernia, so can't put both feet on a frame member and go grunt-curse-crazy...)

Where to go from here? Don't see any rust/corrosion, but PB Blaster it anyway? LONGER breaker bar? Any danger of that "round flat plate" that plug is threaded into coming UN-welded? (PS: what IS the proper torque on that puppy?)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Roert42]

My Haynes manual indicates 10-20 ft/lbs depending on engine.

A move might be to simply take it back to the same place and have them deal with it.

If it’s that hard you can get it, might want to buy a tread repair kit and new plug before getting too deep.

 

[4.0blue98]

Yeah like said above. You probably need a longer breaker bar or put a pipe in the handle of the 17". I doubt you'll hurt the pan.

Torque may depend on the year and plug design. Likely not more than 25-30 lbft. My 98 has the plug with the rubber oring like gasket so I don't even use the torque wrench. Just snug and it never leaks. Crush washers take a bit more accuracy.

 

[Josh B]

I would also vote let them, they can do it while it's setting over THEIR drain pan , AND REFILL it with THEIR oil

 

[Eddo Rogue]

slip a pipe over the breaker bar to make it longer.

They don't need to be very tight, like a little push with a wrench is plenty.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Kinda surprised the threads held...

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Kinda surprised the threads held...

Me too!

 

[Josh B]

Not sure the torque spec but I just tighten it till it gets snug, using an extended 3/8 ratchet.

After it's been there awhile and I go to drain it again, with the engine still warm, it is Not easy to remove, but it breaks loose

Although I do not want it needlessly over tightened, it would still be better than recklessly Under tightened

 

[bobbywalter]

Kinda surprised the threads held...

yup....likely crossed and not going to be pretty. take it back...let them re tap it to whatever it needs to be now...

 

[Eddo Rogue]

yup....likely crossed and not going to be pretty. take it back...let them re tap it to whatever it needs to be now...

Please read my credo.

 

[bobbywalter]

Please read my credo.

.........the first time. but...they in fact are definitely tight.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

usually over torqued drain bolt is in the human, not the truck.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

.........the first time. but...they in fact are definitely tight.

Yep it is unfortunately only good once....

 

[fixizin]

0) It's been 3 years (Covid, Work At Home, only clocked 4,200 miles since oil+tires... )
1) Don't want those hosers anywhere near it... probably slice a brake line by mis-placing the lift-pads...
2) Did try it w/ engine stone-cold, maybe a bit of warm-up next try...
3) It IS the plug with the built-in O-ring, gotta be crushed to useless-ness now, will obtain NEW plug...

... bloody hell, who uses an air-impact wrench on an oil plug??... frickin' idjits!!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The threads are usually pretty wimpy they screw into and plugs themselves are generally soft so the deform before the pan... maybe.

You probably have more going on than it just being too tight.