Best way to remove stuck oil drain?

Well after getting the Samurai back from the shop where it got a new timing belt, timing belt tensioner, and had a rocker replaced, it was time for the first oil change since the engine rebuild...and the drain bolt is stuck The car was starting to move but the bolt was completely stuck. It even looks like it's fused in place, I can see no clear separation between the bolt and the oil pan. I was using a spanner but if I had more time I could have tried a breaker bar. This was done while the engine was hot. Think I should try when the engine is cold? (of course I'd heat it up before doing the oil change). I really want to avoid getting a new oil pan, because it will probably involve buying from the stealership.

Try using a bigger breaker bar with a 6 point socket. I also have luck putting a 6 point closed end wrench on a stuck bolt and whacking the wrench with a BFH.

Shotgun.

I love taking the hollow metal handle from my harbor freight car jack and slapping it over the end of any of my wrenches when something is stuck. Something breaks (sometimes loose) every time. Lug nuts tremble before me.

Try the "Hillbilly Impact Wrench": Take a box end wrench, pre-tension it on the nut, then smack the far end of the wrench with a hammer. This might shock it loose. This can also be useful for many other nuts/bolts that are stuck or might strip.

You could use a "real" impact wrench, but that's no fun.

Salanis wrote: Shotgun.

Damn, you beat me to it.

Easy. Flip the Sammy over and drain the oil out the top.

John Brown wrote: Easy. Flip the Sammy over and drain the oil out the top.

Lol!

Get ahold of some of the coldest stuff you can - dry ice would be fantastic - and hold it against the bolt to freeze it. This should shrink the bolt (but not the oil pan). Does that make sense to anybody?

I have an impact screwdriver. Activated by striking with hammer. Cut slot in bolt w/ die grinder. I would use the dry ice to keep my Budweiser cold.

confuZion3 wrote: Get ahold of some of the coldest stuff you can - dry ice would be fantastic - and hold it against the bolt to freeze it. This should shrink the bolt (but not the oil pan). Does that make sense to anybody?

Yeah. Cold makes nuts shrink.

I wish I had stock in PB Blaster...start soaking it in that.

In the meantime, use a sucker to change your oil. Douse the drain plug/bolt in PB Blaster every day for the remainder of the oil change and then try again...

Just a thought, I don't know how successfull it might be...

Clem

Impact wrench.

Hot or cold doesn't matter, as the bolt and threaded section expand at the same rate, if they are the same material. Add dry ice to the bolt to chill it, and you might get some advantage.

Jack

what about taking it back to the guys who screwed it up and have them make it right

The PO seems to be the one who screwed it up. I tried a six-point bit with a huge breaker bar, and blocked the wheels to transfer maximum torque through the wrench, while bracing my knees on the bull bar...the engine mounts and suspension creaked but the bolt didn't move. Dropped it off at the shop this morning.

I thought of the freezing thing but I've tried that before and it just cools down the whole area.

How was the outcome of this one?

Clem

Dynamite?

Drill thru it and plug back with JB Weld?

LOL

Salanis wrote: Yeah. Cold makes nuts shrink.

I hate when that happens.

ClemSparks wrote: How was the outcome of this one? Clem

+1. I've got two words for you:

bbbbbbbbbbbbbSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTTT!

bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTT!

Get a compressor and an impact wrench. Today.

Really though...if it's stuck bad enough...it could spin the weld nut (or whatever fitting it has) off the pan. Then you're stuck with a loose bolt and a pan that has to be dropped.

I've actually experienced that one.

Clem

Oh I never updated this thread...yeah an impact wrench got it off.