Engine oil stays in the oil pans found in the vehicle. These oil pans use drain plugs to keep the oil in them. Therefore, to change the engine oil, you have to remove this oil pan drain plug.
But what if this oil drain plug is stuck? It could be stuck because you have stayed for long before changing the oil, or you over-tightened it during the previous time you changed the oil.
What would you do to remove the drain plug? Here is your guide on how to remove a stuck oil drain plug.
What is an Oil Drain Plug?
The oil drain plug on your vehicle has an important but underrated role. Sitting at the bottom of the oil pan, the oil drain plug is used to remove old/waste engine oil from the sump when completing an oil change.
Since the motor oil in your vehicle is the lifeblood, you want to be free to change the oil when required.
Finding the oil drain plug is easy enough because you will spot it just by looking at the bottom of the oil pan, connected to the bottom of the engine. If you’re unsure where it might be, look at the owner’s manual.
However, while you might be able to visually spot the plug, accessing it is not always easy. You’ll need access under your vehicle and will need a socket and bar to remove.
Why Does Your Oil Drain Plug Get Stuck?
There two main reasons why your Oil Drain plug gets stuck. Each of these reasons will dictate the procedure and method that you would use to remove your stuck oil drain plug. The reasons are sludge and overtightening.
Sludge
Sludge is the main reason your oil drain will get stuck. It simply creates a formation around the oil drain plug and makes it difficult to remove.
Primarily, the sludge form because the oil inside your engine is beyond the time it should be exchanged. As a result, the oil oxidizes when exposed to high temperatures.
When oxidation occurs, the molecules in the engine oil break down. The resulting effects are mixing with combustion dirt – water, metallic particles, carbon, and fuel. The mixture forms a sticky sludge.
Over Tightening
Another reason why your oil drain plug gets stuck is over-tightening. This is common when you take your car for routine maintenance with an under-skilled person.
Mainly when you over tighten, the pitch of the screws is destroyed. And in this case, when you remove your oil drain plug, you should change the whole oil pan.
How to remove stuck oil Drain Plug Step By Step:
What You Need
- Gloves: To keep your hands clean.
- Rags: To wipe up any spills.
- Wrench or Socket Set: To turn the plug.
- Penetrating Oil: Makes it easier to unscrew.
- Hammer: (Maybe!) Just in case.
- New Drain Plug: If you need to replace the old one.
Step 1: Warming Up the Car
One of the simplest ways of removing a stuck oil drain plug is to let the car warm up. You can do this either by leaving it in an idle state for a while or taking the care on a short cruise.
After this, park the car on a stable surface. Using any hydraulic jack high up the car, then locate the oil drain plug and try to move the oil drain plug clockwise or counterclockwise until it loosens.
Step 2: Using a Socket Wrench
Socket wrenches are among the most famous tools used in automotive maintenance due to their practicality and flexibility. It is also a multi-use tool and can be used for various purposes.
The best tool to use to loosen the oil drain plug is the socket wrench. Get the proper socket that matches the oil drain plug size and use it to remove the stuck oil drain plug.
Consider a socket wrench with a longer handle since it provides you extra torque making your mission easier.
Step 3: Use a Hammer
If the 2nd step fails, do not lose hope. The other tip is to use a hammer and try to tap on the oil drain plug.
Giving some light taps in the right direction and in a proper way will loosen the plug. Beware not to damage the oil drain plug or its teeth. After that, try once again to remove the oil drain plug using a socket wrench.
Step 4: Using Rust Remover / Lubricate
Using lubricants works well in such situations because they have a magical effect on a stuck item. Rust removers work like a solvent substance for sludge and rust.
Use it by spraying some on the oil drain plug and letting it react after a few minutes trying to remove the oil drain plug using a socket wrench or any other tool.
Step 5: Use a Gator Grip
This invention is known as a universal wrench socket since it works with any kind of plugs, sockets, and bolts using its teeth. The gator grip may help you to remove the plug.
Step 6: Get Professional Help
Unfortunately, if you came to this step, this means that all the above tips and steps have failed to help you remove the stock oil drain plug. Do not grief. It is not bad to ask for help when things become complicated.
However, be careful of whom you seek help. Make sure that you are getting help from an expert. Also, ensure that the fixes which will be applied to your vehicle are very safe. Let the person explain to you what is happening and why.
Removing this suck oil drain plug may require some machining skills in order to avoid the situation from happening again after putting in a new plug.
How to Repair the Oil Pan Hole
#1. Get a Drain Plug Repair Kit.
If you are trying to repair the hole in your oil pan, you want to get a complete kit to finish the job. These drain plug repair kits come with a reaming bit to get out any of the old thread.
The kit will also include tools of varying sizes. You will be able to use this kit in the future for other projects, from the automotive gearbox to your household sump pump.
You can use something like Highking Tool Oil Pan Thread Repair Kit. This is an affiliate link, which means that at no cost to you, I may receive a small commission for qualifying purchases.
#2. Eliminate Damaged Threads.
The reaming bit must be used on the damaged threads. Continue to work away on them until all of the damage is removed.
By using this kit, you can give the surface a renewed finish. Once that’s done, it will hold a new plug without any issues, unless you strip it again.
#3. Tap Out New Threads.
You will need to choose the appropriately-sized tap to thread the hole. Your kit should come with several to pick from. Using this tool helps you to cut new threads in the hole.
These new threads will be used to hold onto the drain plug. Make sure you rotate the tap several times, moving clockwise. When you are done going that way, take it back one to two times counterclockwise.
You want to repeat this process several times. It is done when the tap gets through the entire depth of the hole in the oil drain pan.
Once the threads are completed, it’s best to take a look at the work. You want all of the threads to appear even, and there shouldn’t be an excessive amount of metal shavings left behind.
#4. Flush Oil Pan.
To ensure there aren’t metal shavings, it’s a good practice to flush the system before adding the fresh oil. When you are done tapping, flush the system with ½- to 1-quart of motor oil.
When you drain this oil out, the metal shavings should come with it. If you don’t do this step, you risk having metal pieces flowing through the oil and motor, thereby leading to permanent damage.
#5. Install New Plug.
It’s time to put that new drain plug in the hole. Thread the plug into the fixed drain hole. At first, you should be very careful. If anything feels awkward, it’s best to take another look at it before you shove the drain plug inside.
Torque the new drain plug to factory specifications. When you are finished, inspect the sealing washer to ensure it is evenly placed around the hole’s perimeter for a good fit.
#6. Refill System & Check.
You want to check any work that you perform on your vehicle, and this job is no different. It’s important that you inspect your repair for any sign of leaks.
Fill the engine with new oil, using the proper amount as outlined by the manufacturer. If there are no leaks at first, start the engine.
With the motor running, you want to perform another inspection. If you don’t see anything, take the vehicle around the block. After this test drive, everything should remain completely dry, as long you performed the fix correctly.
If there are leaks, don’t drive the car. You need to start back over and figure out what went wrong. The job isn’t complete until no more oil is seeping through.
Prevention: Tips To Avoid Stuck Plugs in the Future
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To avoid dealing with stuck oil drain plugs in the future:
- Use a torque wrench and tighten to factory spec.
- Inspect drain hole threads whenever changing oil. Clean any gunk with a wire brush.
- Apply a thin coat of anti-seize lubricant to the threads before installing.
- Consider switching to a magnetic drain plug. They collect metal particles that can cause sticking.
- If plug ever feels stuck, stop and apply penetrating oil before forcing it.
FAQs.
Q: How Do You Unstick An Oil Drain Plug?
This is a very easy task. Begin by ensuring that the car is parked on a stable surface. Using a hydraulic jack or a manual jack, lift the car in properly.
Locate the engine oil pan. You will find it under the engine itself but do not interfere with the gearbox oil pan after you have located the engine oil pan, some rust removal spray.
Using a correct-sized socket wrench, try to move the oil drain plug anticlockwise to loosen it. Once you have drained all the oil in the oil pan, use a clean cloth to clean the teeth of the oil pan and put a new gasket.
Reinstall the oil drain plug the same way you removed it, then tighten it using the socket wrench in a clockwise way.
Q: How Do I Remove A Stripped Oil Drain Plug?
Having a stripped-out oil drain plug is something very annoying. There are some ways and tricks you can use to solve this problem.
Some tools you will need are a hammer and a flathead screwdriver. Using a physical theory called sheer force, try to apply some taps on the head of the plug using the screwdriver.
Put some force with a hammer. This is one of the ways that experts use. The other way is to apply heat to the oil drain plug.
Just like other metal properties, the heat causes it to expand. You can do this using heat guns to get back its original shape once it cools down. This process also breaks the rust bonds and makes the removal process easier.
Q: What Tool Can I Use To Remove A Stripped Bolt?
Apart from the traditional ways, there are also professional effort-free ways you can use to remove a stripped bolt or oil drain plug.
One of these ways is by using Irwin Tools BOLT-GRIP Extractor. This is a stripped oil plug removal tool designed specifically to remove rounded, rusted, or painted-over bolts and plugs.
The tool is made of high carbon steel to ensure durability and long life. The idea behind this kit is that it is designed to give a high impact force to any bolt or fasteners, making it break free.
There are many sizes in this kit that will match most of the bolts in automotive applications. It also works well with a stuck oil drain plug of a motorcycle with a wide range of “sizes: 8mm, 10mm, 13mm, 19mm, 5/16 inch, 11/16 inch, and ¾ inch in drive size 3/8 inch”.
Q: Where Is The Drain Plug Located?
An oil drain plug is a large nut usually located in the lowest point of the oil pan at the bottom of the engine, where all engine oil capacity rests.
The reason why it is located here is for it to drain the maximum amount of oil when changing engine oil. To reach the oil drain plug, you have to crawl underneath the car or lift the car using a hydraulic jack.
Q: What Size Is An Oil Drain Plug?
There are four common plug sizes which include 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 inch. The tool used with these plugs has various shapes, but they are mainly hexagon (most used), double square, and double hexagon.
Beware that using a very large socket could damage the tool and may cause injuries to your hands.
Before starting the process of changing the engine oil yourself, you need to decide which socket size you will use.
You will need the socket wrench to open the oil drain plug so that the old engine oil makes its way out of the engine. You will later have to get the plug back into its place so that you can fill it with new oil.
Q: What Causes A Stripped Oil Drain Plug?
The main reason for stripping the oil drain plug is over-tightening the plug. This will distort the head of the plug, making it impossible to loosen or tighten it in the normal way of using traditional tools.
Final Words
So having a stuck, rounded, or stripped oil drain plug is not such a big problem. We have had a glance at how to remove a stuck oil drain plug and the suitable tools to use when removing your oil drain plug.
We have also got to know about removing a stuck oil drain and the traditional ways and tools to use it. Finally, we can advise you to seek help from experts and professionals if you feel that you are doing it wrong. Always remember that safety comes first.