Oil drain plug stripped

[lotsasawdust]

I went to change my oil today and found the allen head in the drain plug is stripped out. Don't ask because I wasn't the last one to change it. So I pumped the oil out of the tank with a small drill driven pump. Has anyone ever had this problem with the plug and how did you get it out.
Thanks for any help
Rick------

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

Its a common problem that has been reported here before. I stripped mine out last oil change. I tried several suggestions put forth here but without luck. I ended up drilling the head with a bit almost the size of the threaded part. Once I was in a small distance the flange part of the plug loosened up and I was able to turn it out. Don't drill all the way through just enough to weaken the head of the plug. Good luck!

Here are the size plugs used. The 12mm was hard to find so I ordered it from goldplugs.com
Engine Drain plug 12mm x 1.5, Reservoir 14mm x 1.5

 

[WaltH]

See www.goldplug.com

 

[lotsasawdust]

Thanks guys! Next oil change, new plugs!!!

 

[MikeinGA]

Thanks guys! Next oil change, new plugs!!!

There is a reasion for the flat bottom drain plugs. If you were to bottom out and the hex head would catch on something, it could rip out and leave a big hole in the bottom of your engine block. As long as you use a torque wrench it won't stripout. That's IMHO.


Mike

 

[boborgera]

There is a reasion for the flat bottom drain plugs. I you were to bottom out and the hex head would catch on something, it could rip out and leave a big hole in the bottom of your engine block. As long as you use a torque wrench it won't stripout. That's IMHO.


Mike

:agree: Plus the real reason so many are stripping is, The owner or the dealer or ''both'' sometimes use the wrong tool to remove them, Very easy to make that mistake.

 

[Phil]

Just ordered both plugs. Thanks for the lead.


Phil, Tyler TX- from my iPad3.5 using Tapatalk HD

 

[NancysToy]

In my opinion the biggest reasons for stripping the plugs are improper tools, improper technique, and improper tightening.

Tools: The OEM plugs are hex (Allen), not torx. Use a socket, not an allen wrench (hex key). A hex key typically puts leverage on the end in the fastener, making it want to come out of the hole at an angle. A ratchet provides more leverage to break free the crush washer, too.

Technique: A socket will tend to want to pull at an angle, too, but is easily held bottomed out in the hole with your other hand, so that doesn't happen. Be sure and pull horizontally with the ratchet, not slightly upward or downward.

Tightening: A plug with a crush washer takes more torque to loosen than it did to tighten. Over-tightened plugs can be nearly impossible to get out, between the crush washer and the alloy case with a steel plug. Use a torque wrench to tighten the drain plugs...every time.

If you follow these simple steps, you will have much, much less risk of ever stripping a plug.

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

Stripped out oil plug

:agree: In my case the hex opening had dirt in it that I did not realize until it was too late. The socket allen wrench was not fully into the opening and when I turned it, it rounded out. I changed the oil reservoir because I did not want to make the same mistake again.

 

[Warlock]

I went to change my oil today and found the allen head in the drain plug is stripped out. Don't ask because I wasn't the last one to change it. So I pumped the oil out of the tank with a small drill driven pump. Has anyone ever had this problem with the plug and how did you get it out.
Thanks for any help
Rick------

Another good place is here

http://drainplugmagnets.com/canamspyder.php
David