rounded off oil drain bolt

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Aug 9, 2011 | 04:56 PM

14k

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From: Odessa, TX

rounded off oil drain bolt

whats usually a 10-15 minute job took me 4 hours working on this damn bolt. its extremely rounded off and basically fucked. iv tried vice grips penetrating oil and nothing. its like the previous owner took it in for a oil change and the used an air ratchet to put it back on.

help i need to get this done ASAP.

Aug 9, 2011 | 05:02 PM

Element

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A set of bolt-outs or a torch (just don't hold it there for long) may be your best bet if vise-grips won't move it.

Aug 9, 2011 | 05:03 PM

14k

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From: Odessa, TX

vice grips just shaved more off the bolt.

Aug 9, 2011 | 05:07 PM

LS6427

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Dremel...cut a deep channel in the bolt, then use a flat head screwdriver with a ratchet type head and a ratchet to get some leaning force into it. It works like a charm.

If your car is on jack stands or a floor jack...don't push so hard as to knock'em over. Just sayin......

.

Aug 9, 2011 | 05:11 PM

LS6427

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You can also drill a 1/4 inch deep hole in the center of the bolt head, then tap a larger torx head into it with a hammer. That works too. But you have to really hammer it in there, probably ruin it, but you'll get it out.

.

Aug 9, 2011 | 06:15 PM

14k

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im not worried about ruining the bolt. ill put a new one in.

Aug 9, 2011 | 06:52 PM

89gmcs15

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try a pipe wrench, like a 10 inch wrench? or maybe weld a crappy bigger wrench to it and then replace it when its out?

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Aug 9, 2011 | 07:57 PM

LS_Canuck

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I've had good success with hammering on a smaller socket.

Aug 9, 2011 | 08:01 PM

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ULTIMATEORANGESS

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 89gmcs15

try a pipe wrench, like a 10 inch wrench? or maybe weld a crappy bigger wrench to it and then replace it when its out?

or if he can get some type of extension on his ratchet like a pipe for extra prying leverage.

Aug 9, 2011 | 11:43 PM

#11

89gmcs15

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From: north dakota

Quote:

Originally Posted by ULTIMATEORANGESS

or if he can get some type of extension on his ratchet like a pipe for extra prying leverage.

oh it seemed to me that the bolt head was too rounded off to even get a wrench on? either way there should be no reason a drain plug should be that tight. sucky deal for the op

Last edited by 89gmcs15; Aug 9, 2011 at 11:44 PM. Reason: grammar

Aug 10, 2011 | 12:29 AM

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parks450

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From: Wyoming

Bolt outs from irwin are awesome. I bought both sets with all the sizes just because they saved me that much money. Ive used them many times on other vehicles, I know advance sells them. They have no problem taking rounded bolts out.

Aug 10, 2011 | 03:12 AM

#13

myk

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Lol, they're so awesome they make me wanna dance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu460qIEdMs

Aug 10, 2011 | 09:10 AM

#14

t/a98

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From: greenvile, sc

ive used craftsman bolt outs on a bolt that was machined into a circle, no flats at all and it gripped and broke it right loose, they really do work. but the irwin looks very similar, get whatevers easiest. i know craftsman has a few styles like lo profile, incase your headers are like my headers. mine are too close to get a ratchet on my bolt so i have to use a wrench

Aug 10, 2011 | 02:53 PM

#15

1 FMF

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From: CT

get a grinder and grind two flat spots on the head of the bolt so the vice-grip will have a nice flat and decent amount of surface area to clamp down on.