Problem while changing my oil.
Problem while changing my oil. I was doing my oil change and I was going to change my oil filter as well. I unscrew the oil filter and when I go to loosen the bolt to get the rest of the oil out I couldn't do it. I used all of my strength trying to loosen it but I couldn't. What do I do now?
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 122
Likes: 1
From: Elk Grove Cali
Shouldn't be that tight. You turning it the right way? Don't force anything or you will strip the bolt then it really wont come off. Try getting a wrench and wiggle it a bit? Unless someone overtightened it before you it should be no problem.
Make sure your loosening not tightening. When I changed my O2 sensors I was working for 20 min on the drivers side going Hulk mode before realizing I was trying to tighten it 
If you're sure your loosening, do you have a rubber washer between the bolt and the pan? They can come off and some people unknowingly just screw it back on.
If you're sure your loosening, do you have a rubber washer between the bolt and the pan? They can come off and some people unknowingly just screw it back on.
On The Tree
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
Im assuming you didn't do this while the car was hot, but as stated above maybe you are going the wrong way? If you are doing it correct just try harder, sometimes the bolt can get stuck if tightened too much previously.
Is this really the problem? I did do it while it was hot.
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This is it. To avoid damaging the bolt head, a sharp blow is always better than a slow pull when loosening tight bolts.
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Verdad Gallardo I do work out. The damn bolt wont budge. i tried for about an hour. I'm thinking they tightened it too much at the place that the oil was changed at. I think i'm going to break the bolt off and put a new one in.
Make sure your loosening not tightening. When I changed my O2 sensors I was working for 20 min on the drivers side going Hulk mode before realizing I was trying to tighten it
If you're sure your loosening, do you have a rubber washer between the bolt and the pan? They can come off and some people unknowingly just screw it back on.
If you're sure your loosening, do you have a rubber washer between the bolt and the pan? They can come off and some people unknowingly just screw it back on.
On The Tree
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
Wait until it is cool because for one it can be dangerous while hot, and two the metal could have expanded and locked the bolt in tighter, but that is a theory because I have never changed oil while hot. If you can't get it off still here is what you do, spray a little WD-40 around the bolt, not too much but enough to seep in. Then grab your ratchet and see if you have a spare piece of strong PVC or metal pipe around, and use this for more leverage by putting the shaft of the ratchet inside it. You can also hit this pipe with a mallet if it still won't budge, but the extra leverage should make it a lot easier.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Magnolia, Ohio
Do it while it is stone cold, I have a quad that you can not remove the drain plug out of the aluminum case when it is hot. If you loosen it cold it turns very easy. Aluminum has a large thermal expansion rate and the plug is tightening up when hot.