Technical sump plug hell

[rmjbn1]

Thankyou so much for all the advice and experience, seems I'm not alone in experiencing sump plug hell!

Certainly not, I think most of us have been there and we're all cheering you on

I had to give up once with a drain plug, almost reduced to tears, and watched in dismay as my local indy whipped it out like it was nothing after I'd explained what a pig it was :/

The right technique with the right tool is everything. Which is why I don't like using a ratchet for jobs like this. They always have a bit of play or give in them - you can really feel the difference with a decent driver. And as koalar says, increasing the length of the driver reduces the effort.

You're just on the steepest part of the learning curve at the moment, but you'll get there

 

[sherbsville]

You are all amazing, tysm! I ordered the shorter one from halfords as click n collect before I saw the replies, so will try it, and take it back if I can't do it, and order the longer one. It's hard to get fully under, as my car has a low bit at the front.

This has certainly given me a lil confidence with ramps, and down the line I will get proper ones for when I do other stuff. Idk what it is, but the pressure of driving slowly in a straight line is insane lol. Like omg what if I randomly yank the wheel for no reason.

 

[John202020]

This is what I use to remove the sump plug using a standard ratchet wrench

https://www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-1-2-drive-hex-bit-socket-rail-6-pieces/5207V?tc=CT7&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvpy5BhDTARIsAHSilynEEAWn3QzIDqC4jZxsYapNoBdtsdzOGegpQvqBU1YMMq7Iw4ns6pwaAt4nEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

You do have a suitable container for the oil? Note it comes out at quite a rate as the hole is quite large and has the potential to go all over so put down lots of newspaper, also before going further check you can turn the oil filter with your hand, make sure your hands are clean not slippery as long as it moves you don't need to fully remove for now?

 

[koalar]

Stuck bolts, rusty parts, and so on are just part and parcel of old cars, some would say fun brrrrrrrrr

I have used blow torch, hammer and chisel, impact driver, hacksaw, drill and so on in the past

There just hurdles to to cross, not a barrier to the job

Sometimes it just takes the correct tool and or approach, as I suspect is the case here

But you also need experience, and there's only one way to gain experience, maybe there is a relative nearby, or even a member on here, I am in Cheshire by the way, that can help you


Personally I always try and pull on the handle if I can, If something slips or breaks you don't smash your knuckles, you also have much more feel and control

 

[A3jeroen]

Hammer in the Allen socket. Less chance of rounding it and may loosen it a bit. And yes size (of the breaker bar) does matter.

gr J

 

[Leroypanda]

Don't force it, if all else fails get an oil extraction pump kit (Draper) and take your warm oil out through the dipstick tube, I've been doing this for years on FIRE engines.

 

[John202020]

Don't force it, if all else fails get an oil extraction pump kit (Draper) and take your warm oil out through the dipstick tube, I've been doing this for years on FIRE engines.

Exactly given the plug is drenched in oil on the other side it really should not need even any type of breaker bar, just a good fitting Allan key socket and wrench ?

 

[jackwhoo]

As @koalar has said they can "grow together" over time and become very very tight. Oily tapered thread goes in very smoothly then time months the oil between the threads is squeezed out leaving tight metal to metal contact

 

[sherbsville]

Brilliant, thankyou all again. The plan was to do it today, but only iust got back, and it's getting dark.

Nipped out to allotment for raspberries and kale, and a bloke was GIVING AWAY PALLETS!!!

As everyone knows pallets are the best thing ever invented by humans in the history of the world. Turns out they're also very heavy. So wrecked myself taking some of em.

Got the breaker bar from halfords, and I don't think it'll work as not long enough. It's really sturdy tho. Worth a shot.

I defo recall Dad hammering the sump plug on his car at some point as it wouldn't budge.

 

[sherbsville]

Exactly given the plug is drenched in oil on the other side it really should not need even any type of breaker bar, just a good fitting Allan key socket and wrench ?

I have both those things, and it wont budge.

 

[John202020]

I have both those things, and it wont budge.

Just make sure you're turning it the right way, IE anticlockwise when looking straight at it,

 

[steveras57]

Mechanics used to routinely TAP around the edge/periphery of a recalcitrant fixing with a sturdy hammer and/or blunt chisel as this often has the effect of "shocking" the threads free!.

If you think of the threads in both the plug and the sump mating together, they are in effect a form of spring, and the tightening puts that spring under tension, it,s that tension you are trying to overcome! the TAPPING shocks those threads a little to help them release(its tapping round the edge that has the most effect!) and can have the secondary effect of breaking any possible corrosion that may have formed between the metals( not rust on a sump plug but galvanic adhesion that can happen between different metals such as aluminium and steel!).

 

[sherbsville]

Mechanics used to routinely TAP around the edge/periphery of a recalcitrant fixing with a sturdy hammer and/or blunt chisel as this often has the effect of "shocking" the threads free!.

If you think of the threads in both the plug and the sump mating together, they are in effect a form of spring, and the tightening puts that spring under tension, it,s that tension you are trying to overcome! the TAPPING shocks those threads a little to help them release(its tapping round the edge that has the most effect!) and can have the secondary effect of breaking any possible corrosion that may have formed between the metals( not rust on a sump plug but galvanic adhesion that can happen between different metals such as aluminium and steel!).

Ooooh thankyou for explaining why! Now you mention it, I remember him using a chisel too. He also used both on bathroom taps and wotnot.

 

[koalar]

Unfortunately it's a thin press steel sump with an insert added for a thread

Not something you want to be hitting hard

It a very valid technique in a lot of applications, just not one I would recommend for the sump plug

 

[sherbsville]

Unfortunately it's a thin press steel sump with an insert added for a thread

Not something you want to be hitting hard

It a very valid technique in a lot of applications, just not one I would recommend for the sump plug

Ok, ty. I will go back to shouting abuse at it as a means to shock it when I try again

 

[bugsymike]

I have been following you tribulations regarding the sump plug removal and as has been mentioned a good breaker bar along with a good fitting allen socket to suit, plus if necessary for extra leverage a tube slide onto the breaker bar. Never use a flimsy ratchet as it will break or wobble.
I appreciate what you say regarding lack of space under car to make life easy, but even with a long bar such as in my photo , it should once positioned correctly only need to move a few inches to free off the plug, assuming no extra sealant or bodge by someone previously and once cracked a ratchet can finish undoing the plug.
This 3/4inch bar with or without the 1/2 adaptor and extension and an adult male on the other end has never been beaten, even up to small lorries and tractors.
One advantage of "overkill" is you have more control as you don't have to strain or yank anything.
Just remember as my daughter tells her 3 year old "righty tighty, lefty loosey"

 

[John202020]

Just remember as my daughter tells her 3 year old "righty tighty, lefty loosey"

Looking straight on

 

[rmjbn1]

Just remember as my daughter tells her 3 year old "righty tighty, lefty loosey"

I drained my gearbox this afo and I was telling myself that too Very useful mantra.
As John says, can be confusing when working upside down, or back to front as with the drain plugs.

 

[bugsymike]

I drained my gearbox this afo and I was telling myself that too Very useful mantra.
As John says, can be confusing when working upside down, or back to front as with the drain plugs.

Grand daughter at 3 years old is learning new things, unlike me at 71 forgetting old things.

 

[sherbsville]

I have been following you tribulations regarding the sump plug removal and as has been mentioned a good breaker bar along with a good fitting allen socket to suit, plus if necessary for extra leverage a tube slide onto the breaker bar. Never use a flimsy ratchet as it will break or wobble.
I appreciate what you say regarding lack of space under car to make life easy, but even with a long bar such as in my photo , it should once positioned correctly only need to move a few inches to free off the plug, assuming no extra sealant or bodge by someone previously and once cracked a ratchet can finish undoing the plug.
This 3/4inch bar with or without the 1/2 adaptor and extension and an adult male on the other end has never been beaten, even up to small lorries and tractors.
One advantage of "overkill" is you have more control as you don't have to strain or yank anything.
Just remember as my daughter tells her 3 year old "righty tighty, lefty loosey"

Ooooh thats brilliant, and omg YES! lefty loosey, righty tighty, I swear by it lol. I was laying on the drive, practicing in the air incase I was turning the wrong way. I wasn't, but the whole time I was chanting it like a spell.

I'm gonna give it a go with the short one I bought from Halfords tomorrow, then when it doesnt work, buy a longer one. Yours looks sooo good, really sturdy. Dad has a short one that's as sturdy, but it doesn't fit. I know Dad must have had one like yours, but I've made the garage even worse. I've defo seen a metal pole in there at some point tho. I really need to send all the stuff back to mediequip as I'd have more space, but still can't face it.