Oil Drain Plug Stripped!

SN95StangMan · Apr 29, 2004

When I was changing my oil, I took out of front drain plug and took out about a quart from there. Then I went to the back plug and started to take it out, or so i thought. I just kept truning the thing and it wouldnt come out. Did I strip the plug? I ended up jacking the car as high as I could from the rear to get the oil to drip out from the front sump. I dont think I got all the oil out though. How can I fix this? Should I take my car to a mechanic/shop to see what they can do about it or is there another way that I can take care of this?

viperos · Apr 29, 2004

most likely stripped the threads on the pan, not the bolt... sorry to say... I'd take it to a shop, on like a Sunday or something, and see if they could do a "side job" for ya for like $20.... be generous when it comes to "side jobs"... but btw, you should probably have another 2 quarts in there... it's the back plug that's the most important...

AznStanger3v · Apr 29, 2004

yeah, sounds like the threads are stripped on the pan itself.

MLC Stang · Apr 29, 2004

sn95StangMan,

They make repair kits for stripped threads. The best brand is called "Helicoil".

Basically, the stripped hole gets drilled oversize to the next size Helicoil. That hole is then threaded with a tap, and the Helicoil itself is threaded into that. This all results in a hole the same size as the original one you stripped with a new thread in it that fits the original bolt or whatever went in it!

Do a search for "Helicoil", and you'll find lots of info on them. They probably make a kit specifically for folks who accidentally strip their oil plug holes.

Good luck.

SN95StangMan · Apr 29, 2004

Cool, thanks.

viperos · Apr 30, 2004

but you wanna watch out for those kits... they themselves can strip much easier than the pan did, so, you might want to change your tightening/loosening methods at the same time... just keep that in mind...

-also, remember that you can't just keep doing these kits, eventually, even those won't be able to help you out...

MLC Stang · Apr 30, 2004

SN95StangMan,

Here's something else to consider. I've actually had the same thing happen to me a couple of times since I used to rebuild and restore 60's and 70's muscle cars for a hobby for about 20 years.

What I've found is that the oil pan plugs are made with softer metal than the oil pan itself. This is done so that if something does strip, its usually the threads on the plug that strip, not the threads on the oil pan.

That's exactly what happened in my case. The plug threads were stripped and the pan was OK. I backed the plug out of the pan by turning it with a pliers and pulling at the same time. Then I bought a tap the correct size of the threads in the pan and chased (cleaned up) the pan hole threads with the tap.

Bought a new oil pan plug and threaded it right back in the pan. Everything was fine. It's likely that just your plug is stripped.

Just bear in mind that when you start working on this, you have to be prepared to deal with the worst case (pan hole threads are stripped) just to be safe. i.e. have your pan hole thread repair stuff ready to go in case you need it.

Good luck.

Booksix · Jul 9, 2005

What size is the bolt? I need to get a tap to clean my pan threads.

94GTLaserRC · Jul 9, 2005

Stripped Threads!

S/CBlack95GT · Jul 9, 2005

MLC Stang said:
SN95StangMan,

The plug threads were stripped and the pan was OK. I backed the plug out of the pan by turning it with a pliers and pulling at the same time. Then I bought a tap the correct size of the threads in the pan and chased (cleaned up) the pan hole threads with the tap.

My exact thoughts.

94GTLaserRC · Jul 9, 2005

S/CBlack95GT said:
My exact thoughts.

:OT: How's the weather holding up in Tampa Shaun?
RC

S/CBlack95GT · Jul 9, 2005

94GTLaserRC said:
:OT: How's the weather holding up in Tampa Shaun?
RC

Rainy as a mofo. I got soaked today working a wreck in the rain and then to top it off my POS cop car died.

Booksix · Jul 9, 2005

Wow, seriuosly...all these responses and no one knows what size the thread is?

viperos · Jul 11, 2005

Booksix said:
Wow, seriuosly...all these responses and no one knows what size the thread is?

I do... the thread is at 14 now...

Labora · Jul 11, 2005

MLC Stang said:
SN95StangMan,

Here's something else to consider. I've actually had the same thing happen to me a couple of times since I used to rebuild and restore 60's and 70's muscle cars for a hobby for about 20 years.

What I've found is that the oil pan plugs are made with softer metal than the oil pan itself. This is done so that if something does strip, its usually the threads on the plug that strip, not the threads on the oil pan.

That's exactly what happened in my case. The plug threads were stripped and the pan was OK. I backed the plug out of the pan by turning it with a pliers and pulling at the same time. Then I bought a tap the correct size of the threads in the pan and chased (cleaned up) the pan hole threads with the tap.

Bought a new oil pan plug and threaded it right back in the pan. Everything was fine. It's likely that just your plug is stripped.

Just bear in mind that when you start working on this, you have to be prepared to deal with the worst case (pan hole threads are stripped) just to be safe. i.e. have your pan hole thread repair stuff ready to go in case you need it.

Good luck.

Exactly worth a mention! The bolts are usually really soft. The one on my last car had worn out by 90k miles with a normal oil change schedule.

gcomfx.com · Jul 11, 2005

I've heard you can also buy oversized plugs. Much better than replacing the oil pan.

troyizmir · Jul 11, 2005

Go to any oil change place, Jiffy Lube for example.....they sell self tapping oversize drain plugs. They work great.....you can imagine how many times they strip the plugs and that is how the fix the problem.

Troyizmir
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