JHZR2
Staff member
This was supposed to be easy… and I don’t think I’ve ever done this before on an oil drain plug.
The drain plug on my new to me 1991 350sd was really tight. I didn’t realize just how tight it was, and initially tried a 13mm cheap 12pt husky socket from the set that I have at my remote garage, and it rounded off. I managed to get a 13 mm six point socket, but it just kept on rounding over. I then hammered on a 1/2 inch socket which went on tight but it too kept rounding the plugs. It also was a six point socket but it just kept on rounding over. I think the issue is is an aluminum pan with a copper gasket, so you have a good galvanic series there to corrode against each other.. At my remote garage I don’t have very good tools, the cheap set of vice grips that I got from someplace for free couldn’t grab the drain plug size enough.
I need to get this drain plug off, I’m assuming a spiral extractor is the best way? I’m a little bit worried because these pans are pretty fragile, I had issues with the pan on my other 1991, 350 SD, and how do use a time sert insert. I really don’t want to do that again.
Any recommendations?
I have rocket socket extractors, but I’m a little bit worried that the one that and we’ll grab since they wouldn’t have been socket will slide on the head now.
Thanks!
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