Oil Drain Plug Problem

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My neighbor changes his own oil in his 2000 V6 Accord, except in the winter, when he has it done by a local independent garage. The garage mechanic apparently reinstalled the oil drain plug using an impact wrench. So when my friend tried to remove it using a 17mm socket, it wouldn't budge and he rounded off the head of the bolt to the point that now he can't grab it with anything. Is there any easy way to get it out? He doesn't even want to deal with the garage that caused the problem, he's through with them, cause he specifically told the guy not to overtighten the plug. What should it cost to have a reliable garage fix this?
 
probably like $10-20 and the cost of a new drain plug. iirc the torque spec on those is around 20ft-lbs, i always remember the hondas being fairly high.

you can get it out the same way you get a locking lug nut off, pound on a 12pt socket and blast it off.
 
Pipe wrench. I used it to get a stuck/stripped bolt off my mom's car. It'll destroy the bolt in the process though, so you'll have to get a new one.
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A pair of vise grips, properly applied, may do it ..otherwise, the smaller pipe wrench (as suggested above) should do the job. Much depends on how handy (experienced) the owner is with these tools. It's easy to give up if you don't know how to properly set them.
 
Of course, you realize telling the shop NOT to overtighten the bolt is the reason they used an impact wrench on it. You also perhaps realize you may have a problem with threads in your drain pan that are ruined....may have to change to a larger sized plug and tap the pan. If it were me, I think I'd leave the current mess alone, and tap a fumoto plug elsewhere in the pan.
 
Originally Posted By: Titan
Of course, you realize telling the shop NOT to overtighten the bolt is the reason they used an impact wrench on it.


A honda dealer did the same to me when I asked not to hulk the filter on so I could take it off by hand next oci. I barely got it off with a filter wrench. I havent even tried to take the fram quick drain plug off and I bet its on too tight too since I asked them to be easy with it also.
 
I gotta go with the vise grips first..
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However beating a smaller socket onto the bolt sounds like real fun so I may defer my first jusgement to that based strictly on entertainment value...especially if you are doing it to your friends car while he is watching...
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Make sure you use a 1/2" drive breaker bar with a 4' pipe on it. Have a new engine ready just in case you accidentally flip his out onto the garage floor.
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Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Flank drive 6 point socket

Flank drive? Is that like a fast version of warp drive? Honestly, I've never heard of that one before?
 
This is rude. My friend went to a Honda dealer yesterday to pick up a new drain plug and washer. The plug was $8.69 and the washer was 57 cents. The total was over ten bucks with tax. This seemed way out of line to me, even for OEM. It's just a bolt for the luvvapete. Anyone else get charged anything like this lately?
 
Originally Posted By: Cogito
This is rude. My friend went to a Honda dealer yesterday to pick up a new drain plug and washer. The plug was $8.69 and the washer was 57 cents. The total was over ten bucks with tax. This seemed way out of line to me, even for OEM. It's just a bolt for the luvvapete. Anyone else get charged anything like this lately?


sounds about right. they mustve charged you full list with no discount.
 
They charge $20+ per spark plug for the odyssey which is insane, especially when you can get the exact same plug at the store for $10 each.
 
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
probably like $10-20 and the cost of a new drain plug. iirc the torque spec on those is around 20ft-lbs, i always remember the hondas being fairly high.

you can get it out the same way you get a locking lug nut off, pound on a 12pt socket and blast it off.


The dealer charged me only $1.72 last time I got one. You can probably do better if you know what to get from HomeDepot.
 
Not really. You have washers that crush and those that don't . If your car specifies a CRUSH washer then make sure the washer will deform and create a perfect seal. I have a VW Golf which uses a soft copper crush washer. Well I went to the china parts chain and got a copper drain plug washer installed it and, IT LEAKED. I could tell when I installed it that when tightened it did not deform as it was supposed to.
 
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