What socket/wrench for stripped oil drain bolt?

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

PhillyJoe

Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
662
Location
PA
Have a new-to-us 2005 Mercury Mariner with a 3.0 engine. Go to do its first oil change this past weekend, up on ramps, grab the 14mm, 15mm and 16mm closed wrenches, seems like the 15 mm is the right one, but the bolt appears to be partially stripped. After two or three tries, now it's not "partially" anymore. Double check to make sure 15mm is the right one which it is. Vise grips didn't help. Who carries the best tool to grab the bolt? Home Depot, Sears, PB, AZ and AAP are my options. Leaning towrds the auto places as I will probably replace the bolt if I get this one off.
Someone tortured this poor bolt in only 41,000 miles.
 
I would clean the paint off and weld a nut to it. You could probably continue using it like that too, with a new washer.
 
What I use at work is a set of sockets designed for stripped bolt heads. Bought mine at Sears for $20 or so. Works every single time I run across a stripped drain plug at work. All the mechanics carry a set.
 
Originally Posted By: PhillyJoe
Have a new-to-us 2005 Mercury Mariner with a 3.0 engine. Go to do its first oil change this past weekend, up on ramps, grab the 14mm, 15mm and 16mm closed wrenches, seems like the 15 mm is the right one, but the bolt appears to be partially stripped. After two or three tries, now it's not "partially" anymore. Double check to make sure 15mm is the right one which it is. Vise grips didn't help. Who carries the best tool to grab the bolt? Home Depot, Sears, PB, AZ and AAP are my options. Leaning towrds the auto places as I will probably replace the bolt if I get this one off.
Someone tortured this poor bolt in only 41,000 miles.


Happened to me last month.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605...00600&aff=Y

Worked like a charm

Edit: Didnt notice they were sold out. Just get yourself a set of Craftsman Bolt-Out. You will never have this problem again.
 
Last edited:
Sometimes I grind two flats onto a stripped nut with the angle grinder(needs a new disc with a sharp corner), then use an adjustable wrench.
Another favorite of mine is vice grips closed with a big set of 16" groove joint pliers! Maybe not recommended for made in China versions.
Also if you have six sided sockets, I sometimes will tap on the right size from my impact set onto a rounded off nut, but be careful if your oil pan is aluminum.
Any of these methods would be helped with a bit of heat from a propane torch as well.
 
Originally Posted By: Zaedock
I would clean the paint off and weld a nut to it. You could probably continue using it like that too, with a new washer.


I have done this methiod a zillion times where I used to work. Assuming you can't weld, take it to a muffler shop and they will get it off like this.
 
Dude, once you get it off buy a new drain plug, they are cheap. Sell a ton of them because people overtighten the poop out of them since the torque spec is so low. Also check the threads in the pan, I keep about 6 of these pans in stock. The new ones come with a new style o-ring gasket and new hardware.
 
i've tried those exact craftsman bolt-outs also and they dont work worth a [censored]. use the right tool for the right job.
 
If you have one, sometimes a pipe wrench will loosen a rounded off bolt head very well. Pipe wrenches are designed to grip round parts by wedge action and the leverage of the wrench. Although if the bolt is really tight and has a small diameter the pipe wrench might just chew off metal and not loosen it.

After you get the drain plug off always use a 6-point socket as that will prevent rounding off. If you had first tried to loosen the plug with a 6-point it may have come off without stripping.
 
A "fluted socket" might do the trick. Advance sells small sets of these (different sizes) in the under $10 range. The cheap ones only work a couple of times before they lose their bite, but that is fine if you just need it to work once. You need a breaker bar, a hammer, and a little patience to make them work well, but they do work even on completely rounded bolt heads. No welding required.

If you let the engine run for a while so the oil pan warms up you'll need less torque to get the bolt free and that is a good thing when you have limited grip.
 
Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
i've tried those exact craftsman bolt-outs also and they dont work worth a [censored]. use the right tool for the right job.


What? I use mine on a regular basis and have not had a problem with them yet. should add, I suppose, that you do need to try a couple of sizes first and take your time.
 
+1 for the pipe wrench. Use it all the time, for stripped bolts that i can get to with it. If it's not to bad you could try a pair of vice grips.
 
Originally Posted By: PhillyJoe
Have a new-to-us 2005 Mercury Mariner with a 3.0 engine. Go to do its first oil change this past weekend, up on ramps, grab the 14mm, 15mm and 16mm closed wrenches, seems like the 15 mm is the right one, but the bolt appears to be partially stripped. After two or three tries, now it's not "partially" anymore. Double check to make sure 15mm is the right one which it is. Vise grips didn't help. Who carries the best tool to grab the bolt? Home Depot, Sears, PB, AZ and AAP are my options. Leaning towrds the auto places as I will probably replace the bolt if I get this one off.
Someone tortured this poor bolt in only 41,000 miles.


They must have tightened the daylights out of that bolt. can you try and use a sacrifical socket that you will hammer onto the damaged head of the drain pan bolt?
 
Never knew about bolt-outs. Went to Sears. The 5 piece set was $20.
Used the #9 which is for 15mm and gave it a tap with a hammer. Oil drain bolt came right out. Went to Ford and got a new bolt for $7.
Changed my oil using Quaker State Ultimate Durability 5w20 and a MC 820S filter and all is well.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
I overtightened the plug on my '86 Taurus once and made the mistake of grabbing a 12 point socket because I was in a hurry. The plug had a molded head/shoulder combination, and the dealer ended up using an impact hammer with a chisel on the shoulder to get it out.

Not my best day.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
Rounded off bolt help
2
Replies
22
Views
6K
samven
Back
Top Bottom