how to fix "stripped" oil drain plug bolt?

[Pepsei]

while doing the oil change today, for my dodge 2004 pickup.

i guess the oil drain plug bolt was on too tight from the last time, so i was having a hard time taking it off, and in the process, stripped it a bit more. i fear that its life is limited.

what should i do in the future? to prevent further metal 'shaving'? use a special wrench?

replace the bolt?

use some special easy access oil change attachment? (list them please)

 

[T2urtle]

you stripped the head of the bolt? or did you stripped the threads on the bolt or pan

Order up a new drain bolt if you stripped the head. Get a oversized plug if you stripped the threads. Install it very slowly and completely leveled and you should be good.

Worst case is you have to buy a new oil pan... but oversized plugs should be at almost everyone auto part store.

 

[Pepsei]

sorry, i stripped the head of the bolt. i didn't realize there are two type of 'stripping'.

thanks for the suggestion.

 

[LTC8K6]

Buy a new one with a new seal and use the correct size wrench/socket.

 

[mooncancook]

I did that to my car on my last oil change also. Couldn't drive the drain plug with my available tools so took it to the dealer to do the oil change and asked them to replace it. It's a bad idea to use a "close enough" socket size.

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: mooncancook
It's a bad idea to use a "close enough" socket size.

umm duh?

don't use crescent (sp) wrenches either.

 

[Howard]

Keep the right wrench in the glovebox or something.

 

[Oceandevi]

They are cheap. I had a pep boys ape change it for me.

 

[CycloWizard]

I did the same thing when I first started changing my own oil. It cost me less than $10 for a new drain plug. My problem was not squaring the socket with the bolt before twisting, so just make sure to take your time before you go to town cranking that thing out.

 

[Killrose]

I have several vehicles I take care of for family. Everyone of them seems to take a different size tool to remove the drain plug. So I always write the size of the wrench needed under the hood with a marker so I am sure to have the right one before I try to crawl under the car to remove the plug.

I also use a marker to write the date of oil and filter change under the hood too as sometimes the service info never makes it into the manual.

 

[Howard]

"rounded"

 

[T2urtle]

howard is correct.. you rounded off your drain plug.. it should of been stripped as well tho because no way in hell your suppose to have it that tight to begin with. its suppose to be like 10 foot lb at most for plugs.