How to loosen a stubborn bolt?

[Sacotool]

I'm trying to change the oil on my dads car, but the oil plug just won't loosen. I'm using the correct sized socket wrench, i've tried pulling on it with all my weight and it still won't give. Any ideas? I don't have access to a pneumatic wrench right now.

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

Try some heat.

 

[Yeeny]

Did you try WD-40? That always worked for me.

 

[Sacotool]

I'm thinking of spraying some WD-40 lube on the bolt.

 

[Sacotool]

lol, that was good timing GF

 

[Bakwetu]

.. or some coke (the drink )-great rust solver

 

[~zonker~]

There are penetrating sprays for just this problem manufactured by 3M, among others

 

[Tominator]

I doubt it rusted, so a bolt loosener spray will not help.

Muscle! If the socket is the proper size and you are able to keep it square, just heave ho or tap the rachet or breaker bar with a hammer.

I don't know why some engines do that! I've got a car that I'm afraid to tighten much more than finger tight or it's a real bitch to loosen.

Good luck!

 

[Monel Funkawitz]

<< Try some heat. >>



Bad idea. Works great on bolts, but not on oil pan drain plugs. Not only can it distort the oil pan, but also break down the oil in the area, making it turn to a nasty carbon/tar gunk.

I have alot of experience in this area, and the best tip I can give you is this... LEVERAGE. Put a piece of pipe on the wrench and get some torque. Be careful you don't round off the plug or strip it. As a last resort, take it to a place that changes oil. If you round off the hex, you can use a small pipe wrench as a last resort to grab it. Vice Grips work also, but not as well. They tend to slip a little more.

BTW, WD-40 or penetrating oil will not help. The threads are loaded. Penetrating oil works only on dry rusty fasteners. Bolts that are oil soaked, have pipe thread (Tapered. The P.O. can't get in the threads) or are &quot;loaded&quot; (Have pressure pushing the bolt out, usually under tension) penetrating oil won't work on. Also, P.O. works best on fastners that you can access both ends to spray. A nut on a stud is the best for P.O.

Basically, P.O. won't do a damn thing on oil pan plugs. Save your $$$ and don't even bother wasting it there.

 

[Pepsi90919]

OK 2 things I don't get here:

1. USE HEAT

Um.....heat usually involves fire. And introducing fire to a really really greasy engine which is highly flammable isn't the greatest idea is it?

2. USE LUBRICANTS

Um....shouldn't there already be a shitload of oil AROUND the bolt already?


Just some observations.

 

[Soybomb]

Listen to Monel and tominator Get a longer ratchet or put a pipe over the handle and just muscle that beast off.

 

[Yo Ma Ma]

No you're right, using heat would not be a good idea in that area, sorry

 

[Viper GTS]

Soy's got the right idea. Go get a 18&quot; pipe &amp; drop it over the end of the wrench. Wala, you've just tripled your effective torque output.

Viper GTS

 

[ratkil]

you guys are going about this all wrong. What you need to do is get that engine out somewhere where you can really get to it. So pull that motor out of the car, get it up on an engine rack then you can flip over so the bottom is up. There you go, all the clearance in the world to get right to that stubborn bolt.

Tomorrow we will talk about how to get to those pesky drains be excavating beneath the house........

 

[Monel Funkawitz]

Ratkil, I think I ruptured my spleen laughing so hard

 

[Soybomb]

Now can someone tell me how to get an odd shaped brass fitting on the bottom of a turbo charger that I&quot;m installing braided stainless steel lines on? No tools fit!!! BLAST!

 

[Mday]

try a hammer...

the ultimate, all around tool.

 

[Sacotool]

Thanks for the tips guys, I went inside, had a beer, and went back out to tackle the task at hand. The bolt ended up losing the battle and I loosened that son of a bitch right the hell out of there! I didn't round it off either in the process I might add. It just took some brute force on my part.

 

[Tominator]

Success! 'tis so sweet... I'll bet the right combo of 4 letter words did the trick....never fails!

 

[~zonker~]

I knew that should have been my advice.....


&quot;have a beer first&quot;

 

[PCAddict]

I put a very light coating of anti-seize on a few of the various drain plug bolts on my truck. It prevents such problems.