So I got my oil changed today...

[thehstrybean]

On Monday I'm goin on a 400 mile road trip, and it was time for me to change my oil. I changed my differential myself, since that's fairly easy, but I decided to go to a shop to get the engine oil changed. The last time it had been changed was when I bought it. It had NO leaks whatsoever (2001 Jeep Cherokee). Now, I just went outside, and my car has a leak. The bolt isn't even tight on the oil pan. I tried to tighten it, and it won't. It just spins. Should I go back to the place?

CLIFFS:
1. Got my oil changed today, and my car (01 Cherokee) had never had any leaks
2. Now it has an oil leak
3. I can't tighten the bolt. It just spins.
4. Should I go back to the place and demand...something?

 

[waggy]

oops. not good. i would go back and complain. not that it will get you anywhere.

 

[grohl]

*sigh* this 'cliffs trend' is getting old....

Call the place now and talk to the manager.

 

[thehstrybean]

The thing is, I can't PROVE that it never had a leak. I wonder if I'm just better off getting a new bolt. BUt the thing is, I can't get the old one out...or in...

 

[MrPickins]

Yeah, you're probably SOL. You can't even be sure the threads weren't stripped to begin with.

It shouldn't cost too much to have it retapped for a larger plug, right car guys?
That is, if the threads on the pan are stripped.

 

[308nato]

Don't have them fix it.....they are just going to use the rubber plug:Q......make them pay to helicoil it properly at a reputable shop.

 

[radioouman]

They stripped the threads in the oil pan.

You can go to any auto parts store and get an oversized plug. This is pretty common. You could also fight with the place that changed your oil, but it would be easier to get the oversized plug.

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: thehstrybean
The thing is, I can't PROVE that it never had a leak. I wonder if I'm just better off getting a new bolt. BUt the thing is, I can't get the old one out...or in...

You can get it out... Just put a flat screw driver under it as you turn it counter clockwise to back it out. It will come out.

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: 308nato
Don't have them fix it.....they are just going to use the rubber plug:Q......make them pay to helicoil it properly at a reputable shop.

I could see a helicoil on an aluminum pan, but not a steel stamped pan. But I believe that this jeep as a steel stamped pan.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

They stripped the drain plug. Probably cross threaded it back in with an impact wrench.

Special self tapping drain plugs are sold at Pep Boys and such.

I have never paid anyone to change my oil

 

[boomerang]

I hate quick oil change places because this kind of sh!t is so commonplace.

Call them for all the good it will do you. They will deny everything.

Take the car to a real mechanic afterwards and never do business with that place again and badmouth them to everyone you know.

You're in a bad place and you're just going to have to eat the repair I'm sorry to say.

 

[thehstrybean]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
They stripped the drain plug. Probably cross threaded it back in with an impact wrench.

Special self tapping drain plugs are sold at Pep Boys and such.

I have never paid anyone to change my oil

And I never will again...

 

[thehstrybean]

Originally posted by: radioouman
They stripped the threads in the oil pan.

You can go to any auto parts store and get an oversized plug. This is pretty common. You could also fight with the place that changed your oil, but it would be easier to get the oversized plug.

How much do plugs run? How much bigger should I get it?

 

[boomerang]

Just tell the boys behind the counter what's going on. The plug should be cheap.

 

[308nato]

Personally, I wouldn't want the shavings a self tapping bolt creates to find their way into my oil pan. If its a steel pan they just weld a small "donut" with the female threads right over the old orifice.

 

[thehstrybean]

Originally posted by: 308nato
Personally, I wouldn't want the shavings a self tapping bolt creates to find their way into my oil pan. If its a steel pan they just weld a small "donut" with the female threads right over the old orifice.

What's a self tapping bolt do, exactly? </noobishness>

 

[boomerang]

It cuts new threads. Like a tap would.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: 308nato
Personally, I wouldn't want the shavings a self tapping bolt creates to find their way into my oil pan. If its a steel pan they just weld a small "donut" with the female threads right over the old orifice.

Your kinda right 308nato.

I drain the fresh oil into a very clean pan, if I choose to reuse it.

Start the self tapping plug square to it's sealing area(THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT..if it's crocked it will leak, causing one to over tighten and strip it again). Remove it and load the slots with thick grease to help retain chips, then finish tapping the pan drain hole, remove the plug and clean it throughly, inset a small magnet to pick-up any stays, then install the self tapping drain plug.

OP, Google self tapping drain plug > car talk.

 

[chuckywang]

Did that place forget to put a washer on the bolt?

 

[kingtas]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
They stripped the drain plug. Probably cross threaded it back in with an impact wrench.
q]

Why would anyone use an impact wrench on an oil pan plug?

 

[thehstrybean]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
Did that place forget to put a washer on the bolt?

Doesn't look like it

I'm off to autozone to explore my options in this...pisses me off extrememly...

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: kingtas

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
They stripped the drain plug. Probably cross threaded it back in with an impact wrench.
q]

Why would anyone use an impact wrench on an oil pan plug?

Because they are lazy and the impact was probably a 3/8" drive not a 1/2" drive.

I turned wrenches for 40+years and have just about seen it all.

 

[thehstrybean]

Well, just got back from Autozone. My pan plug is 5/8", and the guy gave me a 1/2" one to oversize it...Hopefully I can install it tomorrow...if it doesn't rain...

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: thehstrybean
Well, just got back from Autozone. My pan plug is 5/8", and the guy gave me a 1/2" one to oversize it...Hopefully I can install it tomorrow...if it doesn't rain...

How is that gonna work? If your pan plug is 5/8" then the new one is even smaller.

 

[dxkj]

Exact thing happened to me, I took it back and they fixed it.

I wouldnt have touched it if i were you.