Turning wrench while underneath car

[JonathanYoung]

Just trying to see how other people do it... when you're underneath your car, is it extremely difficult to un/tighten fasteners? What do you do to counter this?

I did my second oil change ever today. I had learned my lesson from the first time when I pulled so hard that the wrench smashed and broke my oil bucket when the bolt finally came loose, so I didn't pull as hard. As a result, it took forever to break it loose and eventually I had to sheath the wrench with the jack handle (which is like a pipe) in order to get enough leverage.

It doesn't seem normal to have to use the "pipe" method, and I'm wondering if I'm using the wrong tools. I just used a wrench from one of those 154-piece Craftsman kits.

Any other tips? Perhaps the positioning of the body and arms?

I appreciate everyone's insight into this.

 

[Tristicus]

Depends what vehicle it is honestly.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

The trick to the DIY oil-change drain bolt removal:

Get yourself a box wrench - do not use a ratchet.

with one hand hold the box wrnch on and with the other use a BFH (big f'in hammer) to lightly tap tap tappity tappity tap on the wrench until it breaks loose.

Should take 10- 15 taps to break it loose.

 

[JonathanYoung]

Depends what vehicle it is honestly.

Both cars I've done this on are very similar: '09 Acura TSX and '05 Honda Accord. I'd take the TSX over the Accord, however, due to the location of the oil filter.

The trick to the DIY oil-change drain bolt removal:

Get yourself a box wrench - do not use a ratchet.

with one hand hold the box wrnch on and with the other use a BFH (big f'in hammer) to lightly tap tap tappity tappity tap on the wrench until it breaks loose.

Should take 10- 15 taps to break it loose.

Wow, thanks for this gem. It was truly a "doh" moment when I read your solution.

 

[slag]

The trick to the DIY oil-change drain bolt removal:

Get yourself a box wrench - do not use a ratchet.

with one hand hold the box wrnch on and with the other use a BFH (big f'in hammer) to lightly tap tap tappity tappity tap on the wrench until it breaks loose.

Should take 10- 15 taps to break it loose.

Your oil drain plug should never be on tight enough to where you need to tap it a wrench with a hammer to loosen it. You have just a few threads into your oil pan and it does not require it to be super tight to work with the crush gasket.

 

[CurseTheSky]

For anything without a lot of clearance, either get an extension or position yourself so your elbows are close to your body - that way you should be able to use your shoulder / chest muscles rather than your weaker upper arm muscles. If you're dragging yourself back and forth on the creeper (like the drain plug on my Fusion - stupid dealership), ditch the creeper and lay a tarp / cloth down instead.

 

[JonathanYoung]

Your oil drain plug should never be on tight enough to where you need to tap it a wrench with a hammer to loosen it. You have just a few threads into your oil pan and it does not require it to be super tight to work with the crush gasket.

That's what I was saying when I couldn't loosen it... blame it on the dealership oil changers who did both cars prior to my attempts. When I was done I torqued it to 33 ft. lbs per the manual.

For anything without a lot of clearance, either get an extension or position yourself so your elbows are close to your body - that way you should be able to use your shoulder / chest muscles rather than your weaker upper arm muscles.

Another good tip, thank you.

 

[drnickriviera]

Another simple tip for getting more leverage is have 2 combination wrenches. Box end on the nut, then use the box end on the 2nd wrench to lock into the open end of the 1st. The wrench body where you grab will be twisted 90 deg from each other. You've added 6 or so inches to the wrench

 

[bruceb]

A good 6 point box end wrench should get any oil drain plug out. I prefer to Pull on the wrench as it is easier to loosen that way.

 

[iGas]

Your oil drain plug should never be on tight enough to where you need to tap it a wrench with a hammer to loosen it. You have just a few threads into your oil pan and it does not require it to be super tight to work with the crush gasket.

It shouldn't need a hammer to loosen 35 ft.lbf, and unless ATers are too soft to handle that kind of torque. I generally tighten the oil drain bolt to around 25~30 lbs with a regular 1/2" or 3/8" ratchet. If needed be then the 1/2" at 16" long ratchet come out to play.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Your oil drain plug should never be on tight enough to where you need to tap it a wrench with a hammer to loosen it. You have just a few threads into your oil pan and it does not require it to be super tight to work with the crush gasket.

This. I have never had trouble loosening an oil drain plug with a 1/2" drive socket wrench.

 

[punjabiplaya]

I have a socket wrench with an extendable handle. Works wonders.

+1 for that bolt being on too tight in the first place.

 

[Howard]

Or you could just use an impact to open it up.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Your oil drain plug should never be on tight enough to where you need to tap it a wrench with a hammer to loosen it. You have just a few threads into your oil pan and it does not require it to be super tight to work with the crush gasket.

100% agree but if your not looking to bust your knuckles and are in a shitty position for leverage then my BFH and tapping works.

The hammer acts like an impact wrench and will not ruin your bolt head and will not bust your knuckles.


And of course tell the neanderthals at the dealerships to not crank it tight while your vehicle is on a lift with a air gun.

 

[basslover1]

Had a Valvoline grease monkey torque my drain plug down insanely tight once.

After stripping the plug partially, I got out a slightly smaller wrench, took a hammer to get it on there snug. My plug drains towards my driver's wheel about 12" from the front the car, so I sat down looking at my car, and gave it a swift kick and finally broke free.

I then went back to the grease monkey and had him put in the new plug.

 

[jlee]

Use an open hand (vs grabbing) on a wrench/ratchet if it's tight and you have something hard and knuckle-busting behind it. It'll save your fingers.

 

[herm0016]

the hammer method works pretty well. i used my 1/2 in breaker bar and a 2lb hammer to get my nearly 40 year old leaf spring bolts off. i def. left impressions in my new bar. also, if you are having trouble getting the bolt off use some kroil or pb blaster to soak it. after it gets loose i use a little hydraulic oil (because i have a huge bucket of it) on the bolt and work that in. i have yet to have to torch one off.

 

[thescreensavers]

lol, when I first changed my oil the bolt was on so tight I had to put my feet on the sway bar and then pull the socket wrench between my legs, once it got loose I cheered. Then loosened it all the way and got er done!

 

[Meghan54]

Damn...hammers? Really?

Box end wrench and tap the end of it with my other open hand.......never needed a hammer, ever, to loosen a drain plug on an oil pan.

Now, a stupidly put on oil filter....that's another scenario. Sister bought a Mustang and the previous owner must have used an oil filter wrench to tighten the filter on as tight as he could. After crushing the filter with such a wrench while trying to remove it, finally had to resort to shoving a big screwdriver through the filter and using that to finally break the filter free.

 

[Howard]

Damn...hammers? Really?

Box end wrench and tap the end of it with my other open hand.......never needed a hammer, ever, to loosen a drain plug on an oil pan.

Now, a stupidly put on oil filter....that's another scenario. Sister bought a Mustang and the previous owner must have used an oil filter wrench to tighten the filter on as tight as he could. After crushing the filter with such a wrench while trying to remove it, finally had to resort to shoving a big screwdriver through the filter and using that to finally break the filter free.

You're lucky you didn't shear the filter in half.

 

[alphatarget1]

Yeah, I have never had trouble removing the oil drain plug. the worst case I just had to use a 1/2" drive ratchet.

I've had to loosen a drain plug for my MT transmission once, that I had to use a 4 or 5' pipe for leverage to break it loose.