REALLY stripped oil pan bolt :(
 

I noticed the bolt was starting to strip about 2 or 3 oil changes ago, but I kept forgetting about it and putting it off. Anyway, now I've got a problem.

After the 14mm socket stopped working, I tried vice grips. I'm a pretty strong guy, all I managed to do was round out the bolt even with them tightened as much as possible. After that, I took the truck down to the parts store and picked up a bolt remover kit. I can't even get the de-threader to work, even with the 13mm socket (14mm just floats, it's not even close).

Last oil change I did, I was in too much of a hurry and must have cranked the bolt down too hard. Now I know I can't be the only idiot in the world that has tightened down a stripped bolt too much and not been able to get it out, can anyone help me out here?

Attached a few pictures so you can see what I'm dealing with...

Can you get a pipe wrench on it to get more leverage? Otherwise vise grips is what I would have tried. Not sure if heating it would help.

I could probably fit a smaller sized pipe wrench on there, I don't know if it'll do much good though. I wish I had a blowtorch handy..

It looks like you rounded the head off of the drain plug
you could remove that drain plug an install a new one.


https://montecarloforum.com/forum/at...4403926516-jpg

Do you have a Dremel tool? If so, grind the edges down so you can fit a 6 point socket or box end wrench on it. Heat it with a portable torch, let it cool then go at it with a 6 point socket and breaker bar. If you have to use a box end wrench slide a piece of pipe or something over the end for greater leverage.

I was thinking a strong file myself, but a dremel sounds much easier on the hands. I'll have to see if I can find one to borrow.

I appreciate the responses guys, going to attack it again tomorrow morning. Hopefully I can get it out without too many bruises and foul words.

If you had an air hammer you could try to catch the outer edge of the large diameter part of the bolt in the direction that would loosen it. I have removed things like that in the past. Just have to be careful not to damage the oil pan.

https://montecarloforum.com/forum/at...4403926516-jpg

Errrrr.... keep trying the vise-grips, but hit it with your hand or a hammer instead of a constant motion, it won't strip as easy. Almost like using it as an impact.

Ding, ding, ding. This is how I remove them at work. I use a SHARP chisel bit on my air hammer and work the edge to loosen it up.



To the OP: The drain plug is 13mm, not 14mm. This is why you stripped it. 14mm is only on Asian imports.

use the vise grips a torch and pipe at the end of vise grips promise to work :)