Want to drain and refill my ATF 3 times. But the plug is too tight. With normal 3/8" ratchet I can't turn it, not at all.

What should I do?

Brake bar or fixed head torque wrench is not an option as the position of the plug is not ideal w/o lifting the car up.

Cannot afford to buy an impact wrench/driver.

 

If you can't break the drain plug, you're gonna have a hard time breaking the fill plug. Break the fill plug BEFORE you brake the drain plug.

I did it with just a regular ratchet. Hit the end of the ratchet with a mallet a couple times. Remember, counterclockwise to open.

 

Eat your Wheaties

 

3/8 to 1/2 adapter 1/2 inch wrench.

Also Jack the car up on one side, and support it.

 

I will just use dipstick hole.

I think I have to get a mallet and PB penetrate oil.

I already jacked it up and with two jack stands.

Probably my 3/8" ratchet with low leverage. Need some longer ratchet.

 

slide a pipe over your ratchet for instant torque generator

spray wd or pb or dc on the threads as able,,let sit overnight and repeat

old school trick- when it doesnt want to loosen- try to tighten slightly
add some taps of hammer to help break corrosion bond
then loosen- should come off for you then

its a very common problem- seems well past its 29 foot lbs spec torque (same as oil drain plug) but years of neglect and the dissimilar metals react

wont hurt to put a little spark plug anti-sieze on the threads before install

 

I had the same problem....the mallet worked like a charm
Use the dipstick to fill with a slim cone, like a turkey baster with endcap removed.
This drain bolt doesn't need to be super tight as it already has washer on it.

 

Using the dipstick hole would take forever. Still, I had to break my fill bolt via a breaker bar with a pipe over it. Was on there TIGHT. Plenty of room though, so not a problem.

 

this is a common problem of stuck bolt after many years of sitting

the atf drain plug has a torque spec of 29 foot pounds
same as the engine oil drain bolt
torque/tightness is very important!
you dont want to strip out threads being too tight
or lose the drain plug and all the fluid on the road,,, from too loose~

 

Better off using a breaker bar esp. if using pipe to multiply torque. That's what they're designed to do. Save your ratchet.

 

Thanks.

Will try to us mallet and PB oil first. Update you guys.

 

You should be able to slide a cheater bar over the ratchet. I was able to just fine without raising the vehicle.