Yikes! Stuck Oil Pan Plug (Maybe Rounded) - Advice?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 24, 2007 | 12:51 PM
  #1  
KevinDGP's Avatar
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Yikes! Stuck Oil Pan Plug (Maybe Rounded) - Advice?

Hello all,

I've been changing my own oil in my 2005 TL for the last year or so. Today I went to do a new change and couldn't get the plug out of the pan. I'm aware of the danger of rounding the plug and worked at it carefully, but I may have rounded it anyway. Any advice about the best way to deal with this?

Thanks in advance.
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2007 | 04:51 PM
  #2  
01tl4tl's Avatar
Team Owner
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 33,535
Likes: 1,142
First go to the auto parts store and for $2.50 get a new drain plug and washer
Now with the car on ramps or the lift, attach VISE GRIPS- the kind that lock in place,
and give it a whack or 4 with a hammer on the tool
Note the direction of the teeth and grip force on the tool

Lefty Loosy or counter clockwise as you face the plug or down towards the front
however you look at it
The correct torque is 28 ft lbs- a good serious tug and little whack of the hammer against
the box end/round closed end, type of wrench
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2007 | 07:42 PM
  #3  
csmeance's Avatar
Senior Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 21,420
Likes: 2,188
From: Space Coast, FL
you can go to home depot and buy a breaker bit which grips into the blot to unscrew it. Take off the old bolt and put on a new bolt
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2007 | 07:57 PM
  #4  
wasupdog's Avatar
My Garage not
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 4
From: Westsiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide
i had this same problem with my super tight drain plug, i didn't round the bolt out but i stripped it a little and couldn't get it off cus it was too tight. i went to an independent jiffy lube type place and paid the guy 10$ to loosen the bolt for me, tighten it back a little bit, and then i drove a mile home and changed the oil myself. those guys already have all the tools to take off really super tight drain bolts.

i couldn't get enough leverage on the bolt while it was on jacks to loosen it. if you are facing the bolt, rotate counterclockwise. make sure you already have a new bolt and washer handy.
Reply
Old Jun 24, 2007 | 08:34 PM
  #5  
KevinDGP's Avatar
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Thanks, all, for the replies. I'll follow the advice in the thread and report back how it goes.
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2007 | 11:35 AM
  #6  
bhelsdon's Avatar
Pro
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 547
Likes: 3
From: Delaware/Philly
If you havent been using a 6 point socket try a 6 point 17mm socket first before you completly destroy the plug with pliers
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2007 | 08:52 PM
  #7  
Inaccurate's Avatar
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,442
Likes: 482
From: Houston, Texas
Agree !!! Six-point sockets are the only thing I own. Those 12-point sockets are "Satan's playground". :angryfire
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2007 | 08:03 AM
  #8  
DMZ's Avatar
DMZ
Head a da Family
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,505
Likes: 568
From: New Friggin Jerzy
For my last oil change, the oil change place I went to had the machine the BMW dealers have where they stick a tube in the dipstick hole and suck out the old oil.

What's more, they told me that Acura slapped a 5W-20 recommendation on this car so they could meet certain fuel economy standards in general as a company as a whole and that I should really use 5W-30 in the summer.
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2007 | 02:16 PM
  #9  
The Dougler's Avatar
Unofficial Goat
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 15,744
Likes: 112
From: Toronto
hmmm beleive jiffy lube about oil recommendations or the people that designed the engine? I'll keep using 5W-20.
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2007 | 02:23 PM
  #10  
Kweli's Avatar
10th Gear
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Funny, this exact thing happened to me...
My dad must have tightened it WAY to much

I took it to acura to get the oil change done and they told me that i had to REPLACE my oil pan, for 650 dollars (including labour)
Can you believe that shit?? Well i stormed out of there....

Next day i went to jiffy lube, they got it off, and charged me 2.50 for a new plug

Stupid Acura
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2007 | 06:58 PM
  #11  
binTL's Avatar
Advanced
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
I think the 5w20 from Acura's part was to get better fuel efficiency.

I would think a lighter weight oil during winter and medium weight during summer or the same.
Reply
Old Jun 26, 2007 | 08:22 PM
  #12  
DMZ's Avatar
DMZ
Head a da Family
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,505
Likes: 568
From: New Friggin Jerzy
Originally Posted by The Dougler
hmmm beleive jiffy lube about oil recommendations or the people that designed the engine? I'll keep using 5W-20.
Sorry to have to break it to ya, but it wasn't Jiffy Lube. And I still use 5W-20.
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2007 | 01:37 PM
  #13  
KevinDGP's Avatar
Thread Starter
Intermediate
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Success!

Thanks to the replies on this thread, I'm pleased to report that I was able to remove the plug. I used a 17mm, six point socket rather than the 11/16, twelve point socket I had been using, gave a couple of hammer taps, and voila, off it came. Of course, I replaced the plug with a new one to avoid problems in the future. Thanks again to all for the help!
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2007 | 04:53 PM
  #14  
DMZ's Avatar
DMZ
Head a da Family
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,505
Likes: 568
From: New Friggin Jerzy
Originally Posted by KevinDGP
Thanks to the replies on this thread, I'm pleased to report that I was able to remove the plug. I used a 17mm, six point socket rather than the 11/16, twelve point socket I had been using, gave a couple of hammer taps, and voila, off it came. Of course, I replaced the plug with a new one to avoid problems in the future. Thanks again to all for the help!
ALL Honda and Acura oil drain plug bolts are 17mm.

In fact, all bolts and nuts on these cars are metric.
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2007 | 07:22 PM
  #15  
Ackboy17's Avatar
4th Gear
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Correct Oil Drain Bolt?

I have an '06 TL 4DR Base. The last time I changed my oil, I made the mistake of rounding out the drain bolt just a tad. I shouldn't have a problem removing the bolt again, but I wanted to make sure to purchase a new bolt before changing my oil in the next couple of weeks. I checked out http://acuraautomotiveparts.org, but was a confused as to which drain bolt to purchase.

I tried to reference the diagram and listings on acuraautomotive parts, and came up with the below information. Which drain bolt do I need? Can someone provide correct part number? Thanks!

90040-P8A-A01 BOLT, DRAIN PLUG
90001-PM3-003 BOLT, DRAIN PLUG (28MM)
90009-PY3-000 BOLT, PLUG (14MM)
Reply
Old Dec 27, 2007 | 10:57 PM
  #16  
Bearcat94's Avatar
AZ Community Team
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 32,488
Likes: 7,771
From: N35°03'16.75", W 080°51'0.9"
Should be item 12 in this drawing:

http://www.acuraautomotiveparts.org/...s=&view=normal

Which is the last part on your list 90009-PY3-000. That's the one on the Oil Pan.

Your other two items are plugs on the Cylinder Block.
Reply
Old Dec 30, 2007 | 11:54 PM
  #17  
LXiFLYBY's Avatar
Advanced
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by bhelsdon
If you havent been using a 6 point socket try a 6 point 17mm socket first before you completly destroy the plug with pliers
yesX864098398
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2010 | 01:06 AM
  #18  
denny crane's Avatar
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 159
Likes: 2
From: Southeast PA
Has anyone tried this
http://www.ehow.com/how_4733863_oil-...very-time.html
Reply
Old Jul 4, 2010 | 06:49 AM
  #19  
SouthernBoy's Avatar
Registered Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,342
Likes: 163
From: Suburb of Manassas, VA
Gentlemen;

As has been pointed out, the use of a 6-point 17mm socket is just about mandatory for the safe removal and replacement of your drain plug. Plus the use of a torque wrench is a must (29 ft/lbs or 360 in/lbs). Do these two things and you'll never have any of these problems.
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2010 | 12:53 PM
  #20  
I hate cars's Avatar
Team Owner
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 20,172
Likes: 1,818
From: Bakersfield
Originally Posted by SouthernBoy
Gentlemen;

As has been pointed out, the use of a 6-point 17mm socket is just about mandatory for the safe removal and replacement of your drain plug. Plus the use of a torque wrench is a must (29 ft/lbs or 360 in/lbs). Do these two things and you'll never have any of these problems.
Agreed. Using a torque wrench and a 6pt socket you will NEVER have a single problem with the bolt rounding off or stripping.

12pts are for tight places and should not be used if a 6pt will work. An exception is a true 12 pt bolt like many of the ARPs.
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2010 | 01:09 PM
  #21  
I hate cars's Avatar
Team Owner
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 20,172
Likes: 1,818
From: Bakersfield
Originally Posted by The Dougler
hmmm beleive jiffy lube about oil recommendations or the people that designed the engine? I'll keep using 5W-20.
I would trust the engineers that designed the engine but the 5w-20 recommendation is a combo of marketing and CAFE, not the recommendation from the engineers. They've gone to a one size fits all approach with fuel economy taking priority over wear. They will make it past the warranty stage easily with a 5w-20 but for those of us that run them hard and want to get many more miles than just the warranty miles, a 30wt is better suited.

Look at the facts: The oil pump was not changed to a high volume unit when the switch to 5w-20 was made. The clearances are identical from the 5w-30 to the 5w-20 recommendations. Paul reports 7psi of hot idle oil pressure on 5w-20 in the J32. Borderline when new, I would hate to see it with 100,000 miles. The only thing that was changed was the 5w-20 stamp on the oil fill cap.

The only fuel economy savings happens during the warmup process. At full temp, there is not enough viscosity difference to make a measurable difference. As of now, most manufacturers report a .5mpg difference at best.

They say vtec won't work with a 30wt. They say you can't use a 30wt in the TL. Guess what, that 20wt in a Canadian winter is a 30 or 40wt at operating temp. I ran a synthetic straight 30 in the TL since new up until I put another straight 30 which qualifies as a 5w-30 which is Redline. In my climate I would never go back to a 20wt.

I've seen posts directly from one of the original Ford modular engine designers and he said he would never use 5w-20 in one of their 5w-20 spec'd engines. He said they took most of the safety cushion out by running the 5w-20. They did extensive dyno runs side by side with a 20wt and a 30wt and many teardowns and the 30wt engines showed significantly less wear. The supercharged versions with the same clearances spec a 50wt.

If you're trying to get a lot of miles out of the engine and you insist on a 20wt, Redline will work good because it has the HTHS of a good 30wt.
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2010 | 04:39 PM
  #22  
Turbonut's Avatar
Suzuka Master
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,900
Likes: 834
From: NJ
Looks like this has turned into another oil thread and next we'll be seeing the Seafoam ads!

I'm not going any further...............
Reply
Old Jul 5, 2010 | 05:43 PM
  #23  
I hate cars's Avatar
Team Owner
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 20,172
Likes: 1,818
From: Bakersfield
Originally Posted by Turbonut
Looks like this has turned into another oil thread and next we'll be seeing the Seafoam ads!

I'm not going any further...............

I tried to stop myself.....really lol. I'm done too.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
foxriderar77
Car Talk
39
Nov 19, 2020 10:17 AM
kmarqueling
Car Parts for Sale
1
Oct 3, 2015 01:14 AM
Aleax
3G TL Problems & Fixes
2
Sep 11, 2015 11:31 AM
Allen_442
2G TL (1999-2003)
10
Sep 8, 2015 06:01 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:11 AM.