Rounded off sump nut...

Ush1

Mans greatest foe, a rounded off nut!

Going to service the girlfriends car at the weekend, when I noticed that the sump plug nut was badly rounded off. Couldn't get any purchase with the socket.

I was thinking of trying a vice grips and then fitting a new one if I can get it off. Any other ideas about getting it off though?

MrThrifty

I'm surprised you haven't tried the grips yet - wouldn't do any harm and would avoid the need for discussions on more elaborate methods. Although it would be an interesting discussion all the same! Like hacksawing the bolt (I presume it's the usual bolt we're talking about here and not actually a nut) across the centre to make it a slotted screw - yikes!!

BrensBenz

Been there, done that, bought an “oil sucker”. Replace the dipstick with a small diameter tube, connect the tube to the pump, prime the pump and watch the oil being sucked out. No more mess, no crawling around under the car or scraped knuckles. If you like mess and wounds, you can still enjoy them when removing the oil filter.
If you don’t fancy the pump idea, you could try heating the plug nut. I’ve used a hot air gun and got a tool attached and turned at speed, i.e. before it cools.
I’m not clear if the head is an (external) hex or (internal) Allen but, if there is a possibility of getting a vice grips on, it should also be possible to file two half-decent flats FIRST to help the vice grips before doing more damage.
A recessed Allen would be more challenging – perhaps drill into the centre and insert an “easy-out”. Or, for the less brave, file tapers onto a larger Allen key and fit it into the socket with a 2lb persuader.
Mr. Halford usually has a range of replacement sump plugs and it sounds like you’ll need one.
Best of luck and I hope your girlfriend appreciates your efforts!

sean1141

vice grips should do it..

suckers are ok but i would drain the sump every 3rd service if not every second

Slidey

Don't waste your time cutting the slot into the bung, you won't be able to get enough force into it unless it is only hand tight.

It is an aluminum sump?

Personally I would try to hammer a smaller socket on first and failing that get to the very edge of the bung with a chisel and see if that shifts it

George Dalton

A set of these guys will sort you out:

http://www.irwin.com/tools/screw-bolt-extractors/5-pc-bolt-grip-base-set

mullingar

If the plug sticks out, a vice-grips all the way,

If its recessed, buy a new plug, buy a few decent drill bits and buy a kit like this:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/5-PC-SCREW-EXTRACTOR-SET-removes-snapped-bolts-076-/140510715601?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item20b7175ed1#ht_944wt_600

They are reverse threaded tapered bits.

Drill the hole in the old sump nut, starts threading the tapered bit in backwards as its a reverse thread, it will dig in and once its dug in nice and deep keep keep going and it will open the nut. The tighter you undo it, the tighter the tapered bit digs into the bolt:D

Slidey

The problem with this is you will end up with swarf from the drilling in the sump

CJhaughey

Those easy-outs are OK if the bolt is not siezed or cross threaded.
If you put too much torque into one of those easy-outs and it snaps you are in deeper than before because they are hardened steel and won't drill out.
External thread plug you can always weld another bolt to the first one and use that to remove the first one.
Internal hex are more difficult and I would advise using an impact driver if possible with a tight fitting key and some valve grinding paste if you have some to hand.
You may need to use a small sharp cold chisel on one side to remove it.

Skuxx

CJhaughey wrote: »

Those easy-outs are OK if the bolt is not siezed or cross threaded.
If you put too much torque into one of those easy-outs and it snaps you are in deeper than before because they are hardened steel and won't drill out.
External thread plug you can always weld another bolt to the first one and use that to remove the first one.
Internal hex are more difficult and I would advise using an impact driver if possible with a tight fitting key and some valve grinding paste if you have some to hand.
You may need to use a small sharp cold chisel on one side to remove it.

Wise words, if an easy-out snaps in it your in trouble, you'd need a fairly big one for a sump plug, but if you can find one, they do work, we use them all the time at work and their great!!
We also use this stuff http://www.ezgrip.net/ its unbelieveable. Maybe your local hardware shop might have something similar to it! A nice helping of that stuff around the head of the bolt and around the socket and you'd be laughing!!

crosshair1

Might just be better off leaving it to a garage to do the oil change this time and having them replace the nut for the next time.
By the time you purchase any extra tools the savings will be nil.

Tea drinker

It wasn't rounded off because it was put on with too little torque!
Though even so a vice grips might do it, or a star type socket might get more purchase, especially a smaller one :-)

swhyte027

Don't listen to any of them stupid ideas.dofo do not put a vise grips on it you'll will make it ten times worse.this is a common enough problem for a mechanic and isn't really a DIY.so leave it to the mechanics my advice and what we do all the time in the garage is weld a nut on to the end of the drain bung like a big size 17 r something.this is ur only way so please don't try put a vise grips near it.

Ush1

Thanks for the suggestions lads, some interesting stuff there.

I might get the mechanic to just loosen the bolt. Then I can do the oil change, change the bolt for a new one and be sorted for the future services.

aidanki

alan1990 wrote: »

Wise words, if an easy-out snaps in it your in trouble, you'd need a fairly big one for a sump plug, but if you can find one, they do work, we use them all the time at work and their great!!
We also use this stuff http://www.ezgrip.net/ its unbelieveable. Maybe your local hardware shop might have something similar to it! A nice helping of that stuff around the head of the bolt and around the socket and you'd be laughing!!

does this stuff really work?

Slidey

Ush1 wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions lads, some interesting stuff there.

I might get the mechanic to just loosen the bolt. Then I can do the oil change, change the bolt for a new one and be sorted for the future services.

You would be as well to get him to replace the bung and the oil if you want him to go to the trouble of taking out the old one

knotknowbody

crosshair1 wrote: »

Might just be better off leaving it to a garage to do the oil change this time and having them replace the nut for the next time.
By the time you purchase any extra tools the savings will be nil.

I would not do this, I know of a garage who when they encountered a difficult to open sump nut decided to drain the oil through the filter, luckily for my relative they got away with it but don't trust any garage they will take the easy way out.

Skuxx

aidanki wrote: »

does this stuff really work?

Absolutly!! I'm an aircraft mechanic and I have a bottle in my toolbox the whole time! I'd be lost without it! 90% of the time it saves you having to drill out the screw!!

superchip

gator grip

Skuxx

superchip wrote: »

gator grip

Fcuking useless!!

CJhaughey

aidanki wrote: »

does this stuff really work?

Yeah its good stuff, But in a pinch Valve grinding paste works almost as well and can be found in most well equipped workshops.

Ush1

Update on this lads, my mate who's a plumber managed to get it off with a blow torch and vice grips!

darragh o meara

Them Irwin extractors are great for this type of thing. I use them all the time in my workshop and occasionally for rounded sump nut extraction

dp639

swhyte027 wrote: »

Don't listen to any of them stupid ideas.dofo do not put a vise grips on it you'll will make it ten times worse.this is a common enough problem for a mechanic and isn't really a DIY.so leave it to the mechanics my advice and what we do all the time in the garage is weld a nut on to the end of the drain bung like a big size 17 r something.this is ur only way so please don't try put a vise grips near it.

In that case people may as well try vice grips first. Best case it comes off, worst case it doesn't come off and then bring it to the garage. If the garage is going to weld a nut on then what more harm can a go with the vice grips do.