Oil pan or bolt stripped.. now what?

[dantheman]

Doing the first oil change on an e30 I picked up and can't even get the oil pan bolt out because either the bolt or the pan are stripped. I sat there with a ratchet and tried to loosen it for a while but it just gets loose for a second and tightens right up.

Am I going to have to drill the bolt out and re-tap the oil pan? Anybody ran into something like this before?

[bernzpeed]

there's a tool i bought from harbor freight to remove stripped bolts.

http://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece...set-66566.html

[xwill112x]

hit it with an air ratchet.. should spin her on out

[bernzpeed]

hit it with an air ratchet.. should spin her on out

or round it out even more.

[dantheman]

there's a tool i bought from harbor freight to remove stripped bolts.

http://www.harborfreight.com/9-piece...set-66566.html

Biggest one I see is a 1/2". Bolt is 17mm.

hit it with an air ratchet.. should spin her on out

Don't have access to one right now.

[stamar]

backwards drill through the center.

At that point..... you are better off tapping a new one.

[dantheman]

backwards drill through the center.

At that point..... you are better off tapping a new one.

Backwards drill? What do you mean?

I'm trying to figure out how I'll tap it. Do I want to go a size bigger or try to tap the OE size?

When searching on r3v, someone posted that they used a "bigger, self-tapping bolt" but didn't post what kind and where they acquired it. Any ideas?

[5Toes]

buy new oil pan, fix that shit off car for when you slam your car and crack your pan

[stamar]

Backwards drill? What do you mean?

I'm trying to figure out how I'll tap it. Do I want to go a size bigger or try to tap the OE size?

When searching on r3v, someone posted that they used a "bigger, self-tapping bolt" but didn't post what kind and where they acquired it. Any ideas?

a drill threaded backwards, and then drilling it into the plug will spin with the threads.

That is used for bolt extraction for bolts without a head. significantly more torque than any kind of wrench.

[stamar]

Backwards drill? What do you mean?

I'm trying to figure out how I'll tap it. Do I want to go a size bigger or try to tap the OE size?

When searching on r3v, someone posted that they used a "bigger, self-tapping bolt" but didn't post what kind and where they acquired it. Any ideas?

yes I have used those.

Ok heres the best design. Its a plug, with a screw thread in the middle.

meaning you screw it in, its permanent it never comes out. but it makes a new hole, for a new drain plug.

If thats not clear tell me. But look for that kind, thats what self tapping drain plug means. Get that kind. napa or kragen or etc will have them.

[Farbin Kaiber]

The term stamar is trying to find, but having a hard time is something called a Right Hand Drill Bit. I'm not thinking it's the best suggestion, I'd say get the car on a lift, and use a 4-6ft breaker bar, or a regular breaker bar with a section of pipe over it, used as a cheater bar. Afterwards, you may have to tap the bung, flush it out well with oil, then replace drain plug according to what you tapped it at.

[stamar]

You are right. That is what its called, and its not the best solution.

[paperplane94]

And if tapping doesn't work...Helicoil it!

[dantheman]

If thats not clear tell me. But look for that kind, thats what self tapping drain plug means. Get that kind. napa or kragen or etc will have them.

The self-tapping drain plug was what I was looking for. I talked to a mechanic and that's what he told me to do.

The term stamar is trying to find, but having a hard time is something called a Right Hand Drill Bit. I'm not thinking it's the best suggestion, I'd say get the car on a lift, and use a 4-6ft breaker bar, or a regular breaker bar with a section of pipe over it, used as a cheater bar. Afterwards, you may have to tap the bung, flush it out well with oil, then replace drain plug according to what you tapped it at.

That's pretty much what the plan is. Wedge the bolt out and tap it (probably with the self-tapping drain plug if my local Car Quest carries it). By flushing it out with oil, do you mean pouring oil into the motor and let it flow out?

Thanks for the help guys. :pimp:

[Farbin Kaiber]

Yep, I'd plug the hole after tapping, and add a qt., then drain, add a 2nd qt., drain again, and maybe even go with a third qt.