Originally posted by horseydug:
[b]Lance is very busy running this board, so you will realize that your use of "stripping" may have misled him on a quick glance at your post.
I believe that what you are faced with is a "rounding" of the drain plug hex head. Normally vice grips and subsequent replacement of plug would solve problem. You state it did not.
Four possible solutions come to mind:
1 Use vice grips with sharper teeth, make sure they dig in and grips are locked and try again. You could also try on the larger diameter shoulder of hex head closer to pan.
2 File plug to obtain 2 flats and then use open end wrench
3 File slot on end of plug and try screw driver
4 Drill hole in plug (but not through it!) and try an "ezzy-out"
As an absolute last resort you would drill out old plug, and retap or use solution outlined in thread provided by Lance above. This method requires gathering up metal bits that may enter oil pan during drilling and/or re-tapping.
Note: My spelling may be off on "ezzy-out", but I'm referring to a left-handed tapered threaded tap that when tightened in hole starts to turn plug anti-clockwise and then out.[/b]
Thanks for the input... It was my fault for using the incorrect term. I have tried the screw driver
approach previously on a friend's car, but haven't had a chance on my own, as I currently have a 2.25 ton hydraulic jack which doesn't provide me enough clearance to hammer away. I'll try it when I get a larger jack. Until then, I'll keep on filing (forgot to mention that i've done that too).
