oil drain plug "stuck"

lurch519 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 5:55 am

Went to do my girlfriends' first oil change on her CRD and couldn't get the drain plug to come out. Her first CRD had been buggered up and had a temporary plug installed by some low life and it cost her about $1,000 to replace the oil pan. Soooo, When I couldn't get the d@mn thing to unscrew ( yep, I checked to see if I wasn't "blonde" and was turning it the right way ) I backed away before I spent 6 months of overtime to fix her Jeep. Any suggestions on how to fix my situation ? It seems to have been over tightened. Do these engines have problems with the drain plugs siezing after a certain period of time ?
Also, does the dipstick read high or low from actual oil level ? Her dipstick read in the middle of the "safe" zone.
Any suggestions ( short of the use of high explosives ) will be appreciated.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 7:59 am

It probably has the original style drain plug which has a small allen hex and is totally inadequate. The trick to remove this involves using vise grips around the perimeter AND an allen key at the same time. Be careful to apply only moderate torque to the allen key. If you have already stripped out the allen hex, it comes down to vise grips only. However, if the later "bolt hex" plug is installed, you should be able to apply enough torque to remove the plug.

DOC

CATCRD · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:07 am

The last person to tighten it probably forgot the crush washer, so the plug went to far in and bound up. Don't worry too much. If you can get it out you can always re-drill and tap the drain hole to a bigger thread size. I bet there are 10 people on this board who have had to do that. You won't have to get a whole new pan.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 1:47 pm

IF you get that OEM plug out without damaging the threads....DEFINANTLY the next step is install a Fumoto valve. That way you don't have to worry about it anymore!

WolverineFW · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 2:01 pm

Not sure what kind of Allen keys you are using, but I bought a set that are much longer allowing more leverage on the drain bolt. The standard short Allen keys that people normally use are probably not adequate for removing the bolt if it is in there tight.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 2:08 pm

If you apply more torque to the allen hex than most people do with a short allen key, you will strip out the allen hex in the plug. That is usually not enough torque to remove the plug, though, hence the need for the simultaneous use of vise grips around the outside.

DOC

lurch519 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 3:47 pm

The drain plug seems to be a Torx style, none of my hex wrenches would fit. But that isn't saying much other than my tool box is a little limited. Too many tools grew feet and walked off. We do have the Fumoto valve and were going to install it. The drain plug didn't have any of it showing to grab onto with vise grips that I could see. I'll check later today when I go over to her place.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 4:12 pm

I use one that is built in to a socket and can be used in my rachet handle.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 4:39 pm

It is NOT a Torx. There is just a little edge to grab with vise grips. If you try to ONLY use an allen key you will most likely strip out the allen hex.

DOC

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:46 pm

If I remember right, it takes an 8mm hex drive. I have had so much practice with Allen drives that it come out for me. One thing that screws up a lot of Allen heads is sloppy hex drives that are to small and spin in side the Allen head and trash it out. When mine strips, it will be retaped to a larger size, lot cheaper than a new pan.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun Jun 13, 2010 10:17 pm

LibertyCRD wrote:

IF you get that OEM plug out without damaging the threads....DEFINANTLY the next step is install a Fumoto valve. That way you don't have to worry about it anymore!

X2 on that. Lube jockey can do lots of things to mess up a good engine including forgetting to put oil in the engine and parking it in the lot. Believe it or not that happen to me at a Ford dealership on my F150 pickup with 4.9L engine. The service writer came out to the waiting area and told me that they had to keep my truck because it had no oil pressure. :furious:

lurch519 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 5:15 am

8mm hex drive, got it. She is going to have the dealer do the dirty deed. I guess if it gets buggered up, they will have the resources to get it up and running better than I could. Avondale Jeep had a great service writer but he has gone to Chapman Dodge/Jeep but there are still good guys over at Avondale. She just may be saving us from some high cetane grief considering some of my mechanical exploits.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:44 am

If the dealer will not install your Fumoto, have them install the "new" style plug (with a copper washer, of course) which has a large diameter hex like normal vehicles that you can put a socket on and apply loads of torque.

DOC

boilermaker2 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 8:28 am

I bought a hex with socket adapter and put it on my breaker bar. Best $3 I spent on the Jeep. It does not go into my tollbox. It stays in the glove box...

Boilermaker2

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2010 10:00 pm

X2 on the fumoto valve. I took advise here when I got my CRD and changed it to the valve on the first oil change. I had the 8mm hex plug too. I had to go to Autozone and buy a socket bit thing to get mine out also there was no way to get enough torque on it with a standard L shaped hex key.

lurch519 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 4:31 am

MISSION SUCCESSFULL ! The dealer had no problems removing the drain plug and installing the Fumoto valve. Thats one less problem that we will have to worry about "next time". Onward !!

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 7:41 am

Sometimes it's good to back away and to have things done :jester:

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 19, 2010 10:34 am

Now, you just need to make sure that the Fumoto does not extend below the skid plate. If it does, something will eventually hit it, break it, all the oil will drain out and you will be short a motor.

DOC

lurch519 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 20, 2010 4:12 am

Fumoto is above the skidplate but I will probably have to use some kind of "diverter" to keep the oil flow from going all over the skidplate when changing the oil. Thats what God created paper plates for. Well..... kinda.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Sun Jun 20, 2010 11:09 am

If it's a Mopar skid plate, better plan on it crushing in about 1-2 inches.

oil drain plug "stuck"

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