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I've been mostly a DIY type and so changing oil in our vehicles usually isn't any big deal. Well, until this time. I did say mostly because I did take my wife's car to my dealer the last oil change which is very rare.

So yesterday morning, according to the car's DIC, it was time for another oil change for this vehicle and it was my turn to pull wrenches. And did I ever pull, which is is the subject of the link provided.

Do you know the torque specifications of the oil drain plug on your vehicles. Well evidently the dealer's mechanic doesn't either on the subject car. So I called the service manager to get the information and he looked it up. Would you believe 18 ft. lbs.

Now, let me tell you the story about how this old man that has Pop Eye arms got this drain plug loose. The 15 mm combination wrench wouldn't touch it with an estimated 30-40 lbs. torque. Any good mechanic knows how to breed two combination wrenches for double the length and torque. No such luck on this plug. Being under the car on my back and working with what I had space for, I finally got it loose by opening the jaws on a 14" pipe wrench far enough to put the jaws on the 15 mm wrench body at 90°.

Ever hear of stripped threads on an oil pan and have to deal with that ? Not fun is it. This dealer got lucky on this one and I'd bet the tech is wishing good records weren't available. The service mgr.looked it up and knows which tech did the oil change and when.

http://aoca.org/pdf/drain_plug_torque_2011.pdf

Aluminum oil pan?
Barely warm to the touch?
I'm guessing that the pan was hot when the tech took the plug out and re-installed it.
This heat expands the threaded opening.
No excuse, and I would hold the dealer responsible. Ultimately it his his responsibilty to make sure the work is done correctly. Don't let them distract you with that "We will shore let him have it when he reurns to work on Monday" nonsense.
That plug and it's female threaded counterpart is going to have to last the life of the vehicle.
The threads are streched and the life has been shortened.
Get new oilpan if the dealer won't replace it, get the part and keep it until the inevitable happens.
Good luck.......Popeye.

Have been changing oil for as long as I can remenber, Never used a torque wrench but just common sence. I will bet the mechanic at the dealer crossed threded the plug.

That's why I change all my vehicle own oil! I don't trust others when it comes to something so important an easy to do!

I would not be surprized if that mechanic used an impact wrench on that plug.
Also, some bolts/plugs with the flarehead take quite a bit more torque to break lose than is needed for tighting...Its the nature of the beast.

Try breaking a cylinder headbolt loose with the same setting on the T-wrench as for tighting,..you'll find you need near twice the torque to get the job done.:wink:

An impact wrench on an oil plug? REALLY?

I've seen it done at Walmart service dept. walk in to get some oil an seen the guy in the oil pit with an impact in his hand, I shook my head an kept walkin!

SHIMERGOLF said:

An impact wrench on an oil plug? REALLY?

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Maybe you should start visiting some repair facillities,..it may open your eyes about how things are done these days.
Muscle power is a thing of the past,... and being fat is in :wink:

i will NOT be visiting anyplace like that. My eyes ARE open to way things are done. They are to be done by people that know what they are doing. If you take your stuff to places like that . Shame on you.

SHIMERGOLF said:

i will NOT be visiting anyplace like that. My eyes ARE open to way things are done. They are to be done by people that know what they are doing. If you take your stuff to places like that . Shame on you.

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Now now! no need to get offensive!.:tongue:
I know how these places work and i don't like it either.
I pride myself in being a jack of all trades.
I repair and maintain all my own equipment(10 tractors and loaders) and 5 vehicles and never need to farm anything out to a dealer,machine shop or welding outfit,i also replace or fix my own tires.I have a fully equiped farm shop.Impact wrenches are only used on wheels and the heavy stuff.
And the same goes for plumbing,electric,building and repair and whatever else you can dream up.:wink:

And how about you??