6 Tips for Getting Out Stuck Oil Drain Plugs

Oil drain plugs is what the car uses to keep the oil in the oil pan. In order to change the oil, you need to first drain the old oil and in order to accomplish this task, you have to take off the oil drain plug. Sometimes an oil drain plug becomes stuck because the oil has not been changed in a very long time or sometimes it is simply because someone over tightened it the last time they serviced the vehicle. Not to worry, below are a few tips that you can try to get the stuck oil drain plug free.

1 - Let the Car Idle

Turn on the car for several minutes and allow it to get warm. While the car is warming up, the inner components and elements are also warming up, including the oil drain pan. Turn off the car after several minutes of idling in your parked location and get yourself underneath the car. Use jacks to make it easier on yourself or use a creepy crawler. Locate the drain plug and turn to the left. You should be able to take it off easily. The warmth helps to loosen the seal that is created.

2 - Use a Hammer

Take out a hammer and get under your car. Locate the oil drain plug and tap it with the hammer. Make sure you tap it going the right way or in the proper direction. It may take a few extra taps to get it loose.

3 - Use a Socket Wrench

Take out a long handled socket wrench and try to twist the oil drain plug off. A longer socket wrench works the best because it provides you with a lot of extra torque.

4 - Try a Gator Grip

A gator grip has little teeth that will help you take off the drain plug from the oil pan. Just wrap it around the oil drain plug and turn to the left.

5 - Add a Little Lubricant

Along with some of the additional tools that you may use to turn the oil drain plug off of the oil pan take some lubricant and lubricate in and around the threads of the oil drain plug. This along with the heat or warmth will help you to turn the oil drain plug off.

6 - Use a Vice

When all else fails, you may need to pull out a vice grip and a hammer and cut the oil drain plug off completely. Sometimes the threads have been stripped completely or the plug has been cross threaded and it is otherwise impossible for you to remove the drain plug with some of the other means. You will need to completely break the drain plug in order to remove it and then you will need to take a trip to the hardware store or to your local automotive parts store and purchase a new oil drain plug.