Sump plug is hilariously tight!

[Rusty]

On the engine that I'm disassembling for a rebuild, I decided to try and drain the oil...

Nope.

Breaker bar and socket just rounded it off, smaller socket hammered on, rounded off, smaller still and some heat... rounded off... stilson and a mallet... nope... stilson and a 1m piece of pipe... still nope.

PMSL, this thing is on TIGHT!!!

Next step is to get the drill out and hammer in a big spline or torx bit and keep going...

If I get stuck, I'll just take the sump off and do it off the car.

[Error404]

I've had this before, some kind of galvanic corrosion? Anyway you can bet that oil ain't been changed in a while!

Get some heat on that beehatch. I've got a spare sump if it ends up getting damaged

[Rusty]

I've got a spare sump too - on my current engine so it's no biggie.

Galvanic corrosion it sure is. Plus, it's a fine thread pitch for the diameter (M26x1.5 IIRC), so there's a lot of surface area and a lot of clamping force if someone's hung off the end of a ring spanner.

TBF, I've had this before after the oil was changed when I bought the car. Old sump plug, no copper grease and over-tightened. Was only a year later.

Got a Fumoto valve on my car, so that'll be going on. Might get this sump off and get it baffled, so can get the plug removed then, by welding something to it and the heat penetrating properly, rather than a DIY spec plumbing torch.

[andy10v]

Welding something onto it, followed by whacking it with a sledge has always cracked them off for me. After having gone through spanner, hammered on socket etc.

I think the heat helps, also when you have something welded on you can really shock it, which you cant to with a spanner or socket as it just slips.

[Rusty]

Aye, think I've had my fun with it (it's a mess ) Got 2 utterly knackered sump plugs now A unique collection? Along with 2 snapped Ford Ka spark plugs

[andy10v]

lol

I kept this one



Yes, after cracking it off, I had to saw through the spanner. Didn't think that one through very far , but it did get the sump plug off.

[Rusty]

Bosh

[bluequattro]

Cross threaded maybe? Weld a new nut on best idea or use a suction pump to empty

[Rusty]

No welding gear at my garage, so going to just take the sump off and get it sorted that way. Hardly a chore, as the engine is on a stand but still... HOW TIGHT!!!

[Ross]

Glad to see you've got a sense of humour about it Andy! I get pretty wound up after a few failed attempts with stuck bolts, especially when 'car time' is limited.

[Monkeymagic]

Had this lots if times on t4. I have found cuttung the head off with cutting disc then turn rest out with small chisel and mallet

[Jamo]

This is why I went Fumoto valve, I remember being under the car kung fu kicking a breaker bar to get the friggin plug off. The plug and Ali sump react and kind of weld together

[PeteRR]

I use a dash of Loctite 8009 to hopefully prevent this!

Though in 5 of these 20V's, I've only had to resort to a breaker bar for the first oil change on two of them.

[Monkeymagic]

Takes me back to the days of steel mountain bike frames alloy seat posts and a vice. Happy days!

[andy10v]

Takes me back to the days of steel mountain bike frames alloy seat posts and a vice. Happy days!

We still ge them as a suprise every now and again, though most are so old they are not worth the time to do it.

Latest one was a second hand carbon bike with an alloy seat post seized in it.

Took me 7 1/2 hours to remove it. I have no idea what they assembled it with, superglue being the only obvious thought.