Anyone used the sockets for rounded off bolts?

[bratch]

My truck needs an oil change and the drain plug is rounded off something fierce.  Has anybody used any of the specialty sockets for this problem? Which one? How did they work?

[cfabe]

I'd try a pair of good vice grips, put on really, really tight, and a cheater bar on the round handle.

[mtnbkr]

I used the ones sold at sears under the craftsman name.  They work great.  

Chris

[bratch]

My step dad and I both tried vice grips.  Put them on as tight as I could get them and they started pulling pieces of the head off.  They slip and when opened would have metal in the teeth.  This happened to him as well.

The craftsmen were the originals I remember but I guess there are a few varieties out now.

I've got a new plug to put in just got to get this one out.

[Declaration Day]

I had the same problem once, and the vice grips did nothing but tear up the bolt head.  So I took my Dremel tool with a grinding bit, and I ground opposite sides of the bolt head down sufficiently to fit a smaller open end wrench on the bolt.  It worked like a charm.

[MillCreek]

+1 to the Craftsman tools for this.  Having had many bad experiences with vice grips and channel-lock pliers, I think these sockets are the way to go.

[bratch]

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00952166000

IS taht the craftsmen you guys have used?

[cfabe]

I just realized I do also have that craftsman remover set that bratch posted, but I haven't had an occasion to use it yet. Rounded bolts are usually a sign of someone using the wrong tool to remove the bolt in the first place. Not surprising if you've been patronizing quick-lube places. Give the craftsman thing a shot, then get a replacement plug and washer from the dealer.

[bratch]

In my case its GMs funky drain plug.  Its just a hair under 15mm. Just enough to let it slip if you have to torque to hard to get it to turn.  I've got a replacement that seems a bit better sized.

[cfabe]

Also make sure you're installing the plug to the proper torque. It's probably less than most people would push it to.

[Azrael256]

Ok, so I'm not the only one who thinks GM was on crack when they picked that drain plug.  When I worked in the McDonalds of auto shops, our pit man wore out those gator socket things about once a month, and it seemed like every newer GM had a torn up drain plug.  He was a pot-smoking retard, but I guess this one might have been GM's fault.

[bratch]

Youre not the only one. I had no problems with my 96 but this 2003 sucks.  How did the Gator Grip work?

[Azrael256]

It actually worked like they said it would.  Usually the bolt head wasn't completely rounded off, so I don't know how it would work for you, but it's worth buying one.  They're handy little suckers.  We would generally toss the factory drain plug on the customer's first visit if we could talk them into it.  I actually had a dedicated set of sockets and two GM plugs to show to them.  Make sure your new plug actually fits a wrench found on this planet and is not a direct OEM replacement.

I might recommend that, instead of vise grips, you try a tool made to turn round things.  Our pit man had a small pipe wrench and a good sized cheater bar for really bad ones.  Also, I can't really tell from the picture, but if those craftsman jobbies are the ones you whang on with a hammer and then break a ratchet trying to turn, I'd stay away from them.  I suspect technology has improved since the 1430s, when my old boss bought the tools we had in the pit, but back in the dark ages we had this wacky bolt remover thing that sold a number of new oil pans.

And whatever you do, never try to take out an odd-sized oil plug with a crescent wrench.  Oh the horror.

[bratch]

We tried to get on it with a pipe wrench but weren't able to.  I'll call around and try to find a Gator.

Do you remember what plugs you were putting in? I picked one up at Oreilies.

[mtnbkr]

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00952166000

IS taht the craftsmen you guys have used?

Yes.  

I've only used them once, when the local Toyota dealership rounded off one of the bolts holding my skidplate in place.  They worked as advertised.

Chris

[TarpleyG]

In my case its GMs funky drain plug.  Its just a hair under 15mm. Just enough to let it slip if you have to torque to hard to get it to turn.  I've got a replacement that seems a bit better sized.

Like someone else stated...it doesn't need to be very tight.  Not a problem if you do it yourself but the grease monkies at Jiffy Lube don't know any better.

I changed the plug on both my vehickes with the Fram Suredrain plugs.  So far, so good but then again I do all my own oil changes now since one of the quick lube joints put 6 quarts of oil in my wife's Explorer that only holds 5.  Now she has a small oil leak at the rear seal I think.

Greg

[Stickjockey]

If all else fails, try using a Dremel to cut a slot in the head of the plug and remove it with a screwdriver.

[280plus]

Stickjockey beat me...

[Azrael256]

I don't recall exact specs on the plug.  I would just run across the street to AutoZone and ask for a plug for car XYZ.  They always seemed to fit a proper wrench size.  I suspect that anything aftermarket is going to be a real size, not GM's fake one.

Tarpley has it with the fram drain thing.  It's sure handy.  I haven't seen one fail yet, so I think the little valve is pretty rugged, and there's no foolin' with these stupid drain plug bolts.