Finally after years of wrenching in the driveway it happened. I botched an oil change on my 2-month old new to me 06 MCS automagic.

I went to get this drain plug off, left loosey right tighty I know, and stripped the head of the bolt. I used the recommended 13mm socket and it rounded right of. Tried channel locks with no luck, just more material coming off.

Hammered some smaller sockets on there as a final attempt and it was a no go. It looks much more round than when I took this pic. It was after the first pass.



I've never tapped a bolt to back it out, maybe it's the easiest way but I don't feel comfortable with it on this particular part.

The dealer is 2.5hrs away from me so it's a fairly long trip. So in all prolly a $250-300 job and 5 hours of driving.

I'm wondering if these types of pumps that take oil out from the dip stick of our cars work?
I like to do what I can at home with my cars so kinda still figuring this one out. Thanks guys.

 

Some people swear by the oil evacs. Did you try heating up that plug? Torch it or drive the car around for a bit and get things warmed up.

 

sadly had you read you'd have learned than 13mm is a sloppy fit while 1/2 inch is perfect



I didn't learn this until I mangled a couple ....

You should be able to find these and get the bung out without drilling .... they've never failed me ... extractors that go OVER the head ... you pound them down as you tried but a made to 'cut in'. These are made by IRWIN and I got them at an auto-part store (many years ago)




I STRONGLY recommend using a Fumoto in the future and never worry about a stuck bung again .... IMO it is the integrated plastic seal that causes the trouble .... https://www.fumotooildrainvalve.com/

 

I rounded one off on my first oil change too. I ended up taking it to a local muffler shop. For $20 they welded a nut onto the oil plug. Between the good surface of the nut and the heat of the welding torch, it loosened no problems. I would go ahead and order a replacement plug or two(probably cheaper to pay shipping than go to the dealer) and then do that.

I have a topsider oil vac and it works ok, I found that it leaves about a half quart in the pan, so not ideal, but it does work. I prefer to change the oil the old fashioned way, especially since it's a once a year deal normally.

 

Vise grips, penatrating oil, heat. It will come out and you get to feel like a hero.

Never met a bolt that beat me. Now that I'm older I just let youngsters do the work. Lol

 

I second a heavty pair of vice grips.

 

I have recently started using a tyopsider oil evac for all my cars. It's slow if the oil is not warmed up, but I have been very satisfied with it. I went with a steel can not the plastic collection unit. Very easy to use

 

Use Vice-Grips or the extractor but use a long breaker bar for added mechanical advantage. Tip: I always coat the threads of the drain plug with wheel bearing grease. Tighten to 18 ft.-lb.

 

Use a pipe wrench, they get tighter as you turn the wrench.

 

Same happened to me. Such an easy job turned into a 2 hour nightmare. However, went to my local Autozone and picked up Vice Grips. They had a pair that you can use the ratchet to tighten the vicegrips once it's on the bolt. I tightened the $h!t out of the vicegrip!! Breaker bar, deep breath, pulllllllllll!!! Pop, open the beer poured a little on the cut I got on my hand and then celebrated the bolt coming off!!!

 

Just keep trying with vise grips and maybe some pb blaster. And oil evac systems work if you wanted to go that route.

 

It is always best to use a 6 point socket. Try a little CRC freeze off, to loosen the grip!
I usually replace my plug with a new one. I keep about a half dozen on hand.
I would not take it to a dealer, well, maybe an indie dealer, that knows Mini Coopers!

 

A plumber's basin wrench will do the trick. It worked for my drain plug when I first picked up my R53. I'd also add the Fumoto to your list, so you never have to worry about removing the drain plug again.

 

I had to use a extractor, identical to what bj posted:


Also went to the FUMOTO valve (same as seen in photo AoxoMoxamooa posted). Fumotos are the way to go; the drain plugs on the MINIs tend to lock onto the oil pan, and the hex is soft. The drain plugs on these cars are not meant to be reused.

 

+1 and +2 on what BJ and Rogue says. Fumotos are the way to go once you use the extractors. I have Fumotos on all my autos

 

I have Fumotos on all my autos

for the record, there are cases where the Fumoto is a bad idea ....

GEN2 MINI is one .... the drain faces straight down and the plug is a recessed one that results in a flush fit. A Fumoto would stick straight down from the pan just BEGGING to get hit and wiped off. Fortunately the GEN2 also stopped using an integrated plastic seal and uses a common copper crush washer. I've not seen a single complaint of a stuck bung on a GEN2 or later MINI.

 

The capt speaks the truth. I definitely would not use a Fumoto Valve where it is exposed in any way.