I usually change my own oil, but this time I notice I couldn't get the plug to loosen for whatever reason. Anyway a long story short and I rounded the head and tried with a vise grip and still stuck The car is on jack stands but it wasn't high enough to begin with causing all this problem. Regret, Regret

Any idea what I should do? I'm changing the plug once it's remove.

 

i think it would be time to bring out the channel locks and torque it off.

 

Are you really serious? Even the vice grip didn't work But I'll try
Thanks.

 

had same problem, I used vice grips... but you really have to clamp down HARD!!!

Good Luck ... check out the drain plugs (http://www.fumotovalve.com/) that you can use and not have to undo each time...

 

I tried as hard as I could but still spinning the head My hands totally hurt by now. I might get it on a lift and weld a bracket to the plug then remove it. Last resort

 

hummm...not sure why it's on so damn tight.

hope you're not turning cw. if you have a friend handy,
how about you hold onto the channel lock as hard as you can and your
friend takes a large mallet on your head? i mean, on the channel lock
so you can torque ccw while he pounds on the tool?

i wouldn't want you to be shaking the car while you put torque on
the bolt cause it *could* cause the car to fall off your jack stands.

might even want to use ramps if you aren't already.

 

Kenchan
You're so funny I'm not going risk my life under that stooooopie car. My wife and I were laughing at your post about pounding the head Thanks man, I'm not gonna try again until I get it on a lift.

 

yeh, sometimes comic relief helps during stressful times.

 

Totally I'm going to pick up my pizza now

 

The Windward Sears has bolt-outs: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00952166000

And Summit Racing has Fumoto valves: http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...5&autoview=sku

 

Hey Eastsidemini

I had the same problem getting off the drain plug. I couldn't get it off. I ended up having the dealer do my oil change. I ordered the fumoto drain valve but the dealer wouldn't put it on. I was planning on putting it on the next time I do an oil change. I think I mentioned it to you when I bought the 16% pulley from you. I will bring it to the DIY so you can take a look at it. I tried a damaged bolt set but I still couldn't get it off. Good luck on getting it off. Mine was a pain in the ***.

 

I went to pep boys and got a Fram drain plug kit. It consists of a hose, screw in plug w/a valve, and a cap to go on the valve. I think that it cost $14 but I could not swear to it. You'll need the bolt size-ask mini-and match it up. Good luck.

Drewffff

 

I had the same problem with my 2003 MCS when I tried to change the oil myself at 15K miles. I bought the oil and filter from the MINI dealer. Got a 36mm socket at Sears for the filter housing. Was ready to go, and the damm drain plug was in so hard that I could not budge it with a box wrench and a 24 inch breaker bar, or a socket and breaker bar. Two other people tried with the same result. The oil had been changed by the dealer at 10K miles, so they just flat overtightened the plug. The drain plug is made out of steel, and the oil pan is aluminum, which is a dangerous situation. You DO NOT overtighten aluminum threads. I took the car to the dealer and they did the oil change at no charge. They told me the service tech said there was no problem except the plug was " a little tight ". Maybe they do it on purpose so they can charge $60 for a oil change.

 

Use a PIPE Wrench.

 

It was your drain plug? On mine it was the oil filter housing. I changed my oil 5K after the dealer's "technician" did the scheduled service and could barely get the freakin' housing off. I ended up using a long breaker bar. Seems as if the "professional mechanic" either wanted to make sure the thing would never fall off or had to prove his masculinity on my car.

 

Why dont you just have the dealer do it? That way, they can get the plug out, and you dont have to worry about breaking anything. Plus, they have a car lift!

 

i used a box wrench and a mallet and tapped the wrench to loosen. came off
effortlessly.

 

To get my drain plug off, I attach a wrench (either socket or gear wrench) and then give it a couple solid hits with a rubber mallet. The plug loosens right up.

 

[quote=BFG9000]The Windward Sears has bolt-outs: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00952166000

Oil drain plug finally came off with this amazing tool. Thanks BFG9000. This is a must have tool for any DIY car guy Took 30 second or less after 2 hours last night without the right tool

 

You guys are life savers. Mini of Sterling over tightend my drain plug so off to Sears I went. Without you guys and you deep knowledge I would have had no choice but to go back there which is always an unpleasant experience. Thanks!

 

I just took mine to a local shop to replace it with a new plug for ten bucks.

 

[quote=Eastsidemini]Nothing like finding the right tool for the job. But I am a bit confused. You said you have done all of the service on your car? How did the bolt get over-torqued in the first place?

 

Get the quick drain plug from Moss MINI. Then you'll never have to remove the plug again. Besides, with the gasket being incorporated into the drain plug, it's a good thing to change the whole plug after an oil change.

 

[quote=caminifan]I usually use a ratchet and I guess I must have over do it. I think the rubber ring has a purpose to prevent it from coming off. I acturally didn't torque it down that may have been over tighten. I never let the dealer work on my car since I took delivery. And I am running the full Cosworth set up.

 

I'm fully convinced that most techs at the dealership don't actually use a torque wrench to tighten the plug. Every time that I let the dealership change my oil, it was a pain to get the plug off. Luckily, no stripped threads though!

The first couple times I did an oil change on my MINI, I was suprised at how little you're actually suposed to torque the bolt. It's really nothing more than a small tug on a wrench!

-Paul!