EricBigNally Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 I was trying to change the oil the other day on my girlfriends 97 grand prixe se (3.8L). At any rate, it was the first oil change since she bought the car a month or so ago. I go to take the oil plug off and it was stripped, it just spun around and around with out any resistance at all. I didnt want to try to force it out because I didnt want to break anything with out being able to fix it that day and it was at about 10:00 pm so no auto parts stores were open anywhere around. Anyway, how can i get this fixed and be able to change her oil regularly? I would also like to keep it as cheap as possible. Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 I was trying to change the oil the other day on my girlfriends 97 grand prixe se (3.8L). At any rate, it was the first oil change since she bought the car a month or so ago. I go to take the oil plug off and it was stripped, it just spun around and around with out any resistance at all. I didnt want to try to force it out because I didnt want to break anything with out being able to fix it that day and it was at about 10:00 pm so no auto parts stores were open anywhere around. Anyway, how can i get this fixed and be able to change her oil regularly? I would also like to keep it as cheap as possible.Thanks guys Do you mean that the oil pan plug is rounded off, or that the threads are stripped so you can't loosen it, it'll just spin around in the threads? If it's the latter you're in for some fun times. If it's the first one, you could just hammer a smaller socket onto the plug and get it off that way. Or really, vise grips work wonders. Get a large pair and a BFH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 I'm thinking that the head is rounded off. I'm pretty sure that if the threads were stripped that bad, that thing would be leaking oil like a bitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricBigNally Posted December 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 The threads are stripped. I looked that damn thing over because i thought i screwed it up and rounded it off somehow but the bitch is stripped. I am trying to avoid changing the whole oil pan because its like $50 and i'm trying to fix it cheaper than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 The threads are stripped. I looked that damn thing over because i thought i screwed it up and rounded it off somehow but the bitch is stripped. I am trying to avoid changing the whole oil pan because its like $50 and i'm trying to fix it cheaper than that. Daaamn... How does one go about doing that? Well... about the only thing that comes to my mind is "new oil pan". You might be able to get one cheap from a junkyard. Gasket, I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 Take the $50 hit. You'll thank yourself in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannymik Posted December 13, 2004 Report Share Posted December 13, 2004 Take the $50 hit. You'll thank yourself in the long run. ditto, some jackass must have torqued the shit out of that bolt. Even if you get it out the pan might have some damage to it where a new bolt wouldn't work. I run into problems like this at work building aluminum window frames when I over tighten a bolt. The only remedy is to drill a larger whole or use a tap to re-thread the SOB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted December 14, 2004 Report Share Posted December 14, 2004 remove it by clamping it with vise grips and pulling outwards while turning. If that doesn't work, pry between the bolt head and pan (usually a flat blade screwdriver, hit it in with a small hammer) and while the screwdriver is putting pressure on it, try to unscrew it with the vise grips again. If you do get it off, install an oversize plug with the tapered/slotted end. Should be fine from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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