Oil Drain Plug

[David Lisle]

Eric and other auto enthusiasts,

I am having an issue with my oil drain plug, I don’t seem to have the leverage I need to loosen it. Equipment I am using for my oil change is as Follows:

(2) 2 Ton Jack Stands on raised one notch
17mm Wrench and Socket

Car 2008 Hyundai Tiburon 2.0l

I have a 2 ton floor jack that doesn’t get the car high enough to get the jack stands under so I’ve been using the scissor Jack which goes high enough to place the jack stands on one notch above base height. When under the Car, I can not seem to get the Drain Plug to move even a millimeter.

Also I have been considering replacing the Drain Plug with one of those twist valve but am skeptical. Any thoughts or suggestions on the Drain Plug issue and Eric could you do a video or quick tip on those drain plug valves v. Regular Drain Plugs.

If anyone is the San Bernardino County area of CA and can help me out, I would be greatful

Thank You,

Dave

Topic

[David Lisle]

If it seemed I was not listening to the advise, I was and my uncomfortably came not from the job that needs to be done but the fact that I am limit to what I can do based on wearing I am currently living on Campus at Cal State and have limited space available to me.

I would definitely have used ramps if I had the space to store them when not in use. As for the tools, the 17mm socket fits perfectly snug over the drain plug with no play to it. Before starting the job I had watched Eric’s Oil Change video, verified the tools that I needed. I am confident that if I had been able to remove the drain plug the rest of the project would have gone smoothly.

There are times I don’t know my own strength and am thus cautious about applying too much or too little. As one can see from the images in this thread the two jack stands are in place but that is the highest I can get them. For my car I use Mobil 1 High Mileage and thus pay more to take the car to a shop.

I do appreciate all the advice and thank anyone who can help me out. As I am still a beginner at this, I hope to one day be answering other peoples questions based on my personal experience however for the time being I will be asking questions when I need help and reach an impass in projects I am working on.

-Dave
Cal State, San Bernardino

[Daniel]

You seem to be going about this the rite way! Just dont have the room under the car to get the leverage that you need. If you take the oil, etc to the shop they should use yours and charge you less! At this point use the force needed to get that bolt out! They are tough, and as long as the socket fits like you say, you should have no worries of stripping it out! If you can get a boxed end wrench over the end of the handle of the ratchet you will have much more leverage!

[Lorrin Barth]

I was on another forum and a young man was having the same problem. Finally, after many suggestions someone wrote, “Have your girl friend do it for you.” That did it, he got it out.

But, what could have happened is some Jiffy Lube put the plug in with an impact. He may need to take it somewhere that has equipment.

[EricTheCarGuy]

Some good suggestions but here’s my 2c.

A couple of things to get the vehicle up higher to get more leverage. The first is to pull half the vehicle up over a curb, this way you don’t have to worry about ramps or the vehicle falling off a jack. Just be sure to set your parking brake and that you are on the curb far enough so that the vehicle won’t fall off.

The other may help you get a little more lift out of that jack. Once you have the vehicle up and supported on jack stands about as far as you can go, place a block of wood between the jack and the vehicle to give you just a little more height. I often do this to get a vehicle up on my ‘big’ jack stands.

Lastly, anytime you have a ‘stuck’ fastener, use a 6pt. Don’t use 12pt tools on fasteners that are that tight as you run a greater risk of damaging the fastener.

For some stupid reason lube places feel that an impact tool is appropriate to use on drain plugs. This is likely the reason you are having so much trouble. It’s not your fault.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Author]

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