Never Again: Wal Mart oil changes SUCK

[surfninjas]

so, i have replaced the spark plug, wires, and ignition coils on my 03 mp5 i just bought 2 weeks ago.

i will be replacing the ect sensor (scanner shows this code) and thermostat (just in case) next week.

decided to change the oil...

so i grab the napa gold filter, oil pan, 17mm wrench and get under the car.

the oil plug is torqued to infinity, with a few globs of blue "thread seal" nearby it.

im not weak, nor incredibly strong, but have good functional strength.
i apply more force to the wrench, and it slips. boom. got it. done.

except the bolt just became rounded. i head off for a replacement plug, and pick up a pipe wrench along the way.

the pipe wrench just deforms the plug and does nothing. vise grips did not work either. i believe the metal is too soft.

hopefully, i know someone that can drill and remove it. but holy crap, wal mart sucks at oil changes (the owner had a receipt for his last oil change at wal mart).

any other possible tricks, until my help arrives?

was worried that pb blaster might (somehow) pose a danger; should i use it and try tomorrow?

 

[rsvinylgraphics]

This should do the trick

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-bolt...p-00952061000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[fishdonotbounce]

You can use PB blaster. Just don't spray it into the engine haha. How tight did you clamp the vice grips?

 

[surfninjas]

You can use PB blaster. Just don't spray it into the engine haha. How tight did you clamp the vice grips?

i used them after the pipe wrench...tight enough to see the bolt deform after a little left turning; the grips turned, not the plug bolt.

 

[surfninjas]

This should do the trick

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-bolt...p-00952061000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

hmmm...maybe ill swing out tomorrow and give that a shot. i just cant believe how ******* tight the plug is in.

do you know if the current plug might be too soft of a metal to work?

of course, this is somewhat less frustrating then the reverse threaded filter on my geo prizm. after much anger, i resorted to the screwdriver method.

next day gfs brother tried the other way with a pipe wrench, and voila.

 

[speedracr79]

Thats why i do my own oil changes this way i know what to expect next time.

 

[zhy]

Thats why i do my own oil changes this way i know what to expect next time.

exactly, do it yourself, get dirty, learn, and youll have the peace of mind thats its been well done

 

[StealthWyvern]

I've had a simalar issue before and I ended up taking it back to Jiffy Lube to remove the drain pan plug. They were going to charge me but I called corperate. They ended up putting in a new drain plug and doing the oil change with my supplied oil and filter for free.

exactly, do it yourself, get dirty, learn, and youll have the peace of mind thats its been well done

plus save soem green in the process.

 

[speedracr79]

Oh yeah it costs like 20-30 bucks at some places come even more and they use their oil and filter. I choose the stuff i want to use and do it on my own time while enjoying some music and a beer. Also while im down there i can check other stuff out. Example i did and oil change on my subje last month noticed that the bushing from tbe front control arm are cracking and need replacing. Had i gone somewhere they wouldnt have noticed and id never know till it was to late.

 

[Hank3]

Had i gone somewhere they wouldnt have noticed and id never know till it was to late.

Or they would've noticed and said that you needed the bushings, new engine mounts, clutch, CV axle, and brakes.

 

[Spiced MSP]

Or they would've noticed and said that you needed the bushings, new engine mounts, clutch, CV axle, and brakes.

haha, funny but very true

 

[surfninjas]

hammered on a bolt extractor 17mm socket from harbor freight, and picked up a 3/8 (17") breaker bar. popped off quickly.

 

[DarkAngel]

Wow just incredible. Sad you had to go through that but it happens too often unfortunately.

I do the same as speedracr, turn on some music, relax on my cold garage floor on some garage pads with two fans blowing air at me and in occasion have a couple beers while checking out the under carriage, suspension, tires, oil pan, etc for any leaks, breaks or rips. Gives you a sense of what is going on under there and at least you are checking what is going on every oil change to hopefully catch something within time as speedracr has stated as well.