The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: bangbang on July 22, 2012, 05:46:42 pm

Title: Oil Change
Post by: bangbang on July 22, 2012, 05:46:42 pm

Advice needed please.
I bought an old escort van last month for OH to use as a livestock transporter.
Went to do an oil change on it last week and found that the sump plug nut was totallystripped.

I've tried molgrips and a hammer, a few selective cus words, but it still wont move.
I was thinking of boring another hole in it, and tapping it after and fitting a new plug.

Is there an alternative or is making a new plug hole the solution?
It is an aluminium sump.

All (any) advice appreciated.

BB

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: robert waddell on July 22, 2012, 06:01:48 pm

stripped as in rounded     use a chisel on it it should move     the plug will be metal and probably corroded to the sump as metal and ally have a chemical reaction :farmer:

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: bangbang on July 22, 2012, 06:34:40 pm

Cheers Robert,

I'll give that a try,  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: Moleskins on July 22, 2012, 11:36:18 pm

Use a centre punch on the side of the nut / bolt / sump plug, a few good whacks with a hammer might do it, in the past I've just about destroyed the head of a bolt but it did give way in the end. Failing that a thread extractor, drill pilot hole, extractor goes in LH thread and tightens to loosen stuck item.
Thanks to Mick Charlton for the former suggestion and who I cursed at the time for being a know all but have blessed many a time since, for the things he taught me that have got me out of difficulty on jobs.

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: The Woodsiders on July 23, 2012, 08:38:08 am

I would be extremly nervous regarding using anything to strike the offending plug on an aluminium sump, an alternative is to find a local garage who has a device for sucking the old oil out via the dipstick hole, this is a fairly common method used on some vehicles.I am sure they would be happy to do it for you especially if you purchased the oil and new oil filter from them.
The SMART car did not have  sump plug and this was the only way to remove the oil.
 
 

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: robert waddell on July 23, 2012, 08:50:44 am

stud extractors i have had mixed success with them       the sump plugs are usually hollow and not much grip for the extractor   and there is the clearance issue with drilling and extracting  then if you have a plug with a hole that still cant be moved
sucking the old oil out is quicker now than stripping out half the plastic guards    but the price they charge for oil    i think you can buy these oil extractors quite cheap     the only other suggestion is change the sump :farmer:

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: anderso on July 23, 2012, 11:41:01 am

you can get a suction hand pump (looks like a bike pump ) that is for the job of getting oil out of diffs, gearboxs etc, just put on an extra long piece of pipe and it does job. pump cost around £5 from car parts shops .

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: Victorian Farmer on July 23, 2012, 01:46:18 pm

NO DONT DO THAT ,first get a old sockit that will onley just cover ,get blow torch hammer the sockit on then warm up and take off .Metherd 2 get shap hack saw and cut a deep groove in the nut get impact driver and hammer till loose.had this 2 weeks ago all the best.

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: Crofterloon on July 23, 2012, 03:18:53 pm

Its years since I serviced an escort (wifes) and I cannot remember if I could have dropped the sump out easy remembering how much oil will be stored behind it.
I was thinking along the lines of seeing if a breakers had a sump and plug in stock?
Overton dismantlers at Dyce are one and the used to be davidsons at Rora but not sure if they are still on the go.
The one thing I do remember was that the sump on the wifes escort was changed because it was porous.

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: Crofterloon on July 23, 2012, 07:59:01 pm

Bangbang I have a Haynes escort workshop manual 1980 - 1990 which you can have I am near Mintlaw/Fetterangus so can meet you to hand over the manual. Not looking for anything  for the manual.
Rex

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: chrismahon on July 23, 2012, 08:59:26 pm

Drill a hole in a piece of flat bar the same size as the plug stub. Hammer it on and weld the bar to the plug (electric arc). The heat loosens the plug but is not so much that it cracks the alloy casing because the bar in front protects it. There is oil in the box anyway which dissipates the heat. I've done it with a mini sump plug, which is far bigger but still couldn't shift it. Finding a replacement plug may be a problem? I know it is iron and technically won't weld to a steel bar but it will weld enough for your purposes.
 

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: bangbang on July 23, 2012, 10:09:06 pm

Couldn't do it tonight..just got my other car back from it's MOT
(didn't want to leave myself without a vehicle if disaster stuck!)
But I will give it a bash and and bang tomorrow......will post result!

BB

Title: Re: Oil Change
Post by: Big Benny Shep on August 16, 2012, 09:52:55 pm

you can get special sockets with a spiral inside for removing rounded nuts, i got some for removing wheels nuts.
from what i remember they arent too expensive and are a good investment, real life saver!