High,
Well my overfilled oil has now progressed into a much larger problem, I untightened the crankcase drain plug nut with a ratchet, and the ratchet is now wedged between the crankcase bolt and heater box so tight that i cant reverse the turn of the wrench or unscrew it any further, so I have a wratchet handle hanging from the bottom of my car.
Any suggestions besides labotomy?

 

I know it's no help, but that is funny!!

 

As long as it doesn't become a tragi-comedy...
I'd try to release the wratchet by grabbing it w/ a vise-grip, then tapping the vg (w/ hammer) or pulling it off. If the socket doesn't come with it, & it is jammed onto the drain plug, again, grab w/ the vise-grip and tap off w/ hammer.

 

Was goning to give a wise-*** answer, but, I suspect by now you arent up for it. You go it on. Mabey, can you reverse the ratchet and tighten a hair to get it off? Absolute worst case would be to sacrifice the socket and cut it off with a dremel tool? I have replaced the heat exchangers, and believe me, it would be a chore to get them loose enough to give "wiggle room"

 

I guess I was lucky. I couldn't get any of my ratchets to fit in there to begin with, so I used a flex handle drive. Otherwise, I could definately see me getting myself in that position. There must be a way you can manage to reverse the drive on the ratchet, no?

 

High,
Thanx for the support guys! Fortunatly for me, being a ****ty mechanic, I have ****ty tools!, after playing w/ the ratchet for about an hour it fell apart in my hands and I was able to reverse the lock position and slowly but surely get the drain plug in enough where I could pull the ratchet off the plug! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> ,I finished the job w/ the 15mm wrench in my tool kit and nailed the perfect oilfill w/o adding or draining more, if anyone can get anything out of this experience: sweat ur mechanic; top it off urself if u have to, do not use a ratchet to take the drain plug out!, and of course; know what ur doing before u start. I need a drink, thanx again... <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" /> ahhhh.

 

I was just about to say ONLY use a 15mm wrench to remove the drain plug...then I read your last post.

Some of the best lessons in life are learned via "The School of Hard Knocks"...I'm a graduate!

 

High,
Thanx Jeff, I havent graduated the School of Hard Knocks yet, I'm only a Sophmore., Though not to toot my own horn, I am at the top of my class!&lt;seems like every time I try something I get knocked&gt; <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" /> <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" /> <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

 

Hmmm.. I failed the entrance exam..