Reformed

I thought I would give her a nice change of oil after hardly using her over the winter.

I got all prepared, and after getting over the first obstacle (The bonnet pull catch for the front snapped - I now need a new handle!)

The next problem I have is the nut under the skirt (near the rear wheel) will not come loose no matter what. Infact, I have stopped as it is starting to round off the edges.

All previous times I have changed the oil it came of pretty simple.

What’s the best way to remove it?? I don’t want to damage anything.

And incidently, any advice from where to get another front bonnet pull handle in the UK. Its not the wire, the plastic pull lever has snapped.

DaveK

Can't answer the question about the nut, but for the bonnet pull handle I tend to use Porsch-Apart for most spares (and I'd be surprised if they don't have a used one) :

http://www.porsch-apart.co.uk/

hawk911

maybe a bit of wd-40 or some other penetrating oil... make sure you use a 6-point socket, not a 12pt. go buy a replacement for the one you're rounding off now. You could always try a socket just a bit smaller and try to get a good bit of the metal in the socket but that reqires hammering it on. Prolly not the best on those oil lines.


and make sure you're going to right way to remove it

crg53

The oil plug is torqued to 37 ft/lbs so it shouldn't be too hard to get off. Like Hawg said make sure you are pulling in the right direction. What I would do in this case is use a hammer (carefully) and tap the bottom of the plug, do not hit it too hard more like a tap, do it a few times and then try again, and yes DEFINITLY use a 6 point socket.
Good luck.

joey bagadonuts

Good advice on 6-pt and pulling in the right direction (hey, we all get confused). Also, if you're not getting good engagement, make sure you're clearing the "sharkfin" rocker cover; on some cars, the drain plug pushes right up against the cutaway. It can be easily moved by removing a few screws.

I've had to use a long, breaker bar due to some overzealous shop tech. The key is to make sure you've got good engagement and that you're applying torque very carefully.

Reformed

Cheers guys. I have never known it be that tight. I am going to go to my local parts shop tomorrow and buy a 6 point socket, and a new sump nut to replace the one thats starting to get damaged.

Im sure I am trying to un-do the nut the correct way, but I will double check when I attempt it again.

And DaveK, I totally forgot about Porsch-Apart, and I have brought a few parts from them before!! So hopefully I can replace the lever soon to! (Altho that looks like it could be intresting removing the 2 inner allen-bolts!)

Well at least I gave her a good wash and polish instead today!!

jimq

lefty loosey- righty tighty

crg53

True, but that particular nut is upside down, so how does that work?

jimq

lay on your back

elbeee964

Right hand rule, baby. Right hand rule.

Take your right hand, make a hitchhiking thumb-out fist (below), point your thumb in the direction you want the plug to go, and just turn your plug in the same direction that your other four fingers are pointing.



Use it damned near every time I go underneath that car.

(Never did memorize that lefty-loosey stuff. Besides, that always baffled me when I had to turn a screw pointing away from me...)

LouZ

Does that apply to a Brit car that can't even get the steering wheel on the correct side?

Megatron-UK

Hey, our steering wheels *are* on the *right* side!

darth

Dear Reformed

Never had any luck with penetrants especially when fasteners are facing down. Heat always works for me especially on aluminium. Because of the large expansion ratio of aluminum, it doesn't take long. Apply heat to the part you want to increase in size, in this case the outer aluminum housing thereby loosening some of its' grip on the plug threads. Less than a minute of heat should do it. Moving the heat source around the circumpherence of the plug and avoid applying heat to the plug itself, because you want it to stay the same size and not expand. Then try to remove the plug before the parts have time to cool down. If it still doesn't loosen, repeat the above.

Bill

altarchsa

+1 on the tapping and a little heat - in the right place, and not TOO hot!

If it's that tight, you might want pull the rocker panel to apply the heat more efffectively, and to get a wrench on the thermostat to keep from putting too much pressure on it.

I learned through the years not to jack on those lug nots, valve cover nuts, oil plugs, banjo bolts, or anything else that has a crush washer.

Jon A.

Just changed the oil this morning on my 964 C4 this morning and tapping with a mallet did the trick.