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I had to do all of the suggestions…extractors… I think I had to order a #6. Stuff at local places were too small. I think what finally worked was hammering in a Torx and slowly backing it out. It did take me an hour plus. Just take your time. From all of my attempts I basically had a round hole. I think dealer or PO tightened it way too tight. I am now using a LN.
Thinking I’ll be in this boat next oil change. Torquing the plug in last oil change my socket stuck and I had to tap on it to get it out. Sure sign the hex is starting to strip.
I got a spare drain plug and a variety of extractors in the toolbox for this contingency. Next oil change it’s getting a new drain plug either way.
The coolant and transmission drain plugs are aluminum hex sockets as well.
Thinking I’ll be in this boat next oil change. Torquing the plug in last oil change my socket stuck and I had to tap on it to get it out. Sure sign the hex is starting to strip.
I got a spare drain plug and a variety of extractors in the toolbox for this contingency. Next oil change it’s getting a new drain plug either way.
The coolant and transmission drain plugs are aluminum hex sockets as well.
My socket gets slightly stuck every time I torque the plug in after I change the oil, but I use a new drain plug every time I change the oil also. I don’t think the 8 mm is a perfect fit, but that’s what the Porsche manual says to use.
My socket gets slightly stuck every time I torque the plug in after I change the oil, but I use a new drain plug every time I change the oil also. I don’t think the 8 mm is a perfect fit, but that’s what the Porsche manual says to use.
I mentioned in post #9 above that although a 8mm hex typically works I feel that a T50 torx is a tighter fit. On a previous oil change I experienced some issues with rounding and feared I could not remove the plug with the 8mm hex. I used a T-50 torx and it was a tighter fit and removed it with no issue. I did not have a spare and reused it using the T-50 and replaced it the next time with the LN magnetic plug. This upcoming oil change will be the first time removing the LN plug so I will decide if I should reuse it of go back to a new OEM plug.🤔
Jim
During an oil change today, I managed to strip out the oil drain plug.
A bit late as I forgot to post this video...
Sometimes I wonder how that is even possible if you are using a quality tool of the correct "metric" size (not a close SAE equivalent) and you are turning it in the correct direction, but here is a video I came across on YouTube that is always good for a chuckle.
BTW a couple of years ago I had the same issue on a friend's 997 when I did an oil change. The hex was so screwed up that I could only get a hex bit into it by maybe 3/16" or 5 mm deep. I really have to wonder who installed it last and got it tight enough that way. Simply amazing! I got it out carefully using a chisel. Then he gave me two aftermarket magnetic drain plugs that would not fit even though they were an M18 x 1.5 thread. Go figure, so much for "standards". Good thing I had a new spare oil drain plug at home that he never replaced.
Funny, the LN plug used to be aluminum and stripped easier than the factory one. I threw it in the trash after a couple of uses.
That's what I just stripped today. Started to strip as I was torquing it and I stopped and tried to back it out and it just went fubar. My 4th change with this plug. Now have to work on getting it out. Ordered the new version from LN. I don't know why this thing is round would be much better to have it setup to be able to use a wrench on it as backup.
The pans aluminum i wouldn't go hammering a bit into it. Get a dremel and cut a slot to make it a flathead and unscrew it. Hammering on aluminum threads could cause a second problem real quick
Some time ago I also ended up with a stuck oil drain plug with a severely deformed 8mm hex, after a previous oil change at an official Porsche shop. They just seem to spend too much time in the gym rather than reading their workshop manuals. Victory of muscle power over brain.
I succeeded loosening it using hammer and a small, sharp chisel on the perimeter of the flange of the plug, using the sealing ring to keep the sharp edge of the chisel away from the oil pan. This trick I once learned from a master mechanic.
My experience is they always replace the Al drain plug at the Porsche shop, and that is what I do when I change oil after they were on it before. If I do it myself, I do not torque to the specified 45 Nm, but only 40 Nm. I change the plug every second time.
Over 20 years and may be 15 DIY oil changes with 40 Nm only I never had a loose oil plug. I believe, 45 Nm is working hard on the Al material. And I always use a (empasize) high quality 8mm socket making sure (emphasize again) it is completely inserted into the plug. Do not use a TORX socket. Whoever tries to loosen the plug later, how shall he know you mistreated it ?
My socket gets slightly stuck every time I torque the plug in after I change the oil, but I use a new drain plug every time I change the oil also. I don’t think the 8 mm is a perfect fit, but that’s what the Porsche manual says to use.
same!
I am extra careful too and make sure it’s seated fully, and somehow it still get them stuck.
Some time ago I also ended up with a stuck oil drain plug with a severely deformed 8mm hex, after a previous oil change at an official Porsche shop. They just seem to spend too much time in the gym rather than reading their workshop manuals. Victory of muscle power over brain.
I succeeded loosening it using hammer and a small, sharp chisel on the perimeter of the flange of the plug, using the sealing ring to keep the sharp edge of the chisel away from the oil pan. This trick I once learned from a master mechanic.
My experience is they always replace the Al drain plug at the Porsche shop, and that is what I do when I change oil after they were on it before. If I do it myself, I do not torque to the specified 45 Nm, but only 40 Nm. I change the plug every second time.
Over 20 years and may be 15 DIY oil changes with 40 Nm only I never had a loose oil plug. I believe, 45 Nm is working hard on the Al material. And I always use a (empasize) high quality 8mm socket making sure (emphasize again) it is completely inserted into the plug. Do not use a TORX socket. Whoever tries to loosen the plug later, how shall he know you mistreated it ?
I must confess I once used a torx by mistake when I first got my 991.1, guess they eyes weren't as good as they used to be. I realized the error of my ways and was able to get a hex in it. Naturally I change the plug and carful to use a Hex going forward.