Rounded off drain plug

[Peter 315]

Can you grind 2 flat spots on it and get a better grip

 

[Kando]

I can try, it's a rather tight area, and greasy so need to clean it up first. Have to wait till tomorrow, and find the grinding disc.

 

[DwayneB]

I can try, it's a rather tight area, and greasy so need to clean it up first. Have to wait till tomorrow, and find the grinding disc.

If you can get a solid clamp with some good vise grips and some good smart taps with a hammer might break it loose. Usually a few taps with a hammer does way better than constant force.

 

[downslope]

No go with a pipe wrench, simply can't get a good grip on it.

OK, since you say you found similar in plumbing section I assume it is/was square headed, probably 9/16" or 5/8".
If you can purchase from a tool outlet like Grainger, Fastenal or other, you can buy a 1/2" drive socket either 4-point(best) or 8-point that should be able to get a grip as long as snug fit; better than an end wrench or vice grip.

Individual Sockets


| Fastenal

1'/'2" Sockets - Sockets and Bits - Grainger Industrial Supply

If you do locate an 8-point socket, try to file or grind 4 flat sides.

Also you could try taking a sharp cold chisel and hammering a notch into the exposed thread portion in a counter-clockwise direction. As someone else mentioned the hammering can also help loosen.
Good luck.

 

[shaeff]

Could weld/braze a large nut onto it. Don't put too much heat into it though. Don't run a continuous bead, or if you do, cool it quickly so that heat doesn't transfer too much to the pan.

Let it cool a good bit before removal.

 

[Johnkn]

Or use the correct tool for the job, a bolt extractor which covers the bolt head and bites in when turned counterclockwise. Get a set and have them. This will remove a bolt with a head that is completely rounded. Good luck...

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Post a picture please. We may see a solution to your problem better.

If you are going to use heat; recommend extracting the oil out with a suction pump first. That oil will absorb a lot of heat.

Get a 6 point impact socket a little smaller and try driving it on over the messed up flats. hen use a long breaker bar for leverage.

After the oil is out you can drill the old one out for bolt extractor. Again heat and impact help a lot.

Be careful using a pipe plug as a replacement. They have a tapered thread and most pans do not have many threads in the plug boss. They are made for a straight thread with a gasket. The NAPA guys are pretty good at matching stuff up. None of these type things are unique to the OEM, they are off the shelf somewhere.

Ron

 

[ray66v]

If you have a very large screw driver, (pry bar size), you may be able to cut a slot in the plug, and unscrew it, using wrench on the shaft of the screw driver.

If using various tools fails, I would get a large nut, and weld it to the drain plug.

 

[Johnkn]

or, again, use the correct tool to remove the bolt........

 

[DLTTrekkers]

As it is allready dammaged use a mallot and hit it all all around the outer edge off the plug making it a bit larger and compressing the washer . Then install the correct size 6 sided socket an loosen it .