[s-cars] removal of oil drain plug

[Paul Gailus]

Wayne, your observations confirm my suspicions that
it's really the interface between the head, washer, and
milled surface of the oil pan that's getting stuck, and not
the threads themselves. The plug has quite a bit of radial
slop (clearance) until just before it snugs up. There's also
a head of oil above the plug to leak down through the
threads and keep them lubed. So it seems less likely that the
threads are what's binding up. But it makes sense that some
sharp hits to the side of the head of the plug could help break
it free at the washer interface.

Paul


----- Original Message -----
From: Wayne Dohnal <dohnal at hevanet.com>
To: S-car list <s-car-list at audifans.com>; <dslagle at zoominternet.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 6:47 PM
Subject: [s-cars] removal of oil drain plug


> The first time I tried to change the oil on my S4 I rounded off the head
> with a 12-point socket.  I tried all sorts of things without success: Vise
> grips, hammer and chisel, heat, slots with hacksaw blade, etc.  What
finally
> worked was hitting the edge with a chisel on an air hammer.  Didn't take
> much at all to break it loose.  I got a new plug and a 6-point Craftsman
box
> wrench, and haven't had the problem since.  It always takes a lot of force
> to break it loose, however.  I kick the end of the wrench with my foot to
> break it loose.   It's just the opposite problem of our self-unscrewing
> spark plugs.
>
> Wayne Dohnal
> 1994 S4
>
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