[s-cars] removal of oil drain plug

[apennell001]

I agree, the shoulder and not the threads is where the plug gets stuck.
The only thing I'll say about the chisel approach is the plug is made of
very soft steel. In my case the chisel went right through it and the
plug did not budge. I did not want to risk chewing up the surface of the
pan which is why I used the hammer approach to give the plug a little
shock and awe!

-AP

-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list-admin at audifans.com
[mailto:s-car-list-admin at audifans.com] On Behalf Of Paul Gailus
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 10:26 PM
To: Wayne Dohnal; S-car list; dslagle at zoominternet.net
Subject: Re: [s-cars] removal of oil drain plug


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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