[s-cars] Oil Plug removal -> Dynamite required

[Wayne Dohnal]

I went through the same bad experience on my first oil change.  I tried a
long list of things after rounding the head: vise grips, heat, cold,
carefully cutting away the base, hammer and chisel on the edge, and several
other random violent acts.  Nothing worked.  Then I pulled out the air
impact hammer, hit the edge of the plug with it (in the proper rotation),
and it was loose in about a second.  Whether this would have worked by
itself or if the prior attempts "softened it up" I don't know, and I'm not
going to try a controlled experiment to find out.  I obviously bought a new
plug, plus a spare out of fear.

I decided not to go with the Fumoto because the car isn't high enough to
dump directly into a bottle, and I'm a fanatic on getting every last drop
out.  (On my pickup, however, I use the Fumuto because I can drain directly
into a gallon jug, and with 10 quarts in the engine, I figure the last drops
aren't as significant).

I've never had a big problem removing the plug since then, but it's always
obnoxiously difficult to break it loose.  I hang a Craftsman 6-point box
wrench on the plug, and give it a good kick while lying flat on the ground
and hanging onto the front bumper with my hands so my body doesn't move.
It's usually loose by the 2nd or 3rd kick.  On a lift there would be room to
use a 3-foot pipe over the wrench.

I think the most important rule is to never, ever use a 12-point wrench on
the oil plug.  I prefer the box wrench to a socket because the wrench handle
is on the axis of rotation and it won't try to twist off.  I never had this
problem with any other car.

Wayne Dohnal
1994 S4