QA

Question: How To Loosen Oil Drain Plug

What do I do if my oil drain plug is stuck?

You’ll need to spray penetrating oil on the oil plug and leave it to sit for several hours. Then you can take a small hammer and tap counterclockwise to ensure that you are loosening the plug.

Can you change oil without removing drain plug?

No you need to remove the oil pan drain plug to get all the oil out of your engine. Removing the oil filter will only remove about 1/3 of a quart.

How tight should an oil drain plug be?

Your oil drain plug should be tight enough not to loosen and let all your oil drain out while you drive and that it should not be so tight that it strips the threads.

How do you change oil without ramps?

How to change oil without ramps – Quora. You can use a floor jack and a pair of jack stands. Or you can drive 2 wheels on one side up on the curb and get down in the gutter to access the drain plug and filter.

Is hand tight OK for oil filter?

Oil filters do not need to be too tight. If you can safely unscrew the filter with your hand, requiring only minimal resistance from the tightened position, then your filter has the correct tightness.

Do you need to torque oil drain plug?

Most vehicles are equipped with a basic oil pan, and the basic oil drain bolt will require a little bit more torque. Torque the oil drain plug to 25 to 30 foot-pounds.

Can I hand tighten an oil drain plug?

Don’t ever hand tighten the engine oil drain plug. It will eventually vibrate loose and fall out. It needs to be tightened properly. While you could probably Google the torque specification for your vehicle, it’s generally around 25 to 30 ft lbs.

Does an oil drain plug need a washer?

You definitely do NOT need anew drain plug at every oil change. Depending on the vehicle , you MAY need a new crush washer at every change ( gasket). If you have been told that you need to replace both at every change by a dealer, quick change place or other, you have been being ripped off.

How often should you change your oil drain plug?

Your drain plug should last the life of your engine if it is properly Torqued every time during oil change. I haven’t stripped a single drain plug in 20 years.

Do oil drain plugs have gaskets?

The type of gasket used on your vehicle oil pan drain plug may be a single use only, or reusable type. More manufacturers are choosing to use a copper washer or gasket that deforms when you tighten the drain plug. These copper washers are not designed to be reused, and they should be replaced at every oil change.

Can you suck the oil out of an engine?

Buy an oil extractor with a large enough reservoir to hold the entire contents of your engine’s crankcase (our model held only 5 quarts, not large enough for many vehicles). Some models not only suck the oil out, but they can then pump it out of the reservoir into recycling containers, a handy feature.

How do you siphon oil out of an oil tank?

Purchase a siphon pump (see Resources, below). With one of these pumps, you can pump out the fuel oil by hand. Insert one end of the pump into the fuel tank and the other end into the disposal container. Pump until the fuel oil tank is empty.

Can you change oil with one jack?

Can you change oil with one jack? Of course, it can be done, but only with the front end of the car lifted up. Look out for where the oil drain is on the pan( back, side, center, and so on). You actually may or may not drain the last of the oil while the front of the car is still lifted.

Is it OK to change oil on ramps?

It is just fine as the majority of vehicles have their engine oil drain plug located near the rear edge of the oil pan. This angle caused by the ramps would only speed the draining of the oil.

Can I use a scissor jack to change oil?

Depending on design, it may fit lift points on your specific vehicle, and maybe only to a certain height, to get the tire a couple inches off the ground. This makes it almost useless for anything else, such as lifting a different vehicle or completing an oil change.

Do you need a torque wrench for oil filter?

The ratchet, socket set, and oil filter wrench have their place. Apart from these basic items, you may need a torque wrench to properly install the plug and filter, though most experienced mechanics just tighten the bolt and filter by feel.

Do you torque oil filter?

Regarding the oil filter, the general recommendation is to hand tighten the filter 1/2 to a full turn after the gasket makes contact with the mating surface. And… before you screw on the new filter make certain the gasket came off with the old filter.