Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

stripped oil drain plug

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
Post Reply
User avatar
Loperamide
Member
Member
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Oct 05, 2018 9:59 pm
Location: UK

stripped oil drain plug

Post by Loperamide » Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:08 pm

Any ideas on how to take out a stripped oil drain plug (stripped inside allen hex and outer socket hex)

Leslie
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1291
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2018 10:58 am

Re: stripped oil drain plug

Post by Leslie » Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:11 pm

Hammer a torx bit into the stripped Allen should grip enough to unscrew then or buy an oil sucker and take the oil out the dipstick

User avatar
henrym3
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1840
Joined: Wed May 25, 2016 11:07 pm
Location: Bournemouth

Re: stripped oil drain plug

Post by henrym3 » Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:18 pm

That must be tight. If I understand the shape of the plug you describe then use a monkey wrench, failing that you’ll have to take off the sump but that will be messy with all the oil still in but you’d probably fair better on a bench

User avatar
Alan Gunn
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1350
Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2016 10:32 pm
Location: Anglesey North Wales

Re: stripped oil drain plug

Post by Alan Gunn » Sat Apr 03, 2021 7:18 am

+ 1 on the torx bit method.

User avatar
marti
Member
Member
Posts: 771
Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 11:33 am
Location: Norfolk

Re: stripped oil drain plug

Post by marti » Sat Apr 03, 2021 9:57 am

Small pair of Stillson's will grab the hex and undo it no problem....

User avatar
Loperamide
Member
Member
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Oct 05, 2018 9:59 pm
Location: UK

Re: stripped oil drain plug

Post by Loperamide » Sat Apr 03, 2021 11:17 am

henrym3 wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:18 pm That must be tight. If I understand the shape of the plug you describe then use a monkey wrench, failing that you’ll have to take off the sump but that will be messy with all the oil still in but you’d probably fair better on a bench
https://www.amazon.co.uk/febi-bilstein- ... 381&sr=8-4

Its basically like the one in the link, but stripped both inside and outside. And there's not width to grab onto it on the outside where a socket wrench would go. I tried locking-jaw pliers but it kept slipping off.

User avatar
Loperamide
Member
Member
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Oct 05, 2018 9:59 pm
Location: UK

Re: stripped oil drain plug

Post by Loperamide » Sat Apr 03, 2021 11:20 am

marti wrote: Sat Apr 03, 2021 9:57 am Small pair of Stillson's will grab the hex and undo it no problem....
is that one of those pipe wrench's? There is not much space through the hole in the stiffening plate, and if locking-jaw pliers didn't work then there is no hope for a pipe wrench :D

User avatar
Greydog
Member
Member
Posts: 793
Joined: Fri Mar 08, 2013 1:26 pm
Location: West Sussex

Re: stripped oil drain plug

Post by Greydog » Sat Apr 03, 2021 1:04 pm

You could take off the stiffening plate that would let you get Stilson's in
Or you could try another plumbers tool a Basin Wrench same locking action as the Stilson but designed to use in tight spaces.

Keep the Stilson handy to bash whoever butchered the plug in the first place, as it is destroyed in side and out they must be a determined butcher
Oh and get a new sump plug first would be my thoughts

User avatar
Alan Gunn
Snr Member
Snr Member
Posts: 1350
Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2016 10:32 pm
Location: Anglesey North Wales

Re: stripped oil drain plug

Post by Alan Gunn » Sun Apr 04, 2021 5:56 am


User avatar
Greydog
Member
Member
Posts: 793
Joined: Fri Mar 08, 2013 1:26 pm
Location: West Sussex

Re: stripped oil drain plug

Post by Greydog » Sun Apr 04, 2021 7:37 am

How about a surface drive socket they are designed just for this eventuality ?
Or in desperation drill through the centre of the plug and once the oil has drained use a stud extractor to remove the plug drop the sump clean and refit with new plug.

Out of ideas now

Post Reply