Get a can of "air duster", hold upside down, spray liquid contents on bolt head till frost appears. Wear thick (preferably leather)gloves so you don't get frostbite, and be sure not to get any near face.
Do this when the engine is hot. Then attack with vice-grips right after. Might work for you, might not, but it's ~ $5 for the can of air duster, and a little bit of time, so it might be worth it to try as a last ditch effort. Walt On May 21, 2011 11:07 PM, "WILTON" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Yep. Suck it. > > Wilton > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tim C" <[email protected]> > To: "Mercedes List" <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2011 10:59 PM > Subject: [MBZ] OT: Ford oil drain plug > > > >> Problem with my 05 Ford Escape Hybrid today: I went to change the oil; last >> time was the dealer's 100k service. I noticed at the outset that the drain >> plug (13mm head) was slightly rounded, but okay, I have seen worse. So I >> went at it - but it was in tighter than any bolts I've hit to date, and that >> includes head bolts. (Now it is much rounder than before, and doesn't even >> have new oil!) I should have another plug in the spares pile, if I can get >> it loose, but I haven't made it turn the slightest over several hours of >> effort. >> >> I have tried: >> Hand wrenches - open end slipped, originally I couldn't turn the closed end; >> Half inch drive - see closed end; >> Three quarter inch drive breaker bar - worked for a while, but started to >> spin before turning, that was my first indication that this was going to be >> a long day; >> Half inch, closed wrench - now slipping; >> Hammered sockets - stripped the rest of the head; >> Penetrant - no observable affect; >> Curved vice grips, flat vice grips - shred the bolt head as the grips spin >> off; >> Drill, ez out - can't get traction into bolt head, afraid of drilling into >> the pan; >> Bolt extractor socket - gave me about five seconds of hope before it started >> spinning. The 12mm socket does not fit yet. >> File - can only reach four sides because of the geometry. May wind up going >> this route with an open wrench, but I have a feeling it will be a long time >> until I get exactly half-inch (next size down) and then I worry I will just >> round it off again anyway. >> Chisel - did not do, no way I could turn this with a screwdriver, and I was >> afraid I'd destroy what little integrity was left in the bolt head. Or >> would that be a good thing at this point? >> Cursing the mechanic at the Ford dealer - no affect; >> Cursing myself for paying twice a reasonable rate for the 100k service, and >> getting a fight about the presence of a transmission, a reused spark plug, >> and an over-tightened oil drain plug to show for it - no affect; >> Prayer and fasting - no affect. >> >> The truck was hot, has an aluminum pan and the plug seems to be a steel bolt >> (a really soft steel, apparently), so I would have thought it should spin >> right out. >> >> I am looking for any suggestions. The only thing I know and have not tried >> is welding; I don't have any equipment, not that I'd want to do that near an >> oil pan anyway. >> >> (Wilton says, topsider! which I will probably try to do, but I'd still like >> to fix the plug without replacing the pan.) >> >> And, may I recommend, if you need the services of a competent Ford mechanic, >> you stay far, far away from Crossroads Ford in Cary, NC. >> >> Sorry for the long post, thanks for any ideas! >> >> -Tim >> Has decided stuck bolts are worse when you paid for someone else to do them >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
