I bought a '94 Ranger from a local township knowing it needs work. 4 cylinder - manual transmission - approx. 240,000 miles - sat for 5 years.
**I expect I may be posting a lot of questions.**

My problem is I can't get the oil plug out. After spraying it with penetrating oil and letting it soak, I wound up rounding it off (it was partially rounded to begin with). I next tried a pair of vise grips. This just worsened the rounding. My last step was to use a medium-sized monkey wrench, but no luck.

I've reached the limit of my experience and am looking for suggestions. I'd prefer not to drop the oil pan... at least not yet. If I do get a good grip on the plug I'm afraid of rippng a hole in the pan. Heating it with a propane torch isn't an option. A friend recommended drilling it out and retapping (that goes under "Next to the Last Thing to Try").

So, what do y'all recommend? Thanks in advance.

 

The manufacturer of Vise Grips makes a kit that is used (as a socket) to remove stripped out nuts. It works like a charm. Sears also makes the same thing. The socket has flared gripping points all around the inside.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00952166000P

 

I'd try Maz's solution first, but I had luck cutting a groove in the stripped bolt head and turning it out with a big flathead screwdriver. Given that it's siezed, I don't think that this will work for you though.

 

Knowing a bit about what a rotten set of options you have - I would seriously consider dressing the flats on two sides of that plug with a file or a thin grinder bit in a die grinder.

One of the metal cutoff wheels for a die grinder would be the best - just make sure you cut lightly, and straight. You can do more harm than good real fast this way too...

If it was NOT an aluminum cast pan, I would say go ahead and heat it with a torch a bit and tap on it. Sometimes heating and rapid chilling can break threads free.

A 50/50 mix of ACETONE and TRANNY FLUID is one of the best all time break-free mixtures you can soak it with (I learned about it from someone at FTE).

THE CANDLE TRICK is mentioned somewhere on here. Heat a stuck nut, then touch a crayon or candle to it. The wax acts like flux - and cleans the metal surfaces...

But first you should try to salvage SOME kind of flat area on at least two sides before more drastic needs happen.

The MOST drastic measure I ever saw was welding a cheap wrench to a bad plug so it could be beat loose.

If this is a plug with a big SCREWSLOT - there are 3/8 and 1/2 drive screwdriver blade sockets that can be used on an impact wrench (and AIR TOOLS are something I religiously keep away from drain plugs - but it sounds like it's much too late. I bet that's exactly why it IS like that)

 

I was also going to suggest a few hard raps with a hammer but make sure this will not bend the pan. Strange it froze with all that oil around it.

 

even a pipe wrench did not work , i do have a 4' ridged pipe wrench that you can barrow if needed ! LOL
sounds like some good advice from posters here though!

 

a 50/50 mix of actenoe and ATF is the best rust pentrator........soak it with that...........why is "using a torch out of the question"............I loke Maz's idea also!............if you can get a welder you can weld another nut on to it.......

*if you can drive the truck bring it to Valvoline and act dumb

 

I can't believe a good sized vice grip did not work. You know you have to put the screw head in the round portion of the grip and adjust it soo tight you can barely close the pliers. Also you have to have the grip attached so that pushing on the part with the adjuster loosens the screw. You should have been able to wring the bolt off this way.

Perry

 

I hate to sound so elementry and I am NOT trying to knock you any any but you do know the Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosey rule....right?????
ALSO! dou you know this guy?: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...irlfriend.html

 

go buy a very, very large pair of channels locks and squeeze the **** out of it while screaming righty tighty lefty loosy..............it will come right off.........

 

He is not gonna answer back b/c he is a one time wonder, a fake, a joke. Funny how he hasn't said anything in over a week, huh?
As afr as Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosey....I was just making sure he was going the right way....I only know ONE person in the whole wide world that has NEVER made a mistake.
I did not realize how old this thread was....I just jumped in

 

If he can't get the plug out, he's in for bigger problems down the road.