stripped bolt for oil filter pan

okay, i must have over-torqued the last time. but when i was trying to take the oil filter pan off, it wouldn't budge and the bolt started to strip. it's not completely stripped, but getting there. uuuuuugh! at this point, i guess i don't need it off, but when it comes time to really get in there, what should i do? thanks.

 

Mine was completely hosed but got it off by drilling into the canter of the head of the bolt with 2 different size bits and then using a screw extractor. It does require replacing the bolt so if you can use vice grips or damaged bolt extractors from sears I would definitely try that first.

 

Panic?

Seriously, like the man says, you might consider one of those bolt extractor socket thingamabobbers from Sears. See if they got one that fits the head of the oil filter bolt, grab yourself an extension and a breaker bar, and go medieval on the thing.

Then buy yourself a new one. I don't see Len selling any for the 400, but it couldn't hurt to ask him anyway.

 

thanks for the advice...i'll try it when the time comes in about 2300 more miles, because i'm a procrastinator. but i was thinking about how else to get it out. has anybody ever tried this?

what if i drilled a hole in the side of the bolt all the way through, and then get a strong metal piece that will slide through the hole that was drilled. and use that to crank. make sense? of course then you have to find a metal piece, but i'm sure home depot would have something. just curious if anyone has tried that.

 

A lot easier to just buy the rounded bolt remover sockets. Those and an impact wrench took mine off after I had rounded it badly.

 

A set of vice grips are your friend!!

 

Take the Pipes off.
Grip the "Shouldered" area of the Bolt with a Small Pipe Wrench.
Use a length of Pipe placed on the handle of the Wrench for added leverage.