Stuck Oil filter bolt ...

I drained the oil which was black as tar... and that was fine . tried to change the filter, but broke my ratchet on the bolt.... seems as if it was home made .. I got a better ratchet and blasted the bolt with Jiga-loo, and did not budge , seems the bolt id almost plyable ... ill post a pick. As well there are signs that an impact chisel took a few punches at it before me ...maybe the last place put on some serious thread lock? Any trick to getting this sucker loose? Should I bang at it before I mess up the bolt .
image is in my gallery ... because I havent been able to shink it to 500 pixels.

 

Ah yes. A common problem. The bolt is way over torqued and it's not the first time.

I would not recommend striking it with anything as it threads into the aluminum engine case. Some people have carefully ground the head off (so as not to damage the filter housing). Once the head is off the stress is removed from the bolt and it should remove easily.

Replacement bolts are readily available. I'm sure Chacal will be along shortly to offer you one.

Of course you could go ahead and do the compression test Rick talked about. If the rings are shot you might want to look for a complete engine replacement.

 

yikes . that does not sound like fun at all.

 

Don't feel alone I had to do the same thing. I cut the head off. The bolt came out real easy after that. I got my replacement at a local hardware store.

 

The oil filter bolt is a special part. It is hollow for oil to flow through. Not likely to find one at the corner hardware store.

 

I cut the flange away with a dremel , that relieved the pressure and I removed the bolt with my fingers.....
EMGO make a replacement witha 17mm head instread of the OEM 12mm

 

Has jonnymaritime been advised against removing the hidden/tough to get at plug - the one that causes so much trouble for so many people??

 

could I just drill through the flange with a tiny bit to relieve the pressure and proceed?

jeepsteve .... I dont understand ? maybe its too late at night to understand.. I have to remove it to change the filter , as I'm sure it is due . goooooood night .

 

Drive-on a tight-fitting SIX POINT SOCKET 6 Point.

Use the appropriate adapters to get a 1/2 Inch Breaker Bar on the Socket.

Preload the Breaker Bar with ample loosening torque.
Strike the Breaker Bar Handle with a hard blow from a hard wood Hammer Handle.

The Impact will either cause the Bolt to move some or loosen.
Continue the Inpact on the preloaded with turning force Breaker Bar until you win the war of over-tightening.

Once you get it moving ... its coming out.

You can also get a Tool that grabs rounded-off hex heads at SEARS.

 

Nice ! thanks for that tid bit , you are da best .