Oil Drain Plug

[1batt4u]

Ok, was ready to remove the oil drain plug, though I would need a socket or wrench. Just noticed I need a tool shaped like a square. I tried my sockets wrenches with out anything on them, but does not fit.

What is used to remove these?? I already have a new normal magnetic oil plug from Hervey.

[sean]

8mm Square drive socket

In a pinch you can slowly file down the sides of a cheap 3/8" ratchet or even find some 8mm square stock and weld a piece to a socket or even use a piece of stock with a pair of vice grips.

[Bitsyncmaster]

A quick tool to make is to just grind an old Allen wrench down to fit.

[nullset]

A quick tool to make is to just grind an old Allen wrench down to fit.

This is what I did.

SNAPON sells the correct tool. I think Hervey does as well. Hervey also sells drain plugs with a normal head on them.

--buddy

[AdmiralSenn]

In a pinch you can slowly file down the sides of a cheap 3/8" ratchet or even find some 8mm square stock and weld a piece to a socket or even use a piece of stock with a pair of vice grips.

I did this for mine. A few seconds on the grinding wheel, hammered it in, removed it and replaced with a 17mm hex bolt. Never worried about it again.

[DavidProehl]

I bought the snap-on tool. Figured I'd need it even to replace it with a standard plug so why not just use the original plug. I'll keep the car long enough that I'll get plenty of use out of the correct tool, it isn't chep, but I'd recommend just buying the tool.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=65528&group_ID=259

[dmc6960]

Hardware stores have steel "square stock" already in the 3/8" size. I bought a 12" piece of that and cut a piece down to 2" which I use with a crescent wrench. Been doing that for 11 1/2 years now.

[Citizen]

Hardware stores have steel "square stock" already in the 3/8" size. I bought a 12" piece of that and cut a piece down to 2" which I use with a crescent wrench. Been doing that for 11 1/2 years now.


This what I did. I think it cost $.99. Works perfectly. Have pictures if anyone wants.

...

[Iznodmad]

I bought the snap-on tool. Figured I'd need it even to replace it with a standard plug so why not just use the original plug.

Exactly, there are other drain plugs on the car that require the same tool. Like the engine block if you want to drain the coolant for example.

[stevedmc]

I wonder what the guys on the DML would say about removing a perfectly good stock drain plug and installing a normal drain plug.

I'm sure this would qualify as a dangerous modification.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I wonder what the guys on the DML would say about removing a perfectly good stock drain plug and installing a normal drain plug.

I'm sure this would qualify as a dangerous modification.

It would be debated for two weeks. :sing:

[OverlandMan]

just to update this thread - considered a square socket set (including the 8mm) from harbor freight for $15 + shipping & tax. Ended up going with a 2 piece (8mm & 10mm) set on Amazon prime. Shipped to my house = $7.89. No makeshift tool. No replacement plug. No high cost tool. Easy does it.

[DMC-81]

just to update this thread - considered a square socket set (including the 8mm) from harbor freight for $15 + shipping & tax. Ended up going with a 2 piece (8mm & 10mm) set on Amazon prime. Shipped to my house = $7.89. No makeshift tool. No replacement plug. No high cost tool. Easy does it.

Cool price for 2 sockets. I'll share my solution which is similar. I bought a CTA 8mm socket (item 2036) at Pep Boys this year for $6 but I couldn't get the socket and my ratchet to fit the tight space between the drain plug and the frame crossmember, so I bought a 3/8" socket cap at Harbor Freight Tools for $4 (set of 3, Pittsburgh item 67011) and with the cap I can use a 9/16" line wrench which fits the space nicely. Also, by using the line wrench, I was able to better judge the amount of pressure to compress the crush washer properly.

[vaughan]

What worked for me was just to grind off two opposite edges (corners) of an 8 mm hex key that I happened to have lying around until the resulting two surfaces were 8 mm apart. Probably the least amount of grinding of any solution that requires grinding. I was a bit worried it might damage the plug but it was a snug fit and there was not a trace of any damage. Since it still has 4 of the original 6 corners I imagine it will continue to work fine as an 8 mm hex key, though I have no idea what it was for.

[mr_maxime]

I used the CTA socket from pepboys and a ratchet. It fit at first but I stupidly got stuck. Dont make the same mistake I made. Ill replace the drain plug next time with the ez drain one and avoid all of this.

[Dangermouse]

I happen to have an "official" Renault "special" tool. I got it when I had my R5; such pedigree.

looks like this one, only it's "special"

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81gNM69%2BsdL._SL1500_.jpg


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Laser-1578-Drain-Plug-Key-8-13mm-Sq-/281864886165

I wouldn't recommend it over the snap-on version :)

[AugustneverEnds]

^^ Bling bling^^

I wonder how many of those are in North America. Pretty cool