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Rounded sump plug
speedyxjs - 12/7/09 at 10:34 AM

Went to service my brothers fiesta (04) and found the sump plug is pretty well rounded and too tight (imo).
There is still a bit of grip on it but i dont want to make it any worse and i dont have enough room to get my breaker bar on it.
Any idea's on how to remove it?

I dont have access to a ramp btw

[Edited on 12-7-09 by speedyxjs]

mookaloid - 12/7/09 at 10:41 AM

Are you using one of those sockets which just grip on the flats of the head?

I usually find that those work.

James - 12/7/09 at 10:43 AM

Axle stands will get a car pretty high.

Hammer a smaller socket on.

Use some big grips/stilsons.

Weld a nut on (only small risk of fire!

File flats on it and get a spanner on there.

Remove sump and then grind it off and clean it out.

Many ways!


Cheers,
James

delboy - 12/7/09 at 10:57 AM

You want a set of these, I bought mine in the US and they are great, I,ve even removed a recessed allen bolt which was destroyed by someone, using one of these sockets even although externally the are round. see link, I'm sure they are available in lots of places.
http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/475371

speedyxjs - 12/7/09 at 11:04 AM

quote:
Originally posted by James
Axle stands will get a car pretty high.

Hammer a smaller socket on.

Use some big grips/stilsons.

Weld a nut on (only small risk of fire!

File flats on it and get a spanner on there.

Remove sump and then grind it off and clean it out.

Many ways!


Cheers,
James


Its on axle stands. I cant get enough leverage to do it with a spanner or normal socket set. I tried with my breaker bar but its too long (mental note - get a shorter one )

delboy - they look great

rusty nuts - 12/7/09 at 11:29 AM

Get a new sump plug before removing the old one! Easiest way to remove the old one is weld on a large nut as already suggested. I always use a flat sided spanner to remove Ford sump plugs as they nearly always round off if using a bi hex spanner.

Dangle_kt - 12/7/09 at 12:44 PM

if your really stuck a punch and a hammer.

Go steady with it on axel stands - I;m sure its solid as a rock, but i always get a bit worried about them falling when giving stuff a lot of force whislt under the car.

JoelP - 12/7/09 at 10:08 PM

something like a footprint wrench should do the trick, press tight to get it to grip and then tap with a hammer. Its self-tightening and can grip a round bar if needed.

http://www.toolspot.co.uk/product/footprint-wrenches

also called a pipe wrench...

[Edited on 12/7/09 by JoelP]