stripped bolt
 

So I went to change my oil yesterday and couldn't budge the bolt that plugs the oil reservoir. So I think I'm just going to get a pair of gripping pliers and get it off, but can anyone tell me the size of the bolt so that I can replace it?
Josh

Well i dont know the car you have but you can buy the bolt in the buy parts tab at the top of the page. the shipping is about a 1 to 2 day thing so the part gets to your house quick.

By "oil resevoir" I'm assume you mean the oil pan? (Only a dry-sump engine has a seperate oil "resevoir").

Gripping pliers will not help. Use an impact wrench or maybe a length of iron pipe for leverage. Quickie-lube places like to impact the drain plug on there with about a bajillion ft/lbs of torque. (Bastards)

Use a quality 6 point socket and breaker bar(or impact, if you got one). hit the bar w/ your hand or mallet.

I bet most auto parts stores have a metric drain bolt assortment on hand. prolly not the same quality, but maybe instant gratification.

or get/ build a topsider.

Six point and breaker should do it.

I agree...no advantage to using vise grips there....you will just ruin the plug.

Tom W

I looked up his info he owns: a 1979 240d
If it is the head of the bolt is messed up so much you cannot get a wrench to hold on it everyone has said that Sears sells a set of External Eze-out type nuts that fit over whats left of the bolt and grips it so that you can get it off. I have seen them myself but so far have not needed to buy them.

I have a set and they work well for some applications. That drain bolt is large enough that a *quality* 6-point socket should get it off, even if it's moderately munged.

Wow, I did forget to write that I have a '79 240d! Thank you for the suggestion of using a 6 point socket, I guess that's what I'll use the sears gift card I got for christmas... thanks for the help.
Josh

If you need a new one,
https://www.***************/search/product.aspx?sid=vqae1i55kc0lzd55y0yt3055&makeid=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1192968@240D&year=1979&cid= 20@Engine%20Parts,%20Seals%20%26%20Gaskets&gid=5560@Oil%20Drain%20Plug
I have one of those bolt remover kits, comes in handy, but you'll destroy the bolt head in the process. Or you could use an extractor to suck out the oil.

Yeah, they should change their name to "Iffy Lube."

Pump it out.
 

That's the real answer. Mercedes sucks the oil out via the dipstick tube and so do I. With an oil filter that pulls out from the top there's no reason to crawl under your car for an oil change. Go buy one of those oil extractors with the vacuum pump and you won't regret it. Soon you'll be sucking the fluid out of every reservoir on your car. Something like this http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_465467_465467 would be perfect. If you are looking for an excuse to exercise your forearms you could use one of these http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3878. I read a post a while back from a buy who used a five gallon bucket and a shop vac to make his own vacuum extractor.

I made mine from a 5 gall pressure tank from an under sink RO water filter setup. or you could use a 5 gal propane tank. If you have a vac pump/ old fridge compressor.

the top tube is now 3/8OD vinyl tubing, which I must reduce to 1/4od for the benz- 3/8 works for the volvo gasser.
FWIW-617.952- I sucked all the oil out, then waited 30 minutes, then popped the drainplug out. not a drop of oil came out. so it works for me.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...z/DSCN0648.jpg

Do those oil extractors work well?

My thoughts would be that the drain plugs normally have a magnet that needs to be cleaned at oil changes on the plug. What about the oil you can't suck up?

You know, sometimes you just need to lay under these cars and have a look around. An oil change is a good time to do this. I just feel better knowing it dripped for awhile.....:o:o

well a $2.00 pan is a lot cheaper and takes up a less room than a
oil sucker. besides, I like to crawl around under the car to see what
I can see, makes the wife thinking Iam really doing something.

Replacing the pan plug was easy, I just replaced the engine. came
with a new plug.:thumbsup2:

Charlie