OK! Here's my dilemma..The drain plug to the oil pan is stripped beyond belief. I really don't remember tightening the bolt this tight (honestly).Anyways,does anyone have any idea on how to loosen this bolt? No socket will fit this now, forget pipewrench,no to visegrips(already tried these).Help! I've already flushed the motor and I really need to chang the oil

This most often happens when the copper washer is left out after a drain and oil change. Couple of things you can try, but they can be risky.
#1 drill the center of the plug and try an Easy Out.
#2 try it with a brand new visegrip after appying some heat (read this as a propane torch, not oxyacetylene.
#3 get someone to weld (arc) a foot long piece of bar stock to the end of the drain plug and using the mechanical advantage this offers break it loose.
#4 Try drilling out the whole thing and hope that you don't bugger up the threads too much.

Good Luck...

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Jeff Lawrence
1987 300e
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

Another way is to use a Dremel tool with a grinding wheel to carefully cut a groove straight across the center, relieving the pressure on the bolt. It should then come out easily.

Chuck

And if worse comes to worse, you'll just have to spring for a new lower oil pan. At least there's a way out of this one! :)


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Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
Precision Motorcars, Cincinnati, Ohio
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'80 300SD
'85 380SE
'86 420SEL
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8
'74 Jensen Interceptor Mk.III
'81 DeLorean DMC12
'84 BMW 745i Turbo

Thanks, but a quick tap with the air chisle freed it right away, and I never even touched the pan. Thanks everyone for the advice. Still can't figure out how it got so tight. The copper washer was in place..

You might want to consider buying a Topsider to change your oil. It sucks the oil out through the dipstick port using vacuum pressure. You'll never have to fiddle with the oil drain plug again. The Topsider costs about $50 and its the best money I ever spent.

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Al Spalmacin
1989 560SEL
1989 190E 2.6