Oil Drain Plug

[wvmountaineer]

I have changed oil in every car I've owned for the past 21 years, and within 5 minutes, my Mini made me feel like an idiot.

Most of the threads deal with the filter, but I'm having trouble with the drain plug! It appears to be a 13mm bolt, although the wrench doesn't fit as snugly as I would like. I buggered it up the head trying to remove it.

Before I screw it up further, is it reverse threaded? The bolt appears to have a rubber washer. Is that what makes it so tight?

[minisoopercooper]

I have been told that these days the dealers have a suction tube that sucks the oil out. They then just replace the filter and refill with fresh oil - in under 5mins to make servicing cheaper.

Therefore your plug is probably so tight because it has never been removed before- although I can't answer the thread direction question as I have never tried removing mine.

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by wvmountaineer (original)

I have changed oil in every car I've owned for the past 21 years, and within 5 minutes, my Mini made me feel like an idiot.

Most of the threads deal with the filter, but I'm having trouble with the drain plug! It appears to be a 13mm bolt, although the wrench doesn't fit as snugly as I would like. I buggered it up the head trying to remove it.

Before I screw it up further, is it reverse threaded? The bolt appears to have a rubber washer. Is that what makes it so tight?

No it's just a normal thread , I do always use a hexagon socket if I have to remove one though .

Quote: Originally Posted by minisoopercooper (original)

I have been told that these days the dealers have a suction tube that sucks the oil out. They then just replace the filter and refill with fresh oil - in under 5mins to make servicing cheaper.

Therefore your plug is probably so tight because it has never been removed before- although I can't answer the thread direction question as I have never tried removing mine.

"minisoopercooper" is right most garages have suction devices that suck the oil out of the dipstick hole making it easier, faster, cheaper to do , It's not just you I see them (drain-plugs) stuck in and rounded off quite a lot on MINIs, if you'd have known you could have asked for one (suction device) for Christmas as they are available now for DIY mechanics .

Merry Christmas, "wvmountaineer", you haven't been tinkering in the garage today have you? , I've just got in trouble for answering questions on MINI2 .

[wvmountaineer]

Thank you both. I still feel stupid though. Yes, I was tinkering around on Christmas, but my 3 year-old was watching a new video he got from Santa. Since he was quiet and occupied, I didn't get in trouble!!

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by wvmountaineer (original)

Thank you both. I still feel stupid though. Yes, I was tinkering around on Christmas, but my 3 year-old was watching a new video he got from Santa. Since he was quiet and occupied, I didn't get in trouble!!

Did you sort it out?, or did you just leave it for another time?, It always happens to me, the 5-10 min job ends up with something going wrong, and normally when it's gone wrong, its gone wrong!, meaning it can't just be left for another time it needs to be sorted out before you can even move the car .

The last one of them (drain-plug) that I saw stuck in (someone asked me to repair it after they had rounded the nut off), I couldn't get the drain-plug out, and the person who asked me to do it, wanted a new drain-plug in, I ended up replacing the sump because it was easier than trying to get the drain-plug out (only because I had a spare sump handy) .

Over Christmas the simplest of jobs can turn into a huge scenario (I started to fix a power-washer and a part that is normally very easy to obtain has proved very hard to get hold over this holiday period ).

The only advice that I can give to people doing an oil change by removing the oil drain-plug, is to make sure the spanner / wrench fits very well or if possible use a hexagon socket to minimise the risk of rounding the drain-plug nut off .

[wvmountaineer]

I chose to leave it for another time. I stopped before I ruined the plug. All the same, I'm going to pick up a replacement bolt before I try again...in the event that I really do destroy it.

The funny thing is that before I started, I considered holding off until after the holiday. Then I thought, it's an oil change, what could go wrong?!? I guess I forgot about my good friend Murphy and his law.

[Hugo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Randall Raines (original)

Did you sort it out?, or did you just leave it for another time?, It always happens to me, the 5-10 min job ends up with something going wrong, .

I know what you mean it took it all weekend to paint callipers, replace disks and pads. Couldn't understand how the piston on the rear calipers go back in plus other issues.

[DaFlake]

It should come off but they are known to get messed up. MINI Mania sells them alone of you can buy them with filters as well.

OIL DRAIN PLUG WITH SEALING RING - MINI COOPER & S 2002-2006

As for the suction, there are a lot of different thoughts on this and most will say that it is better to drain from the bottom. Most in the USA will only drain from the bottom as suction devices don't get all the oil out or any sludge that might have built up.

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaFlake (original)

As for the suction, there are a lot of different thoughts on this and most will say that it is better to drain from the bottom. Most in the USA will only drain from the bottom as suction devices don't get all the oil out or any sludge that might have built up.

I don't normally use these myself for oil changes, however I do use them to remove oil and fluids from cars that are having parts removed, they can also be very useful for the bleeding of the brakes and clutches .

A lot of the sludge doesn't normally come out of the engine through the sump plug anyway, (even more so if your trying to rush / do the job quickly) unless you use an engine flush and take your time and let it drain quite a while (leave the flush in too long and in extreme cases it can damage the rubber seals (make them soft)), even then, if you took the rocker-cover off / engine apart you would still find some sludge in there

I can see your point though .

[DaFlake]

Should have said that had settled... My point in this (unless it has recently changed) is that in the USA the pumps aren't used like over here in Europe. Even the guys at the auto shop I go to have one here in Germany have it and they refuse to use it.

I personally think that auto makers should be forced to make a connector specifically for oil removal as this would cut spillage down considerably. Imagine changing the oil yourself by just pulling up to a rig at the gas station, hooking up to drain, popping the filter (should be fitted in an accessible location) and dumping oil in.