First time trying to change my own oil and I stripped the drain plug

Honestly, I was just trying to save some cash last weekend. I used a cheap socket wrench from a discount store and it rounded the bolt head right off. Anyone know a good way to get a stuck drain plug out without taking the whole car in?

3 comments

3 Comments

jenny_gonzalez1mo ago

Oh man, I've been there! That's the universe's tax for trying to be handy. You might try a bolt extractor set, they can grip onto rounded heads. Good luck, hope it comes out easy!

nancy3911mo ago

A discount store socket wrench? That's asking for trouble right there. Those things are basically made of soft metal and bad decisions. You need a proper six-point socket, not that twelve-point junk. Try a bolt extractor like Jenny said, but you might be drilling it out. Next time, invest in decent tools.

bettyh841d ago

Yeah but sometimes you just need a tool for one job and the cheap one gets it done. I've had a discount store set for years and it's fine for light stuff, just gotta know its limits. Jenny's right about the extractor though, that's solid advice for a rounded bolt. Not every project needs pro gear.