Oil Plug is Stuck

With my greasing work behind me, I moved to replacing the engine oil. My oil drain plug is square and using a small adjustable wrench, I was not able to loosen the plug. I didn't want to push to hard and round off the plug. I squirted pb blaster to loosen the plug, but no luck. Does anyone make a square fitting tool for the plug so I don't damage the plug? I could try a bigger adjustable wrench. Any other ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
I would try a larger crescent wrench and then a pipe wrench on a square headed plug.

If the square is bugged up I would attempt to replace it with new, if its a NPT thread.
 
They make 8 point sockets. Also I have never seen a square oil drain plug that I couldn't remove with a good 12 point socket and breaker bar unless the plug was messed up.
 
cresents are the most useless tool around. a 14 " pipe wrench will loosen it. even if its damaged. those plugs dont have to be that tight. can even put some teflon sealer on the threads before in installing it.
 
Those plug if not all messed up by people using the wrong tool on them take the normal 1/2 inch or 9/16 etc. If all messed up a good square jar pair of vise grips go a long ways in getting them out. By the way no type of oil spray on the out side will help since if you think about it there in oil 24/7 so the tread have oil on them 24/7
 
I'd wire brush and crud/rust off, then put on a socket & breaker bar. Should come loose unless marred up or really rusted up.
 
Google "8 Point Sockets." Sears has a small set for under $20. You will find them useful for other uses, too.
 
I'm not sure what model you have, but I have done the unthinkable and used a pipe wrench before, usually after
someone else had. Our local hardware store has replacement plugs after I get it removed. Its either overtightened
or rusted in, heat can get you in trouble on some pans, brazed in or soldered.
I have my Grandfathers' old socket set, many 8 point sockets there. Usually use a crescent wrench, always a good
brand, your mileage may vary.
 
(quoted from post at 19:21:38 06/21/18) With my greasing work behind me, I moved to replacing the engine oil. My oil drain plug is square and using a small adjustable wrench, I was not able to loosen the plug. I didn't want to push to hard and round off the plug. I squirted pb blaster to loosen the plug, but no luck. Does anyone make a square fitting tool for the plug so I don't damage the plug? I could try a bigger adjustable wrench. Any other ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks

Is this the H you mentioned???

If so it is a pipe plug, start with at least a 12" adjustable set up up close, bump the wrench with your palm a couple times.

It takes some torque to break them loose.
 
Any time you post you need to say what your working on since parts are not one size fits all so tell us what it is on and some one can then give you the info you need
 
Gee, That's funny! I've done THOUSANDS of oil changes with one of my two 12 inch cresant wrenches!

The original poster just needs to make sure his wrench is adjusted tightly on the drainplug. ANY IH engine I've ever seen has had machine screw threads and seals on two flat machined surfaces with either a copper or aluminum washer. Drain plugs have always been hex plug.

Tap lightly on cresant wrench handle making sure wrench is snug on the hex. Maybe need to use 18 inch cresant for more leverage.

When replacing the plug DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN! Same 12 inch cresant wrench, push on end of wrench about as hard as you would push to open a stuck kitchen cabinent door.
 
Sorry for not including my tractor info. I've being posting a lot and forgot this time. It's a 1949 Farmall H. I plan on getting a 14 in (or longer) pipe wrench after work and try again to remove the plug tonight. I will post my results. Thanks for all the replies.
 
(quoted from post at 12:47:50 06/22/18) Sorry for not including my tractor info. I've being posting a lot and forgot this time. It's a 1949 Farmall H. I plan on getting a 14 in (or longer) pipe wrench after work and try again to remove the plug tonight. I will post my results. Thanks for all the replies.

Have you screwed the square head up or is it in good shape?
 
That is a common pipe plug so if your is messed up some I would also buy a new pipe plug so you can have a good one in instead of the messed up one
 
(quoted from post at 09:55:35 06/22/18) That is a common pipe plug so if your is messed up some I would also buy a new pipe plug so you can have a good one in instead of the messed up one
I don't think the plug is to bad right now. I will know more if and when I get it off. If it looks like it's in bad shape, I will certainly replace it.
 
(quoted from post at 13:50:33 06/22/18)
(quoted from post at 09:55:35 06/22/18) That is a common pipe plug so if your is messed up some I would also buy a new pipe plug so you can have a good one in instead of the messed up one
I don't think the plug is to bad right now. I will know more if and when I get it off. If it looks like it's in bad shape, I will certainly replace it.

If ya use a pipe wrench on a good plug you will screw it up.
 
(quoted from post at 10:54:56 06/22/18)
(quoted from post at 13:50:33 06/22/18)
(quoted from post at 09:55:35 06/22/18) That is a common pipe plug so if your is messed up some I would also buy a new pipe plug so you can have a good one in instead of the messed up one
I don't think the plug is to bad right now. I will know more if and when I get it off. If it looks like it's in bad shape, I will certainly replace it.

If ya use a pipe wrench on a good plug you will screw it up.

It is a square drain plug, I was told a pipe wrench will be best to remove it.
 
Plug is a 3/4 pipe thread, easy to get. Head was around 5/8 when new but not machined perfect. If damaged slightly you can file or grind edges slightly to slide a 1/2 inch drive extension square end on and use a adjustable wrench on other end. Can hold square and it doesn't round off easy.
 

The drain plug is out with using the $15 14 inch pipe wrench. The oil did not have any water in it so that made me happy. Thanks for all the replies.


mvphoto18632.jpg
 
that don't look bad. I was expecting something worse.
Use an open end wrench to put it back in, just tight enough to keep it from leaking.
 
well of course you can do it, it is a farmers tool, and when encountering a tight plug i would not even think of using any crecent. i am old too and worked in garages doing oil changes but i sure doint think it adds up to THOUSANDS of oil changes, but then i have not really thought about how many i have done. but i at least can say i have never grabbed a crecent that i can remember to loosen a drain plug. its always been proper wrench size.no where did i say it wont work either. thats what snap on tools are for. look pretty funny working in a professional place with a crecent. plus i have never seen mechanics work with crecents. other than to loosen semi tight multiple things that cant be undone by hand, when you dont want to pack around a hand full of wrenches. i hate crecents.
plus...ANY IH engine DOES NOT have to have machine screw threads, these old tractors are a NPT FOR THE DRAIN PLUG with a SQUARE HEAD that takes a 9/16 WRENCH. drain plugs have NOT always been hex head. so dont start making fun at me till you know your information. i do not post info just for the sake of posting stuff as many do. plus sure funny how he used my suggestion to get the plug loose. not my first rodeo in the mechanical field.
 
(quoted from post at 14:56:24 06/23/18) Glad you got it taken care of. I'm still amazed how a simple question drew so many responses.

How about the guy with the 574 and lighting problem. He has ten posts and he hasn't even started. This might grow like a redwood before it's done.

Probably why the crescent wrench didn't work is that it was made in China. On a lot of the China crescent wrenches the jaws stretch and the wheel turns under moderate to heavy loads. You lose before you started.
 
(quoted from post at 20:03:11 06/23/18)
I am very surprised nobody mentioned tapping on it with a hammer. Standard procedure here if something is pretty tight or rusted.

That often helps, not sure about hammering on a sheetmetal pan tho.

If this plug was stuck he would have chewed the off with that pipe wrench.

Real tools are best & a crescent is better than a pipe wrench on a square plug.
 
i did think of smacking it, but didnt think it would do much good hitting on tin to get a solid smack. but that is true a smack helps on something solid.
 

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