How to Remove an Over-Tightened Oil Plug?

It is common to over-tighten your oil plug. It is necessary to change the engine oil every once in a while. To do this, you must first remove your oil plug. Sometimes people over-tighten their drain plugs, which makes it more difficult to remove the next time. 

Oil plugs are used to stop your oil from draining or leaking. The oil plug should be properly tightened to prevent oil from leaking out of your engine. If you tighten the oil plug too tightly, it can put too much pressure on its thread. This could cause problems when you change your oil. 

Let’s take a look at the causes of oil plug tightening.  

An Over Tightened Oil Plug 

Sludge 

This is the main reason why you may not be able to remove your oil plug. Sludge Viscous liquid containing fuel, water, carbon and metallic particles. It is formed when an oil plug isn’t thoroughly cleaned after changing oil. It forms when the excess oil is heated with grease molecules and makes it difficult to remove. 

Rust 

This happens if your car has not been serviced or you don’t drive it for a long time. If your oil comes in contact with water, rust can build up around the oil plug. Rust builds up around the oil plug and causes it to tighten. 

Over Tightening 

This could have happened when you changed the oil in your vehicle. After draining the oil, it is possible that the oil plug was not tightened properly. 

The effects of tightening your oil plug too tightly 

• The threads of your oil plug should be damaged. 
• It can cause damage to the rubber gasket and screw heads. 
• It is difficult to replace the oil next time. 
• Cracked O-rings can lead to oil leaking. 

How to Fix an Oil Plug that is Too Tight 

Use Lubricant 

Lubrication can help you prevent sludge deposits from your oil plug. This can be done by using a high-quality oil lubricant.   

Steps: 

1. Spray the oil plug with the lubricant, making sure it covers the entire area. 
2. Let the oil sit for about 1-2 hours and then use a wrench on the plug to get it out. 
3. Spray more oil if the drain plug is not tight enough and then try again. 

It is important to remove the oil filter gently and with patience. Incorrect removal can lead to the threads being broken or even completely tightened. It is best to turn the wrench left six time and then right once. If you don’t have enough experience using these tools, make sure to hire a professional mechanic. 

Hex Key 

First, loosen the drain plug using a socket wrench. A socket wrench measuring 3/8 inches (0.9 cm) will be sufficient to fit the drain plug. A hammer tap can be used if you require more power. Gator Grip can be used, which is compatible almost with every socket. Try a hex key if that fails. 

Steps: 

1. Use water to spray your hex key. 
2. Use the hex key to tighten the oil plug. 
3. Use caution when using too much force. This could damage the gasket and break the key. 

Warm up the engine 

You should note that this process will not work if you live in a cold environment and your oil has frozen. There may be rust around your oil plug if your car has been inactive for a long time. To remove the rust, you may need an anti-rust spray. 

Steps: 

1. Turn the ignition key and start the car. 
2. Make sure the oil plug is hot. It should not be heated too much. 
3. You can loosen it with a wrench. 

Air Chisel 

High-pressure air is used to pound into a cylinder in an air chisel. This creates a force within the chisel that allows it to move forward. This forces the chisel to move forward. This strategy works well in most situations. The gasket can burst if the air pressure is too high. 

Steps:

1. Adjust the pressure regulator of your air supply to 60-70 PSI. 
2. Place the blade’s corner on the drain plug surface. 
3. From the left side, place it in the middle of the plug. 
4. Push it gently until the blade is in contact with an oil plug. You can then reposition the chisel until you have an oil plug. 
5. Once the nut has been loosen, you can remove it with your hands or a wrench. 

Steps To Be Taken To Avoid Over-Tightening

Here are some ways to prevent the drain plug being locked.

1. Without using too much force, tighten your oil plug gently. It should not be too loose to ensure it fits properly. 
2. Drain the oil and then properly re-install the plug. Angles The plug’s threads can be severely damaged, which results in a tighter grip. 
3. Regularly change your motor oil to prevent sludge buildup around the drain plug. 
4. You can tighten the oil plug using a wrench or a spanner. 

Conclusion 

The correct technique should be used to tighten the oil drain connector. The oil plug may be damaged by tightening it too tightly. After reinstalling the oil plug, always apply a high quality lubricant.  

Last, but not least, make sure to drive your vehicle at least once a week or just turn the engine on for a few seconds to reduce the risk of your vehicle rusting.