Type IV oil drain plug rounded off :)

Hi guys

Our oil drain plug on our type IV lump is rounded off (looks like it was once 13mm).
Tried it with some molegrips but not judging at all and just making the bolt worse.
Any advice welcome - want to get it out but not sure how?
Thanks again
Elizabeth

 

You can re file it to a 12 mm, use an imperial socket, use a lock nut removal tool, drill and use an easy out, or tap the centre to a left hand thread and wind a l/h bolt in.
I've used all of these with varying degrees of success.
Three tips worthy of note.
1. Buy a new plug BEFORE starting.
2. Use some localised heat and/or penetrant and a bit of percussive persuasion.
3. The continued use of grips WILL lead to (expensive) failure.

 

Tip the engine up and pour it out of the filler?
Remove filler and jack up the front of bus?
Drill and tap an ickle drain plug in the stuck one?
What he said^

 

Poor quality mole grips are the biggest causes of bung rounding off in my opinion .

 

Bung rounding ?

 

I had a similar issue on my old engine, so just removed the strainer sump plate. Bit more messy, but then it's the same for most 1600 owners

 

Are you using a hex socket, or a multi-point one?

 

You want to get yourself one of these - they are awesome and will get anything undone, no matter how knackered it is.

I got mine off QVC years ago, but i'm sure they will sell them at good tool shops.

The more pressure you apply, the more they grip.

If you are anywhere near Solihull by any chance I will gladly pop over and undo it for you, but if not, I suggest you invest in one, or a set.

 

Plumbers stilsons are useful

 

mole grips and stilsons are best left to plumbers .... decent socket or super wrench as grub said or cut a slot and use impact driver

 

Both excellent tools in capable hands, i use them all the time

 

If it still drives, it might be wise to take to a friendly local garage and ask if they can loosen it.
Buy a new plug first as TBR suggests (and a crush washer or copper washer). I'd lightly grease the threads of the new plug before installing.
Make sure you only use hex sockets, and not multi-point ones.

There are at least two oil drain plug sizes for a type IV. Ours was the less common M12x1.5, but yours may be M14x1.5. VWH sell both if you can't find one locally.

 

Wow loads of responses. Probably going to take it to a local workshop - cheers guys

 

Even better this way

 

Eughhhhhhhh Hammerite

 

And the stilsons ?

 

Customer supplied !!

 

Using them to steady the camera

 

Hi all
My first real headache with my new baby. The oil drain plug torx is completely rounded and nothing will budge the bolt. I managed to get a Allen key into the hole but the key broke without budging the bolt even after using plusgas to try to loosen it. I'm thinking this is a garage visit unless anybody has successfully removed one otherwise.

You may notice the PO has used some sort of dum dum to seal the filter so I'm reluctant to drain the oil this way.