Trying to differentiate an oil drain plug from a hub cap wrench isn’t always straightforward for those who know very little about vehicles. Choosing the DIY route is incredibly useful because finances are stretched beyond limits. Removing a stuck oil drain plug, however, needs a lot of patience and care. You can’t just go into this heavy-handed as it’s likely to cause all sorts of problems; so, you need to approach this with a cautious mind and a little know-how. So, what do you need to know about removing a stuck oil drain plug from your car?

Warm Your Car Up

You should heat the engine for a few minutes to try and loosen the drain plug. This could make it a lot easier to get a grip on the situation. Don’t keep the car running for long, however, as it’ll be far too hot to work on. A few minutes should be sufficient. So, locate the plug and try to loosen it. Typically, it’s easier to work with an engine when it’s warm and you might find it easier to remove the plug. Unfortunately, it might not be as simple as you hoped.

Apply Penetrating Oil on the Plug

Sometimes, the plug is not ready to move, regardless of what you do to it. When you have a stubborn drain plug, you need to be a bit more forceful with it. So, apply a penetrating oil around the plug and let it sit for two or three hours. This should work its way through the drain plug and hopefully loosen a few things. Take a mallet to the plug and gently tap it to loosen it. Don’t be overly enthusiastic with the mallet otherwise, you’ll damage the plug, and it may never get unstuck. An oil cap wrench could be a useful substitute if you don’t have a mallet at hand.

Grease and Tools

Socket wrenches or gator grips could help loosen the drain plug; however, you have to be careful with these. You can’t be too heavy-handed in your approach; you need to be firm but gentle. Remember, if you’re too rough you’ll damage the oil drain plug and might need to pay for repairs. You should also lubricate the plug to encourage it to loosen up. You can read about How to Remove an Oil Filter without a Wrench – 4 Methods to Choose From by clicking here.

Call in a Professional

Stuck oil drain plugs are troublesome issues. In most cases, you’ll be able to coax it loose; unfortunately, that’s not always the case. When you have exhausted your options, you may want to call a professional for help. Mechanics have seen it all and they should be able to resolve the issue without too much trouble. You can also read about Overview of automotive engine friction and reduction trends–Effects of surface, material, and lubricant-additive technologies by visiting https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40544-016-0107-9

Resolve the Problem

There are ways to remove a stuck oil drain plug from a car, including using grease and wrenches, heating the engine, and applying penetrating oil. Sometimes, these things will work, and you won’t have to call in a mechanic. Unfortunately, if these methods fail, you will need to call in a professional. Fortunately, it isn’t too expensive and can resolve the problem quickly. Like a hub cap wrench, the right tools to fix the problem.