Oil drain bolt stuck

krayzie · 10-25-2018, 03:26 PM

After draining all the oil and reinstalling the rear oil drain bolt, it kept spinning...
Now it is stuck in the pan continuously spinning when trying to loosen or tighten.
I have not refilled the oil yet in fears it will leak out.
Any suggestions on how to remove this bolt??

I can't get any real leverage on the bolt head to try and pry it while unscrewing as the rear drain has sort of a lip around the bolt area so I'm out of ideas.

pbonsalb · 10-25-2018, 03:39 PM

You must get some leverage or weld something into it to give you leverage. This will be easier than removing the pan and you can repair the threads with the pan mounted using a helicoil or keensert or timsert. If you were going to do rod bearings soon this would be a good time since the pan comes off for that and the thread repair can be done with the pan off.

Makaveli7 · 10-25-2018, 03:42 PM

Is the bolt spinning on the thread or the the key spinning with the bolt in place (i.e are the threads gone and the bolt is stuck or the bolt threads are good and your key is spinning without the bolt).

If it is the second option get a bigger allen key (T45 if im not mistaken) grind it down a bit and hit it slowly into the bolt untill you can remove the bolt securely.

I has this issue recently and got a new bolt for the front hole. The hole with the lip in had bad threads and I had to rethread the pan and use an oversized bolt.

Good Luck!

krayzie · 10-25-2018, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makaveli7

Is the bolt spinning on the thread or the the key spinning with the bolt in place (i.e are the threads gone and the bolt is stuck or the bolt threads are good and your key is spinning without the bolt).

If it is the second option get a bigger allen key (T45 if im not mistaken) grind it down a bit and hit it slowly into the bolt untill you can remove the bolt securely.

I has this issue recently and got a new bolt for the front hole. The hole with the lip in had bad threads and I had to rethread the pan and use an oversized bolt.

Good Luck!

It's not the hex head that's rounded but most likely the threads on either the bolt or pan.

Atomicteal_M3 · 10-25-2018, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krayzie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makaveli7

Is the bolt spinning on the thread or the the key spinning with the bolt in place (i.e are the threads gone and the bolt is stuck or the bolt threads are good and your key is spinning without the bolt).

If it is the second option get a bigger allen key (T45 if im not mistaken) grind it down a bit and hit it slowly into the bolt untill you can remove the bolt securely.

I has this issue recently and got a new bolt for the front hole. The hole with the lip in had bad threads and I had to rethread the pan and use an oversized bolt.

Good Luck!

It's not the hex head that's rounded but most likely the threads on either the bolt or pan.

I ran into the same situation. In my case, the threads on the oil pan itself was stripped! This can either be an expensive replacement I.e. replacing the whole oil pan ($1500) or having somebody re-tap the oil pan ( much cheaper option). It is caused from reusing the same oil plugs over. That's why I purchase new oil plugs for every oil change I do now. I haven't had an issue since for 4 years!
http://www.timesert.com/html/oilpan.pdf

drrust · 10-25-2018, 05:41 PM

Try to wedge something against the side of the drain plug as you turn it. You maybe able to back it out.

The timesert described previously can work. If you do it yourself, make sure you are square to the pan. I had one installed and it was a little off. If you have a shop do it, see if you can find one that does thread repair on a regular basis. I wish I went to the one that did. The one by me does mobile spark plug repair, you maybe able to get someone to come to you.

10-25-2018, 03:26 PM	#1
krayzie Private 14 Rep 60 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	Oil drain bolt stuck After draining all the oil and reinstalling the rear oil drain bolt, it kept spinning... Now it is stuck in the pan continuously spinning when trying to loosen or tighten. I have not refilled the oil yet in fears it will leak out. Any suggestions on how to remove this bolt?? I can't get any real leverage on the bolt head to try and pry it while unscrewing as the rear drain has sort of a lip around the bolt area so I'm out of ideas.
	Appreciate 1 Makaveli7116.50 Tweet Quote

10-25-2018, 03:39 PM	#2
pbonsalb Lieutenant General 5234 Rep 10,616 Posts Drives: 18 F90 M5, 99 E36 M3 Turbo Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New England iTrader: (4)	You must get some leverage or weld something into it to give you leverage. This will be easier than removing the pan and you can repair the threads with the pan mounted using a helicoil or keensert or timsert. If you were going to do rod bearings soon this would be a good time since the pan comes off for that and the thread repair can be done with the pan off.
	Appreciate 1 Makaveli7116.50 Quote

10-25-2018, 03:42 PM	#3
Makaveli7 Enthusiast 117 Rep 150 Posts Drives: M3 E92 Jerez Black Join Date: May 2012 Location: Dubai iTrader: (0)	Is the bolt spinning on the thread or the the key spinning with the bolt in place (i.e are the threads gone and the bolt is stuck or the bolt threads are good and your key is spinning without the bolt). If it is the second option get a bigger allen key (T45 if im not mistaken) grind it down a bit and hit it slowly into the bolt untill you can remove the bolt securely. I has this issue recently and got a new bolt for the front hole. The hole with the lip in had bad threads and I had to rethread the pan and use an oversized bolt. Good Luck!
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10-25-2018, 05:41 PM	#6
drrust Captain 336 Rep 724 Posts Drives: E90 M3 DCT Sedan Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Cincinnati iTrader: (0)	Try to wedge something against the side of the drain plug as you turn it. You maybe able to back it out. The timesert described previously can work. If you do it yourself, make sure you are square to the pan. I had one installed and it was a little off. If you have a shop do it, see if you can find one that does thread repair on a regular basis. I wish I went to the one that did. The one by me does mobile spark plug repair, you maybe able to get someone to come to you.
	Appreciate 0 Quote