Changing my own oil for the first time and the drain plug got stuck

I was under my car in the driveway last month, trying to do my first oil change. The drain plug on my old Civic would not budge, even with a breaker bar. I ended up rounding off the head a bit and had to drive to my friend's house to use his vice grips. We got it off, but I learned to always tap the plug with a hammer first to break any seal. Has anyone else had a stuck plug and found a better way to get it loose without wrecking it?

2 comments

2 Comments

ivan404d ago

My old Toyota's plug always comes out with a long-handled ratchet.

david1233d ago

Honestly that sounds like a hassle, ivan40. A stubby ratchet with a short extension gets into tight spots way better on those old Toyotas. The long handle just gives you less room to work and you're more likely to round the bolt.