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MG MGA - Is there a trick to the Oil Drain Plug

Doing my first oil change and I cannot get the drain plug off for the life of me.

Car's warmed up and ready to go.

I'm doing it in my garage so I don't have benefit of the positioning allowed by a lift.

Any suggestions are welcome
Tysen

Hi Tysen. No trick to oil pan drain plug removal. Bolt turns counter clockwise to remove. Use a hex socket of the proper size if possible to avoid rounding the corners off of the plug. Likely, some dumb Garage mechanic simplu overtightened the bolt! Use a long breaker bar with the socket, in order to get adequate leverage. Good Luck. Let us know how it goes. Cheers! GLenn
Glenn

Got it. 2 foot pipe gave enough leverage.

Thanks Glenn
Tysen

Tysen,

The most common reason for overtightening of sump plugs is that they have previously been leaking. The copper washer has become hardened, or may even be missing.
Copper washers should be heated in a propane gas flame and allowed to cool in air to soften them. Replace it if you can find a correctly fitting one.

Mick
Mick Anderson

I have a quick oil change drain plug in my MGA, Just slide the lever and the oil comes out, move the lever and it is closed.
JEFF BECKER

Thanks Mick,

You were spot on. In this case previous owners had tighted the plug down so tight for so long that the copper washer has actually worn down to a wafer and was binding into the threads in some areas.

I've added its replacement to my purchase list.
Tysen

This thread was discussed between 13/08/2005 and 14/08/2005

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.