1st Gen R50 Cooper Most liked posts in thread: Over torqued oil drain plug.

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  1. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

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    #2 BruceK, Nov 5, 2015
    Take it back to whomever did the dirty deed and have them fix the problem?
     
  2. Crashton

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    #29 Crashton, Nov 14, 2015
    It was easier when Dave O was here. He'd tell us what was right & we all knew that's the way it is.

    Choose whatever flavor you like. Just make sure it's extra virgin olive oil. :D
     
  3. Canusrufis

    Canusrufis RMW Powered R53
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    #9 Canusrufis, Nov 6, 2015
  4. Crashton

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    #10 Crashton, Nov 6, 2015
    I have some of those & that's not a bad idea. I'd still give the wrench a smack with a dead blow hammer.
     
  5. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

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    #13 BruceK, Nov 7, 2015
    Or... Spend an hour driving back to the bozo who over tightened it and have them fix the situation.
     
  6. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #15 Crashton, Nov 7, 2015
    I agree with Dave. If you do go bring that dead blow hammer with you. :)
     
  7. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #16 MCS02, Nov 7, 2015
    Yes defiantly the Dead Blow Hammer!!:devil:
     
  8. interzonearts

    interzonearts New Member

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    #17 interzonearts, Nov 13, 2015
    All my efforts resulted in a rounded up bolt, so i took it to a nearby mechanic who got it out for $40 which was not horrible.

    Anyways the point of this exercise was switching to winter oil - Royal Purple 10-30 VrOOm VrOOm.
     
  9. Crashton

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    #22 Crashton, Nov 13, 2015
    My flavor of oil is Mobile One 0w40 full synthetic. It meets MINI's spec & VW's. so I only need to buy one kind.

    Dave O loves his Royal Purple.
     
  10. Crashton

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    #27 Crashton, Nov 13, 2015
    Oh nose I misspoke hope Dave O ain't too pissed at me. I'm motoring on now. :crazy:
     
  11. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

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    #3 caseydog, Nov 5, 2015
    I hope you didn't go to one of those Jiffy-Kwic-Lub and Carwash places. They seem to love to over-tighten drain plugs and oil filters. My wife took her car to one, against my advice, and they cross-treaded the drain plug.

    Was the engine cold when you tried to take the plug out? That might help, since the plug will contract a very tiny bit.

    If it looks like you are going to ruin the plug getting it out, you may want to have a replacement plug on hand, unless you have a second car to drive to the parts store.

    Good luck.

    CD
     
  12. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #4 Minidave, Nov 5, 2015
    I've used a variety of strategies but a lot depends on how deep your tool box is......I've used a zip gun with a cold chisel tip, I've hammered on a 1/2" socket (1/2" drive) and used a breaker bar, and when they're rounded over completely I've welded a nut over the stub and then it comes out easily.

    I do not understand why people feel the need to put these in so tight - factory spec is only 22 ft lbs IIRC.
     
  13. interzonearts

    interzonearts New Member

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    #5 interzonearts, Nov 5, 2015
    It was valvoline.

    My initial thought was to go there but it's at least an hour drive to the place.

    I do have a couple of autopart stores within biking distance :) which came handy this summer when our mini's alternator gave up and our truck's starter got busted on the next or so day.

    I'm gonna try the 1/2'' socket next.
     
  14. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #6 MCS02, Nov 6, 2015
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2015
    You need to get a 6 point socket that is designed like a snapon. They use to have the patten but now others have the same design. If you look at the inside of the socket it is rounded so it makes contact on the flats of the bolt not the corners like a 12 or normal 6 point.
    The time of design will not round off the bolt and mini times will remove a rounded one.
     

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  15. gjxj

    gjxj Member

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    #7 gjxj, Nov 6, 2015
    actually, i think the opposite. Aluminum pan expands more than steel plug, so it should be looser hot.
     
  16. Crashton

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    #8 Crashton, Nov 6, 2015
    My take is that the problem is the rubber/vinyl gasket on the plug compresses & when over tightened it can be a real bear. My technique: Get a sock jammed on there with a breaker bar. Hit the breaker bar with a dead blow hammer. A sharp strike should loosen the plug. If the plug is too gnawed up for a socket try a set of large vice-grips & then a whack.

    Good luck & buy a new drain plug.
     
  17. interzonearts

    interzonearts New Member

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    #11 interzonearts, Nov 6, 2015
    I do have a set of blu point sockets which are a cheaper version of snap on so the contour should be the same.

    I didn't have time to deal with the plug today but i'll try to find some tomorrow. My thoughts right now are 6 point socket on a 2' breaker bar with a warm engine. If that doesn't work i'll order the bolt extractors Canusrufis suggested, they seem like something i'd like to have anyways.
     
  18. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #12 Minidave, Nov 6, 2015
    Don't bother with channel lock pliers or vice grips, they will not work. I also haven't had any luck smacking it with a hammer - but if you're gonna try it I'd use a steel ball pein hammer, not a plastic dead blow......

    Hope they didn't strip the threads or you'll be learning how to put in a heli-coil too.....

    Worst case you can pull the pan off and heat it with a torch.....
     
  19. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #14 Minidave, Nov 7, 2015
    The biggest problem with that is they'll probably make the situation worse!

    Especially if it was an "Iffy Lube" that screwed it up.....
     
  20. BruceK

    BruceK Active Member

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    #18 BruceK, Nov 13, 2015
    Glad it got it worked out (pun intended).

    Winter oil? Huh?

    Different seasonal temperature is what multi-weight oil is designed to handle automatically.

    You should be using 5W-30 per the owner's manual, right? Or did MINI change it's recommendations for later cars?

    I definitely would not use thicker, more viscous oil in the winter.
     
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