Stripped Oil Drain Plug
 

Sooooo....
I did my first ever oil change in my Boxster this morning...went mostly fine other that the newbie mistake of letting the oil come out too fast for the container I was using...heh...

However on putting the new drain plug and crush washer on... I set it to the spec 37 ft lb torque.. did not click and I seemingly went too far and started stripping the 8mm socket hole... I know I stopped as soon as I caught it... I should have stopped when it felt "tight"... Don't know why this happened... but I can gather an Alumnimum plug is not a good mix here or maybe my socket wasn't all the way in or something...

Regardless I am left with a drain plug that may or may not be removeable... I left it for now and finished the oil change... Anyone have any advice for how to get this out next time now? And also a replacement drain plug rather than the aluminum one? I seem to have read about an LN one? I might just take to dealer next to let them deal with removal...sigh.

thanks,
comet

as the plug is already ruined, I would take a 9 mm hex bit and hammer it in and then slowly screw it out
I have the LN magnetic drain plug which feels much more solid

Sounds like a plan. Do you use the same crush washer type with the LN ?
I am happy that I saved $200 off the dealer heh.

You can get it out in a couple of easy ways. A torx bit can do a pretty good job of getting into the corners of the recess of a stripped allen. You could also use a drill bit designed to reverse out bolts with stripped threads. Hardware stores sell them.

the LN plug use the same crash washer.

Usually when the barrel of a hex head bolt starts to strip from being overtightened, only those sides/faces of the bolt for tightening are deformed - the opposite sides/faces of the bolt used for removal are hopefully undamaged and the bolt will come right out. If not, use the next size up hex head or a torx or a specialty removal tool (e-z out) that is left-handed and will bite into the barrel material for removal.

Another method is to take a small chisel and make a notch on the outer part of the plug, then angle the chisel so that when you hit it, it loosens the plug. Then yes, get the LN mag plug which is only tightened to 19 ft lbs.

Well, whatever happened?

Right now nothing, holding fine... I figure when I do my next oil change I will remove using a large diameter socket as suggested, and next time will use the LN magnetic drain plug. If I am lazy I will take to dealer to let them get it out...but I imagine I'll be able to do it...

Before you take the plug out give it a good whack with a hammer straight up.
I had the same happen to me, try to loosen. 1 Porsche tech and 1 Audi tech told me about this trick independent from each other, obviously not uncommon.....

Nice thing about the LN magnetic plug is that it tightens at 19 ft/lbs so you only need one torque wrench between the filter and the drain plug.

Good to know.:cheers:

Just to make 100% clear, do not whack too hard!!!