okay, so i was about to change my oil like i always do when the time comes. and when i get ready and start trying to remove the drain plug, it strips because i tried so hard. i mean it's not that cold in miami, it was just i think 50 or so degrees. that sucks. any words of advice?

 

did the bolt head strip or are the threads on the bolt messed up?

 

Go to sears and buy stripped nut remover. I used that to remove the stripped nuts on the header and it worked.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00952166000P?

 

then go to your local junk yard and buy you a new pan.

 

wow, thank guys. that was quick. i think that both are stripped bolt head and bolt thread. if i can recall. i'm not 100% cause i think i'm confusing the thread with another car i had. but either way i have to change the nut right? and with that stripped nut remover that should be good? but if it's the thread it has to be the oil pan too huh? [&:]

 

If the head just stripped the threads in the pan should be fine, of course you'll need a new plug. If you're willing to replace the pan, then you don't have to worry about getting the plug out of the old one.

 

if it just the head that is stripped then get a bolt remover threads should be fine if not then either replace your pan (best idea) or get helicoil (cheapest idea) and have then have the hole retapped.

 

take a flash light and look in the hole to see if the pan threads are shredded. if they look fine, go to the dealership (not pep boys) and get a new plug and see if it threads right in. it will only cost around $6-7. if the pan threads are done for, you could tap the hole and put in an oversized plug, but i've seen it not work more times than i have.

 

I did that to my civic last time I changed the oil, ended up getting the pan drilled out and got a new plug. Was cheaper than replacing the pan and stuff. The dealer did it for me, just because I was finishing up w/ school for the semester and didnt have time to do it myself. Hope this helps!

 

If its just the head of the bolt, its probably cheaper/easier to buy a new bolt from Honda, bring in your oil and filter, and have them change your oil and filter and replace the plug all in one go. If they're nice, they wont charge you labour for replacing the bolt, and it should be a cheap oil change because you're supplying the oil and filter. Then you don't have to spend the $30-$50 on the stripped bolt remover kit that you'll probably only use once. I stripped my drain plug, and the bolt only cost me $2.50 from Honda, and the oil change with me supplying the oil and filter was only about $40 including removal of the stripped bolt. Saved me the bother of changing the oil myself out in the cold.