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Just a plug for good tools here. Back when I wuz a Real Mekanik, I
actually bought Snap-On tools. Well, I still do, but not like I used to.
Fact is, high quality sockets and wrenches are less likely to round off
the corners on a bolt or nut than cheaper stuff. Here's why:

1) The sizes are more accurate. Lots of time cheap sockets and wrenches
aren't exactly 13mm or 5/8ths or whatever they're labeled at. They're a
little loose.

2) Snap-On, and some other manufacturers now, use a special design of
sockets and box wrenches that grips the nut/bolt on the flats instead of
the corners, providing lots more turning torque per square inch. 

Result: less likely to bugger up stuck nuts or bolts, and lots of time
you can remove nuts/bolts that have already been somewhat rounded
without doing more damage. Frankly, the same thing is true for their
Phillips screwdrivers. Just bought another set, as a matter of fact, for
about the same price as I'd pay for a Dinan suspension <g>...

Bottom line: if you've got a marginal fastener that's REALLY tight, it
might behoove you to pony up for a high-quality (SnapOn or equivalent)
tool to get it off. I know my SnapOn metric 3/8ths sockets are 20 years
old and most of them look brand new. It's an investment for life. A big
investment, yes, but an investment for life <g>....

Finally, if you can't afford a good tool, get a big hurkin cold chisel
and a ballpeen hammer and just wail on it. It WILL turn, then you can
buy another one to replace it with.

Cheers,

John Browne
'76 Snap-On 3/8ths drive metric sockets
'96 Craftsman 1/2" drive metric sockets (engineering goal: let's mark
the sizes on these sockets so they are guaranteed to be unreadable)

>>From: [email protected] (Paul R. Reitz)
Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 15:47:12 -0400
Subject: re: stuck oil drain plug

Evan wrote:

>My wife's new car (not a BMW, BTW) has a drain plug that just doesn't
>want to loosen. The dealer last changed the oil about 5,000 miles back.
>I'm afraid that if I really muscle it, I'll strip the hex head round.
>I've tried sockets, closed-ends, open-ends, and crescent wrenches with
>no luck. Does anyone have any suggestions (other than Jiffy Lube)?

I'd suggest the following:

1) put a six-sided hex socket on it, and tap the ratchet handle while
applying reasonable torque.  If the plug hex is totally destroyed,

2) apply locking pliers to the plug and again, have at it with a hammer.

Caveats:
1) Make sure you're loosening the plug! (Ask me how I know...)
2) Plan on replacing the drain plug; they're not *that* expensive.

In many situations of a stuck fastener, the *impact* of tapping the
wrench
end while applying some steady torque works well, whereas steady torque
would just break the fastener.

Hope this works for you.

Paul Reitz
BMWCCA #1167<<