ATF drain plug removal

[ukrkoz]

I had exactly same issue with frozen drain plug on my 99 Silverado and, lo and behold, one on my Tahoe is also frozen to the trannie drain pan.
So far, regular socxket don't work. I tried 15mm Griptight socket but, it just angles on the shallow bolt head and slips off. I still ahve some hex left on the bolt and don't want to round it completely.
On Silverado I had to drop pan and drill the plug out, even in a vise it still won't budge.
Anyone knows any tricks to get it out? I have Kobalt bolt extractor kit but, OF COURSE, it does not have size 15 socket.
Before I start ordering sockets or welding nuts onto that drain plug - any suggestions? For reson obvious, I don't want to take torch to it plus, rubber seal in the flange likely will only toast to the pan worse.
Trying to avoid pan removal. Was no fun on Silverado. About the messiest job I had done.

 

[OR VietVet]

If you have air tool access, use an air chisel and a flat blade and can "burp" the blade on the edge of the plug in a reverse direction to break loose. If I came across tuff bolts/nuts when removing, I used to actually tighten a bit first to break loose in the opposite direction and then try to loosen.

 

[ukrkoz]

I have BIG compressor but no air chisel. Also, somehow, I doubt, that will work, as bolt head itself is maybe 8mm or so height. There's not much to catch on.

On a side note... Is there some sort of hex put on 15mm bolt extractor sockets? I looked at l;ike all kits on Amazon, only 2 have 15mm, the rest jumps from 14 to 16, and I laready have that. Hate to buy just one socket for $23... or buy new kit while having half of its sockets already... And, BTW, whatever HFT sells as a bolt extractor kit is junk, socket stripped right away.

 

[OR VietVet]

I have BIG compressor but no air chisel. Also, somehow, I doubt, that will work, as bolt head itself is maybe 8mm or so height. There's not much to catch on.

On a side note... Is there some sort of hex put on 15mm bolt extractor sockets? I looked at l;ike all kits on Amazon, only 2 have 15mm, the rest jumps from 14 to 16, and I laready have that. Hate to buy just one socket for $23... or buy new kit while having half of its sockets already... And, BTW, whatever HFT sells as a bolt extractor kit is junk, socket stripped right away.

You don't air chisel against the head, you burp it against the shoulder under the head. Right on the edge of the shoulder.

 

[NoReverseYukon]

Save yourself the headache - drop the pan and install a drain plug that you can remove the next time w/o going thru all this BS. Unless there isn't going to be a next time.

 

[ukrkoz]

Right. And remove half the exhaust along the way? Pan "tail" is pretty much on the exhaust. Been there with my Silverado.

 

[OR VietVet]

Right. And remove half the exhaust along the way? Pan "tail" is pretty much on the exhaust. Been there with my Silverado.

So, it is the nature of the beast.

 

[j91z28d1]

the Irvine brand is pretty good for bolt extractors and available local stores and Amazon. not always the best, but solid for the price and being able to pick them up quick non tool truck stuff

also, I'd just try a good fitting impact 6 point and a good impact. I find a lot of times even long breaker bars just try to twist off thin bolt heads. an impact is straight on with no side loading. also I hit it a few times in both directions on a lower setting before crossing fingers and letting it eat on max.

I've been pretty lucky over the years, but I'm also not up north where life with salt makes every mechanic job 10x worse.

 

[j91z28d1]

You don't air chisel against the head, you burp it against the shoulder under the head. Right on the edge of the shoulder.

this can definitely work and worth a try, needs to be a sharp chisel and I'd be worried about skipping and slicing thru the pan. try to have some hold something again the pan to protect it as it will probably slip a few times.

 

[gooffeyguy]

Your transmission pan has a drain plug? What year vehicle is this on?

 

[ukrkoz]

Just FYI, I remembered, that I have fluid extractor.
Nope. Won't reach ATF in the trannie. And what I mean - I had plenty of tube outside the filler tube, to go in. There's something at the bottom of it that blocks the tube from going deeper in. Extractor works fine otherwise, I checked. So no, no mas.
Looks like I'll have to order that bolt extractor kit or, at least, 15mm socket. I really don't want to drop the pan, been there, done that, all covered in ATF and half day job. Plus, it's 4WD, so you can't get to the gear shifter bracket and need to bend it away to gain access to the pan lip.
I'll try gentle heat and bolt extractor.

 

[ukrkoz]

Your transmission pan has a drain plug? What year vehicle is this on?

07

 

[OR VietVet]

Luckily, as I have bragged about many times here, I live where rust is not a problem.

 

[ukrkoz]

No reason to brag. Neither is rust a problem here. It's not the rust. It's the darn rubber seal in the plug flange. It, pretty much, cakes to the pan. The only reason your oil drain plug does not is because it is used more often. So it does not have time to cake to the metal. GM apparently never heard of simple yet functional copper washers. No need to rubber seals.

 

[ukrkoz]

MOF, if I'll get that plug off, I am inclined to put a Fumoto on instead. Call it aday for years to come.

 

[gooffeyguy]

Or just use a copper washer under the plug?

 

[OR VietVet]

No reason to brag. Neither is rust a problem here. It's not the rust. It's the darn rubber seal in the plug flange. It, pretty much, cakes to the pan. The only reason your oil drain plug does not is because it is used more often. So it does not have time to cake to the metal. GM apparently never heard of simple yet functional copper washers. No need to rubber seals.

Before I responded earlier, I did see you were in the PNW and knew you were likely not dealing with rust. I just like to say it and brag a little bit because I dealt with rust for so many years, I just get "giddy" talking about no rust here to deal with. Since I retired and started to work on vehicles at my house all the time, I have only had to deal with the rust on my old bones when doing that. The cash helps make up for it though.

 

[ukrkoz]

No worries. It's all good.

Waiting on the extractor kit to show up.

 

[j91z28d1]

odd. your extractor doesn't work. mine has always worked on all my trannys since the tube is huge. but it does hit something, I'm guessing windage tray going down the oil dipstick. very annoying when you over fill a half qt haha. haha.

 

[ukrkoz]

OK, I got plug out yesterday.
15mm socket out of this kit did the job

https://www.amazon.com/THINKPRO-Extractor-Stripped-Removing-Rounded-Off/dp/B09YTV7JXQ/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=bzpRQ&content-id=amzn1.sym.bc5f3394-3b4c-4031-8ac0-18107ac75816&pf_rd_p=bc5f3394-3b4c-4031-8ac0-18107ac75816&pf_rd_r=QWDY70XYYFTEPPMMB27Y&pd_rd_wg=DVWmK&pd_rd_r=a09ca11e-38cd-4f2b-9d17-0ddd23753125&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m

Well, soaked it with Liquid Wrench first and used breaker bar, of course. But, socket gripped well and with a bit of effort it popped.
Was contemplating using my g'ol air impact wrench, as regular DeWalt impact didn't do it. But, have it a shot with breaker bar.
I could see, where rubber cooked to the oil pan.
New plug - it's the same, as for the oil drain - received ample anti seize before placed in.