Just spent 4 hours on a Toyota oil pan drain plug

I had a 2010 Camry in my shop in Austin yesterday, oil pan gasket started seeping. Simple job right? Wrong. The drain plug was seized so bad I snapped my 3/8 ratchet trying to break it loose. Four hours later with an extractor kit and some heat, I finally got it out. Has anyone else run into a drain plug that took way longer than the actual gasket replacement?

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2 Comments

barbaragarcia4mo ago

I just snapped my 3/8 ratchet trying to break it loose" - ngl that's exactly why I keep a breaker bar in my truck for every oil change now. Toyota drain plugs and rust are a nightmare combo nobody warns you about.

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faith_schmidt4mo ago

Drain plug gaskets are cheap but nobody ever replaces them. That copper crush washer gets flattened after a few changes and then the plug fights you extra hard. Plus if you crank it back down too tight thinking it needs to be super snug, that's when the threads strip out and you're drilling into the oil pan at 2am. Swap the gasket every time and you can break it loose with your fingers half the time.

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