Hi, i went to change the oil on my mk6 escort today only to find the sump plug rounded off. Socket has no grip nor does mole grips or pipe wrench. I don't have access to a ramp and have very basic tools so limited to what i can do, local garage is trying to rip me off. Any ideas or can someone have a go for me? i live in the Thamesmead area London. Many thanks J

 

buy a set of bolt grippers from machine mart or halfords,
they are a socket set which bite into the rounded nut/bolt, the more you turn the harder it bites, they will get it out with ease. one of the best buys ive ever made. saved plenty of skinned knuckles

 

these are the ones..................

http://www.google.com/products?q=bol...ed=0CCQQrQQwAw

 

Cool, thankyou. Looking into it now.

 

Those bolt grippers do work well!

 

They do, i just use a air chissel thingy to turn it

 

Get a haMmer and chisel and give it a few taps to get it loosens then try the mole grips!

 

other option is to chizzel a piece out of the bolt, and then nock the bolt round and out and replace with a new sump plug, or maybe hammer a old socket over it, i never heard of these bolt grippers though, let me know if u buy them and how they perform, i may have to get my self a set,
cheers dan.

 

IS yours the later one with the 13mm head and the large flange with a washer underneath?

If so, using a blunt chisel or screwdriver, tap between the alloy sump and the sump plug a couple of times before trying to undo again. They tend to grip the same as oil filters do and I find that this sometimes helps get them undone.

If yours is the earlier one with the 13mm head and the small flange, once you have it undone, use a Mondeo/Escort TD sump plug washer (metal with rubber insert). This means you won't have the problem again and get a better seal into the bargain.

 

The bolt grippers do work well, have used a set made by IRWIN, hammer a notch and chisel away, just don't overtighten new one like the one in there presently!!
tabetha

 

proper stilsons if they dont get it out it aint coming out designed for holding round things

 

the other thing you can do is use a junior hacksaw or something like a dremel and make the larger part of plug into a nut(something like 17/19mm) then use a spanner to remove.