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So, as usual, the most difficult part of changing the oil has been trying to remove the old crush ring from the drain plug and unfortunately this time the effort has resulted in a large hole in my left index finger. So after much swearing and a painting parts of the house red, I figure that it's about time that I ask: how does everyone else go about removing the bloody thing (well hopefully without it getting bloody)?

I put the bolt into a vice and then get a screw driver...i break the washer in half and peel it away (it cant be used again anyway)

Damo wrote:So, as usual, the most difficult part of changing the oil has been trying to remove the old crush ring from the drain plug ....

????....
Is this a common problem with NB sump plugs?
My washer simply slips off without any effort, as do other people's NA's whom I've helped with an oil change.

I'm not sure if it's always like this because the last time I did it was the first oil change since I bought this car. I ended up using various tools to try to get it away from the bolt head and then cut it and peeled as Wun said. A mechanic did the last change and mechanics seem to believe that when Mazda specifies 31-40 N.m they really mean 100 N.m so it is pretty thoroughly squeezed on! I'd forgotten that they'd done the last change and now have to go and buy an oil filter wrench because I can't get the filter off either.

A vice would have been handy indeed!

I don't ever remember having any such issues with my NA6. Though when I started using the magnetic bolt I had on the B6 on the BPD it almost always leaked, so I stopped using any washer & no leaks from there.

Yes, I think it must be a specific thing to NB's as I haven't had this issue either. Sounds like a real pain...

And yes, the filter was terrible to remove the first time I changed mine, must better when it is put on hand tight...

For the sump plug on my SE, I grip the bolt with one hand, the washer with the other, and gently slide it off with little or no friction...you sure ur using the right sized washer, and ur not tightening it too much when you do it up?

how does everyone else go about removing the bloody thing

I use the same one over and over. Will replace it if it ever starts leaking

Simple really,

Go to your toyota dealer and buy 1/2 dozen camry sump plug gaskets all of $1.20 each, remove old ring by holding plug in vice or multigrips and with that screwdriver that you stabbed your self with last time gently pry away from head. Then fit the toyota gaskets and next time it will come off with no effort.

Terry

Fuzzlet wrote:For the sump plug on my SE, I grip the bolt with one hand, the washer with the other, and gently slide it off with little or no friction...you sure ur using the right sized washer, and ur not tightening it too much when you do it up?

yeah you really got to make sure you dont over tighten the poor old sump plug you'll prob damage the thread on the sump if you do.

screw driver! always works.

Mine normally falls off into the drain tray full of dirty old oil.

From where I fish it out and put it back on the sump plug. Never seems to leak...

JMather wrote:

Fuzzlet wrote:For the sump plug on my SE, I grip the bolt with one hand, the washer with the other, and gently slide it off with little or no friction...you sure ur using the right sized washer, and ur not tightening it too much when you do it up?

yeah you really got to make sure you dont over tighten the poor old sump plug you'll prob damage the thread on the sump if you do.

screw driver! always works.

Unfortunately the two times I've done it have been after a mechanic has done it in the process of doing other work. In my experience, mechanics over-tighten everything. The oil filter was a nightmare too. I have no idea whether it was the right size; I guess I'll find out next change, since I got mine from Mazda.

Funny you say that about oil filters - when I put my one on i make it hand tight. When it comes time to remove it I need to use a socket cos its tightened itself