stuck sump plug

I've got a sump plug I cant get off on my Defender TD5, has anyone tried loctite freeze and release? I've tried quite a bit of force and the nuts starting to round off so thought I'd better stop before it got too bad.
My other thought would be to get a blow torch and heat it up but there's a bit of oil that seeps out and wouldn't want to set the whole thing on fire.

7tastic said:

I've got a sump plug I cant get off on my Defender TD5, has anyone tried loctite freeze and release? I've tried quite a bit of force and the nuts starting to round off so thought I'd better stop before it got too bad.
My other thought would be to get a blow torch and heat it up but there's a bit of oil that seeps out and wouldn't want to set the whole thing on fire.

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Never had anything to do with Td5, but if I met a large stuck plug on an old landy or tractor I would drive a cold chisel into one of the flats and tap the plug round with a club hammer. As I say, don't know if modern vehicles can take this treatment, have you searched, sure Shifty has a method?

Sounds like its been cross threaded or simply done up crazy tight!
Could be a job for an impact air wrench.

I think the previouse owner (who was supposed to be a land Rover restorer) couldn't be bothered to replace the washer at the last service so has swung on it to stop it leaking

Yes, I've had this on a couple of occasions where the previous person hadn't even put a washer on at all, and had done the plug up incredibly tight. I didn't do anything particularly sophisticated, just used a hex socket rather than a 12 point one, and a 39" breaker bar. TD5 sumps seem pretty tough so you're unlikely to do any damage.

Aren't td5 sumps alloy ?

lanny man 90 said:

Aren't td5 sumps alloy ?

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certainly are.

I've ordered an electric impact wrench from amazon would that damage the sump or should I be OK?

just buy a proper hex socket and use a big bar, it will come out

WHat are you using to take it off? I struggled to take mine off with every thing except a ring spanner. With the ring spanner it was a piece of ****.

I've tried a couple of different 17mm sockets 96 and 12 point) but couldn't get enough leverage so am waiting for a breaker bar to come, didn't try a ring spanner as I thought it would give me less leverage.

Ring spanner with another linked on the open end should give more than enough leverage

Use a hammer an shock the the ring spanner

Make sure your loosening the right way

7tastic said:

I've ordered an electric impact wrench from amazon would that damage the sump or should I be OK?

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I've sheared and rounded off more bolts with my breaker bar than I've ever broken with my impact gun and it takes off wheel nuts torqued to 500nm.

While searching for same problem with my Disco V8i, I came across this thread.

Need 29mm (or 1-1/8 I think) ring spanner (The ONLY one I don't have :5bbanghead: ) and better get it. Soaking the plug in WD40 for a couple of days before I try again.

I am afraid I'll damage the plug if I put too much strength on it.

Does anyone knows how much force this plug can have before it snaps ?

I'll let you know how I get on with the impact gun, your plug is much bigger than mine so may be able to take more force. I've got a new plug and washer on order as the one thats (hopefully) coming out is a little chewed.
I tried a ring spanner with another spanner for levarage with no luck. Even tried to tap it round with a hammer.

good luck

I had this issue with a fairly new Audi. It had to have a new sump in the end coz nothing would remove it.

matthew2riches said:

I had this issue with a fairly new Audi. It had to have a new sump in the end coz nothing would remove it.

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That's my worry. I rather not change oil for the moment than change my sump. I did manage to get the oil filter off.

That was at least 1/4 of the oil renewed. :cheer2:

you can get a pump that you stick down the dipstick tube, not sure how good they are but might be an alternative.

Eventually I want to drain all debris from the sump as well, but for now that could be a solution.

Meanwhile will keep giving it the WD40 treatment.