Matco Flexing?

[bayoutoolguy]

today i was doin an oil change on a Chevy Duramax, and the last oil change was done at the dealer, and as i assumed the plug was pretty tight. i used my matco 3/8 BFR118TM rathchet, figuring it was enough for the job. i started pulling to get the plug loose, the handle starts to flex somewhat and the gears skipped before i could even get the plug loose. i dont think i abused the tool or used the wrong one for the job, i know a 3/8 can take way more force than that. but anyway, would it be mainly the construction of the ratchet or the tightness of the drain plug and the force applied that caused this? i dont expect a ratchet costing $115 to flex and the gears skip on something as small a task as a tight drain plug.

 

[punkenduro]

if a 3/8ths craftsman cant get it off, that drain plug is way way to tight and i would be surprised if the threads arent jacked on the pan. when i broke my 3/8th snap on flex head, i was hanging off the end of it, with a 3 foot lead pipe...

 

[85camaro]

Drain plugs usually tend to be over torqued because most techs don't want to take any chances of that plug working lose and creating a huge liability issue. Anyways, if a bolt is that tight, a 3/8 ratchet is not man enough for the job. Reach for the breaker bar first, the 1/2 ratchet second.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i'd say the only blame to be given in this situation is to the dealership. they should know better. in any case a 3/8'' ratchet should be good enough for a drain plug. the pan/plug should strip before the rathet skips/breaks. maybe for the next time you suspect an overtightened plug, just use a box end wrench.

 

[D9H 90V]

In defense f the drain plug, the lube techs at my dealership are required to torque the drain plug to 22ft/lbs, I have seen them do it on Dmax's, 5000 miles later the same pickup is back, and they nearly have to get a cheater pipe to put on the plug to get it off, I dont know why but the plugs and filters on the Dmax seem to work themselfs tight