RevHappy

Ok I'm going to be straight about this, the drain bolt won't come out and it seems like its not the standard Honda/Acura bolt. We just got the CL recently decided to do a regular tune-up and found the bolt to be quite stubborn. Used a breaker bar and even vice grips to try the free the sucker loose. I had to take the car to the dealership earlier this morning due to the auto transmisssion being stupid so I asked about the drain plug. The rep said they can FORCE the plug out, however, putting an OEM plug is a different story... we might have to replace the oil pan (which was quoted at $500-600). I was thinking to remove the oil pan myself and replace it, but I have no clue how difficult it will be. If it was too troublesome, I was thinking about drillin' a hole into the pan and making a "new" drain plug. Can anyone with advice or tips? That'd be greatly appreciated.

maquereautin

i wouldnt drill a hole into the oild pan. Will probably cause more problems than it will solve. I would look on ebay, or find a used oil pan at a junk yard. Make sure its in good shape. And has the bolt(plug) screwed into the pan. Taking the old one off shouldnt be that hard. Just undo the bolts around the pan. And make way for all the oil that will start coming out.

You might loosen one side, and then take the bolts off the other so it comes out one side. Then dump the rest into a container. You might be able to get the bolt out after you get the oil pan out from under the car. Just remember to put a new gasket on the pan you decide to use. Good luck!

RevHappy

hey thanks maquereautin. so removing the oil pan doesn't require me to lift the engine up or remove any driveshafts? I have a Miata and it requires me to lift the engine to remove the oil pan. I'm praying it's nothing like that.

maquereautin

id hope it doesn't! good grief. Life the engine? what a hassle. it should just be right there on the bottom of the engine. there might be a cross member over to for protection, but i don't think you will need to lift up the engine to take it off. I haven't really given my new vigor a look under the engine so i don't know what the vigor or CL look like underneath. shouldn't be that much of a difference.

RevHappy

It is underneath the engine, its just a clearance issue with the cross memeber. Thanks for the response though. It's in the works.

AcuraTL

Take it to a local garage and have them drill out the old bolt. Then have them re-thread it and then use a new bolt. Never over-tighten the oil drain bolt.

simplyredvw

Most likely the threads will be jacked after this. Have the shop install a threadsert and use a new OE quality drain plug. This can be done on the car.