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I took it to the dealer today they couldn't get it out (and they said supercharger uses oil from motor-lol), I went to another place and again no luck-and we might have stripped it a little trying to unscrew it. I think what I'll do is take it to a machine shop and give the guy the ideas you guys recommended. I'm too scared to attempt it myself don't want to damage the supercharger since its aluminum
You should be ok drilling and tapping. Here are a couple options, apply liberal amounts of bearing grease to the tips of the drill bit and tap when using them. The metal shards will stick right to it. Other option is to have someone apply air pressure to the fill hole while you are drilling and tapping.
how is air pressure going to help? you mean blow air on the screw while unscrewing it?
I truly appreciate everyone's help. Once I get it out I'll let you guys know what worked
Please do. That's a heckuva problem you got going on.
Don't know what your budget/abilities are, but I think it's going to go to the machine shop for drilling and tapping. Heat and time has evidently fuzed the plug in place.
I did manage to get it out (well not me, a mechanic). All he did was lightly tap on it with a different size allen key until he could get a good grip and unscrewed it fairly easy-it did take a few tries though. I told him about heating it first but he said not very safe due to supercharger being aluminum. I'm glad I was able to get it out and change the oil (which did stink like old cheese) and before going to him I went to another place that refused to mess with it and then an a machine shop who also wasn't comfortable messing with it and wanted $200 to remove the nose and get it out from the inside.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Electrician4you
You can try heating up the plug with a propane torch. Someone probably used loctite on the plug or sealant or simply a chemical reaction/ corrosion between the aluminum housing and steel plug a propane torch can be set to really low temp. You just wanna warm it up
...
Worse comes to worse you can use easy out bits.
I
1) heat should grow the Aluminum housing more than steel (Plug). When heated... stick a candle on the edge of threads and wax will penetrate threads.
If TORX is stripped, use a stubby spline-type EZ OUT or a 12point (triple Square) driver, that you can tap in. (Maybe use an IMPACT driver)... HAND, not power
PS... Glad you got it out... I will leave my post for the 'next need'.
BTW... Aluminum can be safely heated. Use a heat gun if in doubt, flames can get too hot for the oil / gaskets.
This is exactly why left hand threads need to become a bit more common place in peoples garages. in any situation with plug, you can tap it with a left hand bit, then screw a left hand bolt in to it and once it goes all the way in, will start to turn the plug out since the bolt can't go any further.
I don't want to deal with left hand stuff while working on my car, but as a tool to remove stuck stuff instead.
The only place I've seen a left hand thread in practice was on the formula SAE car in college. Boy did that annoy the crap out of me.
I did manage to get it out (well not me, a mechanic). All he did was lightly tap on it with a different size allen key until he could get a good grip and unscrewed it fairly easy-it did take a few tries though. I told him about heating it first but he said not very safe due to supercharger being aluminum. I'm glad I was able to get it out and change the oil (which did stink like old cheese) and before going to him I went to another place that refused to mess with it and then an a machine shop who also wasn't comfortable messing with it and wanted $200 to remove the nose and get it out from the inside.
It sounds like it was only the head that was stripped out. Whatever you do, don't put the same plug back in, buy a new one.
OP, good going that you got it out. Tapping carefully on a screw that's stuck is one way to get it loose. A really good proper bit like one you get from Snap-On (as opposed to a cheaper bit) can help with stuff that's way tight.
Some Kroil or PB Blaster sprayed on the threaded joint and kept wet with it several days might have helped.
I have wondered if anyone in a similar situation has started with the whole system warm and (using proper precautions on skin/eyes/face) used dry ice to chill the plug?
Putting some good anti-seize compound on the plug can help prevent recurrence.
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