Oil pickup/sump bolts

[Mcinvrs]

Gunna tackle the oil pickup this weekend. Heard about the 3 awkward bolts on the gearbox end. Im not worried about removing these as i have a ball end allen key. Any tips on replacing them so that they dont fall off the allen key and get lost in the gearbox housing?

Also what torque setting for the different bolts?

TIA

[octyal]

Dab of grease on the head before offering them up usually works for me. All you want is something a bit sticky to hold them on the end. Other alternative is to magnetize your allen key first.

[Smithy18]

Them last few are a pain, you need to be careful putting them back in make sure you dont cross thread them. I think I used a 1/4 drive ratchet with an extension and swivel joint, Also make sure to get a good quality gasket sealent.

[Mcinvrs]

Job done. The rounded allen keys made the job a LOT easier. Oil pickup was almost completely blocked aswell

[dan281082]

tried this on mine this weekend the gar box bolts were ok, the opposite end wouldnt unbudge starting to round out so ive had to admit defeat annoying as id already drained the oil! 

[mk-vrs]

Trying to get the sump off this weekend. Just one bolt left in the gearbox end that's refusing to budge. The ball-end Allen key removed all the others but snapped in the bolt head on the last one (removed the broken piece with blue tak). Access for a 1/4 drive 10mm socket is a real pain as visibility is virtually zero. Any suggestions how to get this one out as I don't want to give up!

 

[StevesTruck]

I did one on a Polo 1.6TDI the other week. I used a Laser 6710 Ball End Hex Bit 1/2" 5mm (tenner off Amazon), and it worked well. It's probably worth throwing a couple of bolts back in while you work on the awkward one. 

 

When I was putting the bolts back, I used a wrap or two of masking tape to hold the awkward ones on the bit. Yeah, it left a bit of tape behind, but it's on back side of the flywheel and will probably break up fairly quickly. 

 

Make sure you save the best 2/3 bolts to put back at the gearbox end, rather than any that are a bit chewed. 

[mk-vrs]

Thanks Steve, I'll give the Laser tool a try - I hadn't seen that one before. My concern is that I've rounded off the hex itself. I did see a damaged hex extractor set, https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/all-hand-tools/laser-damaged-hex-bolt-extractor-set-7pc-208622.html?cm_mmc=Google+PLA-_-Tools>Hand+Tools>All+Hand+Tools-_-Tools>Hand+Tools>All+Hand+Tools-_-208622&istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istFeedId=62b447cf-331e-4fec-a47a-9985ff72d404&istItemId=ittamtrtm&istBid=tzwt&_$ja=tsid:|cid:11902546034|agid:113456751337|tid:pla-331014970735|crid:487900199209|nw:u|rnd:11990642481939797546|dvc:c|adp:|mt:|loc:1006933&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6pOTBhCTARIsAHF23fK_fEub56iF2as-KJ0Jv-g6sGb5wvDCrMr3m-GtjF9SMUoi57Hy2s8aAi3PEALw_wcB but not sure whether there'll be enough space to fit it. Fingers crossed this works, otherwise I'll be back to Vagtech...

 

[StevesTruck]

I think you'd be doing well to get those extractors in to the ones behind the flywheel. The other option's a swivel socket, switch is a bit shorter than using a universal joint on a normal socket, so might possibly squeeze in. 

 

Failing that, you might be able to reshape a swan neck spanner to get in?

Edited 25 April, 2022 by StevesTruck

[mk-vrs]

I found a 1/4 inch drive wobble extension bar in Halfords that gave just enough of an angle to allow the 10mm socket to fit over the bolt head properly. It did a perfect job, way easier than the universal joint that just allowed the socket to flop.