I spent about 2 hours today struggling to remove the sump plug. The bugger is at arms reach, so I can only get one arm to a tool on it, and as I am laying on the ground it is difficult to apply the required force to the tool. I've tried a ring spanner and three different length socket sets, I even tried hitting the end of the longest socket set with a hammer (although not very hard given the limited space), yet I still couldn't get it to budge.

I did consider axel stands/ramps, but I really don't want to be swinging off the sump bolt whilst laying under the car, because if the car falls off the stands/ramps it will almost certainly kill me.

Does anyone here use an Oil Extractor? Can anyone recommend one that they have used on an Octavia 1.9 TDI, as I am concerned that I might buy one with a tube that won't fit down the dipstick hole. I realise the general opinion seems to be that oil extraction doesn't remove as much muck, but I just can't get the sodding sump plug to budge, so my only other option is to pay a garage to do the oil change for me.

I have used a oil extractor at work on lawnmowes beforehand even on a previous car a couple times. I even removed the sump plug on one occasion, to see if any oil left. There were a few drops. I assume the suction pipe dais to reach every where. I'm pretty sure the sump plug is magnetic and collects any floating particless as well. IMOA, I would persist and get the sump plug out and few a few extra quid replace the sump plug. Comes with new sealing washer. And excuse me for stating the obvious, but make sure you are trying to undo the correct way, easy sometimes when lay on your back and the plug facing rearwards to get confused. Hope this helps.

You do need a bit of extra room under the car to get comfortably at the sump. Can use ramps. I find that driving mine up onto a couple of dense concrete blocks (one under each front wheel), gets me an extra 100mm which is plenty.

The sump plug's really easy to get at on the 1.9TDI after the engine undertray comes off - just a few torx-headed fasteners round the edge.

The plug is only supposed to be in at a fairly gentle 22 lbft! That should be easy to move.

Too much torque will excessively crush the washer and the oil will leak out, or the steel plug will strip the tread in the alloy sump.

If it is really hard to budge, it may be cross-threaded which will have b*****ed the sump. Be prepared for trouble if you're really determined to get it out.

i doubt itll be cross threaded tbh. Its just some garages use exessive force to do things up. its rediculous. Mine just nips up and a quarter turn

I would try heat, get a flame on it, it should budge then, but sounds like a strength issue really. If you get her up on ramps and she is central, nothing you can do will pull the car off them so dont worry about that.

Then get the correct socket and drive, and put a short hollow bar on the end of it just to extend the lever a bit. and pull progressively (dont snatch it) or youll bust the head or your knuckles when it lets go.

Keep us posted, but heat and lever on ramps.

P.S if its that bad, buy a new sump plug to go back in as it could have damaged the threads on the nut. and +1 on turn it the right way, in reverse the brain sometimes goes by habit

Edited 28 October, 201213 yr by Lofty79

Yep make sure you have a brand new replacement plug at hand, i did mine recently and the hardest part was unscrewing the undertray, all my screws were seized and the last thing you can do with those screws is heat them because of the plastic its holding onto the car.

As said above, correct socket, extension bar and slow and steady, although i manage with a normal socket wrench and tap with a mash hammer.

If you know a garage who's friendly, you could always ask them to just crack it open and then lightly nip it up to get home to do the job. It's only gonna take them 30 seconds even if they're not doing the oil change and if it IS proper buggered, they can do the job in full.

I did consider axel stands/ramps, but I really don't want to be swinging off the sump bolt whilst laying under the car, because if the car falls off the stands/ramps it will alemost certainly kill me.

If you think that then you may need to rethink how you put it on stands. If they are used correctly there should be no problems.

As for ramps do you really think you have th strengh to pull the car off the ramps?