In March, I took my Dodge SX (Neon) in to WalMart for an oil/filter change I always do my own, but couldn't this time due to a hip injury.

All was fine til yesterday. I got everything ready to change it again, and I could not get the oil drain plug out. Tried everything. Finally, I stripped the hexagonal head off the plug using the largest socket wrench I had.

Then I got out my vise-grips. No luck, not even with the longest pair I had.

So I go back to WalMart, and they try to get it off. No luck, until he got out a 24" breaker bar. It finally cracked and came off. The guy said it was obviously screwed on too tight last time. No kidding!

Since she was up on the hoist already, I asked them to change the oil/filter, and I politely requested that I tighten the drain plug this time. BIG MISTAKE!

I must have thrown this poor guy off his usual routine, becausesomething went terribly wrong.When he started her up to take it outside, some kind of fluid was splashing all over the floor as he was backing her out of the service bay. I start screaming to shut the engine down.

3 times I screamed at him til he finally heard me. He leaned his head out the window, and said "What! Can't hear you."

I yell, "Shut the fuc&^%* engine off right now!!!"

He shuts it off and says what's up. When he got out, he fell flat on his *** from all the oil all over the floor.

We jacked up the car to see what happened, and found the filter screwed on only about one turn.

Lost 2L of oil, so I hope no damage has been done. The wife took the car to work today and said it sounds fine.

So be careful when you have other people doing your oil changes.

GT
Ontario, Canada

 

don't worry, no damage done. when changing the oil in a 67 mustang a long time ago i skipped the step to wipe a little oil on the oil filter rubber gasket and just spun it on dry. the rubber gasket grabbed and double up and felt tight. i started it up and sat there for a minute or so and watched the oil pressure gauge and it didn't come up like ususal. so i leaned out and looked under the car and oil was pouring out everywhere with a huge puddle on the ground. stupid stupid stupid.

i'm glad your filler plug didn't strip out.

 

Should be OK but not good. AAArrrgghhh!!!

 

happened to me at one of those jiffylube places a few years back... luckily i changed it next time at work where one of the techs who was staying late let me have use of one of those breaker bars. i broke 3 sockets and one racthet trying to get it off initally... then a wrench and a hammer... no luck. breaker got it though.