My First Oil Change - Snapped a Bolt and Battled with the Filter

gchu · 07-23-2005, 04:08 PM

Well, I did my first oil change on my 05 Titan SE KC today. I knew it was going to be rough going when I found out I was out of beer when I was getting my supplies/tools ready.

Wound up doing battle with the oil filter like everyone else did on their first oil change. I had the smallest end cap oil filter wrench - the type that fits like a socket over the filter - and it kept "slipping" like it was just a hair too big. My wrench that goes around the filter wouldn't go small enough to work with it either. Finally borrowed my neighbor's oil filter wrench and got it to come off. Of course I wound up denting the new filter (Purolator One) a little when I used the wrench to tighten it the 3/4 to 1 turn - I'll have to keep an eye on it.

I did wind up installing the Fram Suredrain (SD3) in replacement of the drain plug - which I will also be keeping an eye on as well -so hope that will make it easier next time.

I just used regular 5w30 since I'm planning on changing it around 3000 miles, figure I'll go to synthetic at that time.

What was killer though was that one of the bolts that hold the skid plate on snapped off!!! Anyone else run into this problem?!?! I wasn't wrenching on it that tight - I snapped a bolt off when installing my step bars earlier in the day so I was being extremely careful.

Now I have to figure out how to get it out and to get a replacement. I was planning on replacing it with stainless bolts - has anyone tried that? Is that a good idea? I figured stainless bolts from Home Depot or Lowes would cost as much as the standard bolts from the dealership. I'm also toying with the idea of just removing the skid plate - any thoughts?

I don't have the off road package, but have heard that the off road package has an access door to get to the filter. I'm I right or was it just wishful thinking? If it's true, will an "Off Road" package skid plate mount in place of my "standard" one?

I appologize for so much rambling, but I did wind up picking up beer (and finishing a few) right after I snapped the bolt......

Bayou Titan · 07-23-2005, 04:41 PM

Were you able to get the rest of the bolt off? If you did I would go to the Nissan dealership and have them give you a replacement bolt and maybe a spare or two.

I would use the skid plate and not remove it. If you happen to run over road debris the skid plate will keep it from popping up and knocking a belt or hose off and leaving you stranded. Road debris can even do more serious damage than this and this type of thing happens all the time.

Titank · 07-23-2005, 05:10 PM

If your bolt is still stuck in there... you'll probably need to get a counter-clockwise thread both and drill and tap the broken bolt. Then you may have a chance to taking it out.

Also... why are you using your filter wrench to put the oil filter back on? All you need to do is put some new oil on the oring and hand tighten it into place.

Maryland Hunter · 07-23-2005, 05:16 PM

gchu,
Sorry to hear of your bad day. Running out of beer sucks!
I would stay away from the stainless bolts. For one thing, they aren't as strong, and when you put stainless hardware into steel, you MUST grease the threads very well, or they will gall (seize). Once they gall, it's very hard to drill them out and re-tap if they're small, because the drill bit will want to ride off of the stainless and walk over to the steel. On something exposed to the elements such as our skid plates, you would have to remember to take them out regularly and re-lube the threads. I've been a metal fabricator in the marine R&D for 20+ years, and I've learned the hard way about stainless hardware. Don't get me wrong, we use stainless hardware all the time with great results, but the systems that they are used on are maintenanced far more often than we change our oil. I'd look for grade 8 steel bolts myself, and I'd go ahead and put a small dab of grease on the threads anyway, just to protect from corrosion.
Hope this helps.

MH

bestatchess · 07-23-2005, 06:05 PM

They make extractors for removing broken bolts. "Easy Out" is one brand.

wrenrj1 · 07-23-2005, 06:21 PM

Having the dealership deal with "simple" things like oil changes...Priceless...

PHOEBISIS · 07-23-2005, 07:45 PM

If you are fairly certain that you weren't responsible for it,then I would let the dealer struggle with it.Leave that sucker alone for a few weeks so it gets some "age" on the exposed surface.Call them and tell them that you just took a look under your truck to change the oil,and noticed that there was a headless bolt there.Tell them you went ahead and changed the oil etc.Make sure they make a note of your call,and bring it in hoping for the best.Make sure it is plenty weathered looking.
Not quite what happened,but someone with an air ratchet probably overtightened and weakened that bolt during assembly and that is why it was too tight and broke.
On the other hand,you can just do it yourself( it can be very,very hard sometimes to remove broken screws without destroying the threads which means you have to helicoil).Maybe just blow it off-does the skid plate look secure with it missing-does it rattle a lot??
Sometimes you get lucky on broken screws,and they back right out.But,since this one snapped off it might mean that it is rusted or crossthreaded in there,so it might be a bear.I don't care what anyone says-it is extremely hard to drill a hole in the center of a pretty small screw especially while laying on your back under a truck!Just like Maryland hunter says about SS the drill tries to "walk" onto the threads even when it isn't SS .
If you drill it,make sure you centerpunch it first to make a good little dent-hole dead in the center of that screw.
I would 1st put a nail or punch on it and tap,tap,tap it and squirt penetrating oil on it.If it is sticking up a bit above ,I might try to cut a line in it to put a hand impact screwdriver bit in it and give that a try- after 1st tap-tap tap several times over a half hr or more-give the oil time to work.
I have run on a bit-luck,Charlie PS The tapping is to loosen up the bond between the bolt and threads.If you try the hand impact,you might 1st give a tiny tap with it set to tighten the bolt-tiny-your cut screwdriver line won't last more than one or two full tries.

Clancy · 07-23-2005, 07:53 PM

Another note on the oil filter too - through your filter wrenches away. Seriously. I only ever hand tighten my filter. Snug it up, and give it a 1/4 twist. Tops. I've never in 300k miles worth of driving every had a filter leak using this method.

gchu · 07-23-2005, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titank

If your bolt is still stuck in there... you'll probably need to get a counter-clockwise thread both and drill and tap the broken bolt. Then you may have a chance to taking it out.

Also... why are you using your filter wrench to put the oil filter back on? All you need to do is put some new oil on the oring and hand tighten it into place.

Unfortunately the bolt is still stuck in there. The head of the bolt broke off so none of the bolt is above the "surface", so there's nothing to grab a hold of.

I'm debating to try and pass it off as - that's the way I found it with the dealer, not sure how much luck I will have.

I wound up using the filter wrench to put the oil filter on when I couldn't get it turn 3/4 after I snugged it up (that's what the label on the filter said).

Can anyone with the Off Road option let me know if it has an access door for the filter? Does it work well enough so you can easily get the filter out without taking the skid plate off?

Thanks for everyone's input so far.

mytitan · 07-24-2005, 12:17 AM

it happened to me, the nut snapped, i drilled through it using a small drill bit, i found out that its open on the otherside of the metal, soo just use a very good drill bit, it will come off.....

BLKingTitan · 07-24-2005, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gchu

Unfortunately the bolt is still stuck in there. The head of the bolt broke off so none of the bolt is above the "surface", so there's nothing to grab a hold of.

I'm debating to try and pass it off as - that's the way I found it with the dealer, not sure how much luck I will have.

I wound up using the filter wrench to put the oil filter on when I couldn't get it turn 3/4 after I snugged it up (that's what the label on the filter said).

Can anyone with the Off Road option let me know if it has an access door for the filter? Does it work well enough so you can easily get the filter out without taking the skid plate off?

Thanks for everyone's input so far.

Yes, the off road package DOES have an access door for the oil filter, and yes you can easily get the filter out through the hole. The bolts are very tight at first but the access door is nice to have.