What tool do you guys use?

[ricamryman]

What tool do you guys use to loosen the drain bolt on the bottom of the tranny pan? 1993 Camry V6 LE......

[chronoti]

hex bit on a socket wrench

if you have allen wrenches those would work too.

[hill8570]

^
What he said. I've had better luck with the hex-bit-on-socket (gives better leverage). Don't get lazy and try to use the closest English bit -- the aluminum strips out quite easily.

[djb2]

I used a Craftsman 10mm hex bit (about $5-$6) with a Harbor Freight 1/2" torque wrench ($12 on sale) and a 1/2"-to-3/8" drive adapter.

I avoid using hex keys on problem fasteners because it's very difficult to avoid off-axis force that leads to stripping the head. Even with the driver bit having a bigger wrench allows better control of the drive angle and force. And in this case you need the torque wrench to properly reinstall the plug so that it seals yet doesn't strip the pan or seize into place.

[JohnGD]

You can get a 10mm hex or get a set from Harbor Freight. When on sale they are about $9.99 IIRC. There is also a smaller set on sale for about $6.99. Your V6 may have use for other sizes.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=98229

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=37391

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=1793

Originally Posted by ricamryman

What tool do you guys use to loosen the drain bolt on the bottom of the tranny pan? 1993 Camry V6 LE......

[flyeri]

10mm hex wrench and the handle for my floor jack for leverage to loosen. hex bits for 3/8 drive ratchet sounds like the answer to the upcoming "what would you like for Christmas?" question.

[asphalt victory]

a B.F.H.

[Dick Tuck]

Overtightning anything is a sin, morons at tire stores using air wrenches set for whatever it was before it got dropped 7 times today leave a LOT of people stranded and tear up studs. it is more important, I think, for a beginner to buy a torque wrench and use it on drain plugs and spark plugs, not to mention lugnuts, than for someone who has developed a feel for such things after many years. You DO need a 3/8 for the small stuff and a 1/2 for the bigger bolts and nuts but Harbor Freight and such places have decent occasional use. Just don't try to use a 1/2 inch torque wrench as a "breaker bar! The things will have paid for themselves the first time you DON'T strip or snap something.

[JohnGD]

Also watch what Sears has in stores for Black Friday, coming up!

Originally Posted by flyeri

10mm hex wrench and the handle for my floor jack for leverage to loosen. hex bits for 3/8 drive ratchet sounds like the answer to the upcoming "what would you like for Christmas?" question.