Screw broke off in oil pan

[nyc124]

I was changing the oil yesterday and was tightening up the bolts around the oil pan, and one completely broke off, leaving part of the screw inside the oil pan. Anybody know of a way to get it out? It hasn't been leaking from there, but at some point I'm going to have to try to get it out of there and I have no idea where to start.

https://i.imgur.com/vAaKOjq.jpg

It's to the left of the top of the oil filter, going in horizontally, not the ones going up underneath.

[joelittel]

There are special drill bits designed for this.

First you drill a small pilot hole in the broken screw, using a bit that for a lack of better terms is “reverse thread.” They might be called left handed drill bits or something similar.

Then you use an extractor bit.

I recommend soaking this broken bolt with PB Plaster every day until you do the extraction.

It’s actually a lot easier than you might be imagining it to be.

[nyc124]

Thanks for the info! I've looked into the left-handed drill bits and the extractor bits and it looks like that is definitely do-able. I also appreciate the tip about the PB Blaster - some of the stuff I read recommended using heat, but I definitely won't be doing that near the engine/oil, so the PB Blaster definitely seems to be a great option.

[joelittel]

PB Blaster did the trick for me.

The best advice I can give is not to get frustrated and rush the job. Soak the bolt often for a day or two and then try the left handed drill bit. But don’t drill in too deep on any given try. If the bolt isn’t budging soak it again, numerous times and try the left handed bit again the next day. Just when I thought I’d tried enough and wasn’t going to succeed mine came out quite easily.

Good luck!

[samakijoe]

Here is an interesting video on removing broken bolts. It may not work in this situation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJfkCj3FWBs but interesting anyway.