So last night I changed my oil and filter and broke one of the bolts that holds the oil filter cover on.It snapped right off. I didn't even have that much pressure on it. :x  Has anyone had to replace one of these bolts before?? A firend just told me I can use something called easy out to drill the bolt out and then just put a new one in. Any ideas?? :dunno:

Happens all the time. I plan to do my first oil filter change this evening and I have spares ready.

Use the easy out only as a last resort. Usually they create more problems than they solve. They often snap off as well and then you're stuck with a screw with a bit of tempered steel in the center...

If there is a rest of the bolt visible:

Lock two nuts on the rest , if there is enough thread left and turn it out.

dremel a slot in it or, better yet file / dremel two flats from the side, so you can twist it out with a wrench.

try to grab it with a visegrip or similar and twist it out

weld (have welded) some extension to the bolt and twist it out.

if it's not accessible:

Drill it out right away (starting with a diameter that's considerably smaller than the core of the thread), before you break the easy out in there.

If you ruin the thread while drilling out, heli-coil a new thread.


Replace the bolts with the stainless steel variety (get threaded rod or long bolts and cut it to the right length). Galvanized bolts in an area as exposed to splash and roadsalt as this are bound to bind.

Cool. I'll give it a try tonight.