oil change problem HELP!!.

Thought i'd change the oil on my 05 kalos ..simple enough job!!!......removed drain plug ,out comes oil ,after oil stops find what looks like a spring hanging out of drain hole ... it won't come out ....it won't go back in ..... dealer doesn't know what it is ...but if i bring the car to him he's sure his man can fix it ..all heard that one before£££$$$$$.......HELP....somebody ....:confused:

Drop the oil pan and check it out? Are you still driving the car? If so is it driving normally?

Are you sure its not the threads from the oil pan? Sounds like the last guy may have put in the drain plug a little tight!

can't drive it no plug or oil....and it's definitly not the threads .....last person to service was main dealer .same one that had never heard of anything like it but had pound signs in his eyes.. looks like i'm gonna take off pan and cheak properly ..will keep posted of outcome.thanks

My curiosity is peaked. Can you take a picture of it and post or email it to me?

The thing that looks like a spring might be something called a "helicoil". Helicoils are used to replaced ruined threads. In other words, if the original threads in the drain hole get damaged, a helicoil is installed to create a good set of threads again. The threads, of course, are a smaller size so a new plug would have to be obtained with a matching thread.

Did you buy the car used? If so, the previous owner might have had to put in the helicoil.

If I'm right, you should be able to unscrew the "hanging" coil and replace it with a new one of the same size. Helicoils can be bought as a kit that includes the right sized coils and an installation tool.

Good luck.

Thats what I thought but he said "its deffinetely not the threads"!

True, but someone not familiar with helicoils could easily mistake them for a spring, not knowing they are actually the threads. I'm hoping that is the case here, as it is an easy fix.

True, but he is taking the pan off to see what it is, so he would be in a good position to replace the pan if it is the threads hanging out.

just heard of heli coils from some one else ,have not come across one before..didn't buy the car new but all servicing was done buy main dealer where i bought it . As with all main dealers when i bought the car he told me "this is a great little car ,we now the previous owner ,has been coming hear for years and always takes good care to service regularlly" when i phoned up with a problem its all "well sir you realy never know the history of a second hand car" funny how they can find revers so quickly...
don't realy want to take the pan off {cos im getting fed up of laying under cars on my day off} but probably will just for peace of mind and will let you know soon....thanks for the interest..

Seriously you should either post or email a picture!!!!!


If its a helicoil we could probably figure out a resonable repair without having to remove the pan. Although replacing the pan would be the best resolution if indeed it is the threads.

it was a heli coil and it was wrecked .......removed sump place down the road put in a brass insert cost £10 and got a new plug chucked in free..work done will i waited and its garenteed.....found another thread that had been stripped and repaired [also with an insert] so i guess the guy who serviced it was more than a bit heavy handed...anyway job done now ...thanks again guys.:rofl: