Oil Plug do you prefer Ratchet or Box end wrench?

[bronsin]

Originally Posted by The Shape

I am doing all the service on our Yaris these days to save cash. I am just paranoid about stripping the oil plug. Which do you think is easier to control and less likely to strip a ratchet or box end?

There are two kinds of stripping. One is rounding off the corners of the bolt so your wrench/socket spins around and around when you try to tighten/loosen it. The other involves dammaging the threads so you cant tighten them to the proper torque.
If you get a Snap On socket/wrench they are specially made and wont strip the hex. Even if the corners of the fastner are rounded it will still tighten and loosen it perfectly. Its broached to fit the middle of the flats instead of the corners. They are expensive!
Should you round the corners of the bolt you can always buy another one! And you can use a Visegrip to remove the dammaged one so you can replace it.
As for stripping the threads just take your time and snug the bolt up by hand first. It should be possible to start the bolt by hand and tighten it up to the pan with your fingers. Then it requires on about a half turn or so with the wrench/socket to tighten it.
You just need to take your time and dont hurry and exercise a little care. Ive had cars for hundreds of thousands of miles and used the same drain bolt every time! (I did strip one once!) I prefer a wrench to a socket for changeing the oil. If you can find one get a 14mm Snap On wrench because they are specially made to not to strip the nut and even work on stripped ones!