Customer Reviews

GearWrench 3870 Oil Drain Plug Socket 7 Piece Complete set - Case

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I use this everyday in a shop and it works great. Quick and mess-free solution to drain plugs. No more dropped oil drain plugs with the knurled speed ring. Makes each change that much more efficient. The color-coded sockets are easy to identify and the ratchet slides right on. Only complaint is sometimes on 13mm plugs the socket is a little looser than a regular 13mm socket. It's a hit and miss though some 13mm it will work fine others it wont depends on the kind of bolt head.

(review revised 10/28/09)

The Gear Wrench 7 Piece Magnetic Oil Drain Plug Set is a high quality ratchet set with nice sockets that have finger grips for those hand adjustments. While is labled for drain plug usage, one would probably find several other applications.

Unfortunately for me, it will be a low-use item. I didn't note that the version I purchased was metric. In fact, at the time it was NOT noted by the seller (not Amazon). Since my 40-year-old truck most definitely uses a standard sized plug, I won't be using it there. And right now, it's cheaper for me to take my Honda somewhere than to do it myself. Additionally, even with the low-profile ratchet and sockets, you still need some decent clearance to get this where you need it. I ended up buying a flex-end wratcheting wrench in the size I needed to slip over the drain plug, which works better for me.

If you are a casual home mechanic that regularly works on newer cars or imports that use metric sized drain plugs, then this would probably be a good purchase. The nicely milled and cnc'd color-coded sockets are easy to identify, and have a good weight and quality to them. And the magnetic feature is nice to keep the plug from dropping into your oil (nothing worse than fishing for a plug in hot oil)! However, if you only work on one vehicle, or if you have very little clearance to get to the plug, your money would probably be better spent on a high-quality ratcheting wrench of the size you need.

Funny how many tools you can collect over the years. And now this. Yeah. I have a socket set. Actually, I have more sockets and ratchet handles than I care to admit. Do I need more sockets and ratchets handles? Well...... Okay, I hate taking off drain plugs by hand when they are hot. Also, it's no fun dropping them into a pan of hot oil, and then having to fish it back out of the hot oil. Why do I do oil changes at home? Because I've seen first hand how idiots can screw up an oil change when you go to a shop.