Oil Drain Plug Sizes by Vehicle Make - Complete Guide

The oil drain plug is one of the most frequently removed fasteners on any vehicle, yet the wrong socket size can strip the plug head, chew up the pan threads, and turn a 20-minute oil change into a costly repair. Knowing the correct oil drain plug size for your make and model keeps removal and reinstallation secure and protects your engine’s oil system. This guide covers drain plug sizes and torque specs across all the major manufacturers so you can grab the right tool the first time.

Common oil drain plug sizes

The five sizes that cover the vast majority of vehicles on the road.

Those five cover most cars, but some vehicles use square plugs, Torx heads, or specialized designs — so confirm against your specific make below (or look up your exact vehicle) before you reach for a socket.

Oil drain plug size and torque by make

Sizes, torque specs and crush-washer notes for the major manufacturers, gathered in one place.

Why oil drain plug size matters

A frequently overlooked fastener that punishes the wrong tool.

Because the drain plug comes out at every oil change, it is easy to treat casually — but an incorrect socket size strips the plug head, damages the oil pan threads, and causes leaks that end in expensive repairs. Common sizes are 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 17mm and 19mm, though some vehicles use square plugs, Torx heads or specialized designs. Proper sizing ensures secure removal and reinstallation while protecting your engine’s oil system. Not sure what you’re looking at? Our guide to measuring bolts and fasteners walks through sizing any fastener head.

Toyota oil drain plug sizes

14mm across the lineup, with a new aluminum washer every time.

Toyota uses 14mm oil drain plugs across its lineup. Common models including the Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Tacoma and 4Runner all feature 14mm drain plugs with a standard torque specification of 27–30 ft-lbs. When servicing Toyota vehicles, always replace the aluminum crush washer with a new one during each oil change to prevent leaks and ensure a proper seal. This simple step extends the life of your drain plug and prevents oil seepage.

Honda & Acura oil drain plug sizes

Standardized on 17mm since 2006 — and Honda wants a specific washer.

Honda vehicles have standardized on 17mm oil drain plugs across most models since 2006, including the Civic, Accord, CR-V and Pilot. Acura models follow Honda specifications. The recommended torque specification is 29–33 ft-lbs, and Honda requires a new aluminum washer (part #94109-14000) with each oil change to prevent leaks. Always replace the washer rather than reusing it, as the aluminum crushes to create a proper seal.

Ford oil drain plug sizes

15mm on trucks and SUVs, 13mm on the small cars.

Ford’s truck and SUV lineup predominantly uses 15mm oil drain plugs, including the F-150, Mustang, Explorer and Escape. Smaller vehicles like the Focus and Fiesta use 13mm plugs. Torque specifications vary by vehicle type: trucks and SUVs require 18–22 ft-lbs, while cars require 20–25 ft-lbs. Ford recommends using a new crush washer with each oil change to ensure a proper seal.

Chevrolet & GM oil drain plug sizes

Varies by platform — and watch out for plastic pans.

General Motors vehicles show variation by platform. Trucks like the Silverado and Sierra, along with performance vehicles like the Corvette and Camaro, use 15mm plugs. Smaller vehicles like the Cruze use 13mm, while the Malibu uses 15mm. Standard torque specification is 18–20 ft-lbs.

Nissan oil drain plug sizes

14mm lineup-wide, copper or aluminum washer.

Nissan has standardized on 14mm oil drain plugs across most of its lineup, including the Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Frontier and Titan. The recommended torque specification is 22–29 ft-lbs, and Nissan requires either a copper or aluminum crush washer with each oil change. Like other manufacturers, the washer should be replaced rather than reused, as it crushes to create a proper seal and prevent oil leaks.

Not one of the five? Square, Torx, Allen and classic SAE plugs

When the chart above doesn’t match what you’re looking at.

Most passenger-car drain plugs are a plain external hex in one of the five sizes above — but plenty aren’t. Late-model GM trucks, European transmissions, classic American iron and a lot of equipment use different drives entirely. Here’s what you’re actually looking at, and the tool that fits it.

One buying trap while we’re here: if a listing offers a “TP55 Torx Plus” bit for a drain plug, skip it. Torx Plus is a different fastener system (GM uses TP55 on transmission bellhousing bolts, not drain plugs), and standard Torx tools strip in Torx Plus recesses.

Classic American iron ran SAE fine threads — and Ford made it easy by standardizing on one plug for four decades:

Honesty note: AMC, Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac are widely repeated online as 1/2"-20 too, but we haven’t found a primary source that proves it — measure the thread before you buy. And a myth worth killing: these are straight UNF threads that seal on a washer, not “pipe thread.” Real NPT pipe thread is tapered, pairs different diameters and TPI (1/4-18, 3/8-18), seals on the taper itself — and on the drain-plug shelf it mostly shows up on small engines, like the Briggs plug above.

ATVs, tractors and small engines: drain plugs beyond the car

What the OEM manuals actually specify — including two popular myths they contradict.

On powersports machines there is no such thing as the drain plug — one machine usually has several, each with its own torque. Straight from the factory manuals:

Myth one: “ATV drain plugs are magnetic.” Not from the factory — none of the three OEM manuals above specifies a magnet on any drain bolt, engine or gearbox; every one is a plain bolt with a sealing washer or gasket. The magnetic versions are an aftermarket upgrade — a sensible one on machines whose gearbox shares the engine oil, but an upgrade, not the stock part.

Myth two: “tractors use a drain valve instead of a plug.” In the John Deere and Kubota operator’s manuals, engine oil drains through an ordinary plug — the quarter-turn valve lives on the radiator. The ball-valve oil drains people love on tractors are aftermarket retrofits threaded into the stock plug hole. And skid steers do it a third way: the Bobcat S650 drains through a capped hose behind an access panel — no plug to reach at all.

Small engines don’t even agree with themselves. Honda’s horizontal-shaft GX engines use a conventional M12×1.5 plug — but Honda’s GCV push-mower engines have no drain plug at all: the manual says to tip the engine and drain the oil back out the filler neck. Briggs & Stratton uses a tapered 3/8" NPT square-head plug (the taper seals, so there’s no washer). And Kohler specs 10 lb-ft on Command CV engines but 13 lb-ft on Command Pro CS — same badge, 30% apart. Look yours up in the small-engine section or the oil finder rather than guessing.

Last, the sealing washers: even a single machine mixes conventions. The Raptor 700 manual specifies a gasket on the crankcase bolt, a plain washer on the oil-tank bolt and a new copper washer on the coolant bolt. The rule that never fails: whatever seal the manual names, replace it in kind — and torque with a real torque wrench.

Pro tips for oil changes

Five habits that keep the drain plug and pan happy for the life of the car.

• Always use a 6-point socket. Better grip, far less chance of rounding the plug head.
• Replace crush washers. Prevents leaks and costs only $1–2.
• Don’t overtighten. Follow the torque spec to avoid stripping threads.
• Inspect the threads. Check for damage before reinstalling.
• Use the correct oil viscosity. Check your owner’s manual.

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Stripped oil drain plug solutions

Options when the plug or pan threads have already given up.

If you encounter a stripped oil drain plug, several solutions are available. Oversized drain plugs (one size larger) can be installed if the pan allows. HeliCoil thread repair kits provide a permanent solution by installing a threaded insert into the damaged hole. Fumoto valves offer a quick-disconnect solution that eliminates the need to remove the plug entirely during oil changes. Note that aluminum oil pans often require professional repair, as they are more prone to thread damage and may need to be replaced if severely stripped.

Frequently asked questions

Keep going

Bottom line: match the socket to your make — 14mm for most Asian cars, 17mm for Honda/Acura since 2006, 15mm for Ford and GM trucks — use a 6-point socket, fit a fresh crush washer, and torque to the manufacturer’s figure (going lower on plastic or aluminum pans). Get those four things right and the drain plug stays leak-free for the life of the car.