Re: Oil Drain Plug Torque
 

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 14:24:50 -0800, bkapaun@coldmail.com (Bill Kapaun)
wrote:

>In article <bhbkgd$g4$1@usc.edu>, "Trojan" <klutulu@softhome.net> wrote:
>
>> I am new to cars and Dont know how to measure the torque applied to the
>> Plug. Is there any device to measure that.
>>
>> TIA
>>
>"I torque mine with a torque wrench..."
>
>USE A NEW CRUSH WASHER! It's my feeling that many drain plugs are stripped
>because they used an old washer and then overtightened the plug in an
>attempt to stop it from dripping. You can get them (3-4/$, depending on
>the day of the week) from the dealer.

Mine were $0.60 from Eskridge Honda in OKC.

Nate

Re: Oil Drain Plug Torque
 

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 14:24:50 -0800, bkapaun@coldmail.com (Bill Kapaun)
wrote:

>In article <bhbkgd$g4$1@usc.edu>, "Trojan" <klutulu@softhome.net> wrote:
>
>> I am new to cars and Dont know how to measure the torque applied to the
>> Plug. Is there any device to measure that.
>>
>> TIA
>>
>"I torque mine with a torque wrench..."
>
>USE A NEW CRUSH WASHER! It's my feeling that many drain plugs are stripped
>because they used an old washer and then overtightened the plug in an
>attempt to stop it from dripping. You can get them (3-4/$, depending on
>the day of the week) from the dealer.

Mine were $0.60 from Eskridge Honda in OKC.

Nate

Re: Oil Drain Plug Torque
 

33 lbs, of torque on a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench feels like over kill to
me.Yes I could use a 3/8's wrench I do have one. I have never had a plug
vibrate out, or loosen.

I owned a vehicle with a aluminum oil pan that I think at the time called
for 28lb of torque I was always afraid of pulling the threads from the pan.
I only torqued it to 20lbs.

When I drain the oil on that, and my present vehicle I used a boxed wrench
approximately 10 inches long to remove the plug and it take a good bump of
the hand to loosen the plug.

Tom


"Peter Doherty" <peter@acranox.org> wrote in message
news:4ls_a.94473$It4.46436@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.n et...
>
> "tflfb" <fuksatw@qwest.net> wrote in message
> news:kHh_a.2023$XO4.40163@news.uswest.net...
> > The service manuals recommends a torque spec, do you think that when you
> > have the oil changed at a speedy lube they torque the plug, your
> lucky
> > they don't strip or cross thread it.
>
> That's true at some shops, that's why I do it myself!
>
> > Hey at lease I use a torque wrench, thats better than tightening it and
> > guessing.
>
> I'm very interested that you own and use a torque wrench, but don't go by
> the specs. For some reason, that really intrigues me.
>
> > Its not rocket science.
>
> No, it's not, but it is designed by engineers, and they didn't pull 33
lb/ft
> out of a hat. the 20lb/ft you use may be sufficient, but it is only about
> 60% of the recommended spec, and that's a little risky IMHO.
>
>

Re: Oil Drain Plug Torque
 

33 lbs, of torque on a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench feels like over kill to
me.Yes I could use a 3/8's wrench I do have one. I have never had a plug
vibrate out, or loosen.

I owned a vehicle with a aluminum oil pan that I think at the time called
for 28lb of torque I was always afraid of pulling the threads from the pan.
I only torqued it to 20lbs.

When I drain the oil on that, and my present vehicle I used a boxed wrench
approximately 10 inches long to remove the plug and it take a good bump of
the hand to loosen the plug.

Tom


"Peter Doherty" <peter@acranox.org> wrote in message
news:4ls_a.94473$It4.46436@rwcrnsc51.ops.asp.att.n et...
>
> "tflfb" <fuksatw@qwest.net> wrote in message
> news:kHh_a.2023$XO4.40163@news.uswest.net...
> > The service manuals recommends a torque spec, do you think that when you
> > have the oil changed at a speedy lube they torque the plug, your
> lucky
> > they don't strip or cross thread it.
>
> That's true at some shops, that's why I do it myself!
>
> > Hey at lease I use a torque wrench, thats better than tightening it and
> > guessing.
>
> I'm very interested that you own and use a torque wrench, but don't go by
> the specs. For some reason, that really intrigues me.
>
> > Its not rocket science.
>
> No, it's not, but it is designed by engineers, and they didn't pull 33
lb/ft
> out of a hat. the 20lb/ft you use may be sufficient, but it is only about
> 60% of the recommended spec, and that's a little risky IMHO.
>
>

Re: Oil Drain Plug Torque
 

In article <uRA_a.708$o55.41423@news.uswest.net>,
tflfb <fuksatw@qwest.net> wrote:

> 33 lbs, of torque on a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench feels like over kill to
> me.Yes I could use a 3/8's wrench I do have one.

33 ft-lb of torque is 33 ft-lb of torque no matter how big your wrench
is. (This might make more sense if you used the right units, instead of
"lb".)

Re: Oil Drain Plug Torque
 

In article <uRA_a.708$o55.41423@news.uswest.net>,
tflfb <fuksatw@qwest.net> wrote:

> 33 lbs, of torque on a 1/2 inch drive torque wrench feels like over kill to
> me.Yes I could use a 3/8's wrench I do have one.

33 ft-lb of torque is 33 ft-lb of torque no matter how big your wrench
is. (This might make more sense if you used the right units, instead of
"lb".)

Re: Oil Drain Plug Torque
 

> 33 ft-lb of torque is 33 ft-lb of torque no matter how big your wrench
> is. (This might make more sense if you used the right units, instead of
> "lb".)

I have both 3/8" and 1/2" drive torque wrenches and have tightened oil
drain bolts with both. It's easier with the 1/2" since you have a
little more torque (longer handle) but it will still "click" when
you're at 33 ft. lbs.

BTW, I have used this setting for my drain bolts on my '86 Integra (10
years), '96 Accord (5 years), and currently on my '01 GSR (2 years) and
'91 NSX (6 years). I never had a problem with stripped bolts. My '86
Integra with 151K miles had the original drain bolt and oil pan with
absolutely no damage. You can't overtighten a bolt that is torqued to
factory specifications. 20 ft. lbs. is insufficient in my book but
hey, it's your car. I also torque the oil filter to 16 ft. lbs. as
specified by the manual. Never a problem of it coming loose. I'm a
true believer of the torque wrench and use it on all my cars ALL the
time. I never go by "feel." I just like to be precise and have the
piece of mind knowing it was done perfectly.

Paul

Re: Oil Drain Plug Torque
 

> 33 ft-lb of torque is 33 ft-lb of torque no matter how big your wrench
> is. (This might make more sense if you used the right units, instead of
> "lb".)

I have both 3/8" and 1/2" drive torque wrenches and have tightened oil
drain bolts with both. It's easier with the 1/2" since you have a
little more torque (longer handle) but it will still "click" when
you're at 33 ft. lbs.

BTW, I have used this setting for my drain bolts on my '86 Integra (10
years), '96 Accord (5 years), and currently on my '01 GSR (2 years) and
'91 NSX (6 years). I never had a problem with stripped bolts. My '86
Integra with 151K miles had the original drain bolt and oil pan with
absolutely no damage. You can't overtighten a bolt that is torqued to
factory specifications. 20 ft. lbs. is insufficient in my book but
hey, it's your car. I also torque the oil filter to 16 ft. lbs. as
specified by the manual. Never a problem of it coming loose. I'm a
true believer of the torque wrench and use it on all my cars ALL the
time. I never go by "feel." I just like to be precise and have the
piece of mind knowing it was done perfectly.

Paul

Re: Oil Drain Plug Torque
 

Thanks for the feedback guys, DTT is right I had tightened the plug with a
simple wrench and it is difficult to do so when u are under the car.


"DTT" <dtmstran@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:697a20b8.0308122242.763160c8@posting.google.c om...
> It's called torque wrench. A lot is sold in eBay. Proto/Craftsman are
> cheap and decent. a 3/8" wrench is probably good enough.
>
> Actually, most people just snug it tight. You can't generate much
> torque while lying underneath the car anyway.
>
> Welcome to the "man" club.
>
>
>
> "Trojan" <klutulu@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:<bhbkgd$g4$1@usc.edu>...
> > I am new to cars and Dont know how to measure the torque applied to the
> > Plug. Is there any device to measure that.
> >
> > TIA
> >
> >
> > "tflfb" <fuksatw@qwest.net> wrote in message
> > news:b%b_a.1338$XO4.23791@news.uswest.net...
> > > I torque mine with a torque wrench to only about 20 ft lbs, thats snug
> > > enough for me.
> > > "JR" <jreld@softhome.net> wrote in message
> > > news:fhXZa.3211$Ea.478@fe03.atl2.webusenet.com...
> > > > What is the proper torque for the oil pan drain plug on a '93 Civic?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >

Re: Oil Drain Plug Torque
 

Thanks for the feedback guys, DTT is right I had tightened the plug with a
simple wrench and it is difficult to do so when u are under the car.


"DTT" <dtmstran@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:697a20b8.0308122242.763160c8@posting.google.c om...
> It's called torque wrench. A lot is sold in eBay. Proto/Craftsman are
> cheap and decent. a 3/8" wrench is probably good enough.
>
> Actually, most people just snug it tight. You can't generate much
> torque while lying underneath the car anyway.
>
> Welcome to the "man" club.
>
>
>
> "Trojan" <klutulu@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:<bhbkgd$g4$1@usc.edu>...
> > I am new to cars and Dont know how to measure the torque applied to the
> > Plug. Is there any device to measure that.
> >
> > TIA
> >
> >
> > "tflfb" <fuksatw@qwest.net> wrote in message
> > news:b%b_a.1338$XO4.23791@news.uswest.net...
> > > I torque mine with a torque wrench to only about 20 ft lbs, thats snug
> > > enough for me.
> > > "JR" <jreld@softhome.net> wrote in message
> > > news:fhXZa.3211$Ea.478@fe03.atl2.webusenet.com...
> > > > What is the proper torque for the oil pan drain plug on a '93 Civic?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >