Over torqueing a oil plug?

[hostage]

So I decided to change my oil on my car, after not doing it myself in years. I was surprised how easily it was to change the oil as the oil plug and filter were right next to each other and easy to reach. Then I tried to use that torque wrench I purchased a couple years ago, and it turned way to easily. I got nervous set it to the lowest setting and it wouldn't work properly. I have no way to gauge how much torque I put on it, though I am a wondering if anything could happen bad if I leave it as is, until the next oil change. Though I am very sure it is a lot more torque than what is normally there as the torque wrench is a lot longer than the wrench I used to remove the plug.

On a separate note my wife killed an engine when a faulty oil return line ruptured, so I am a bit nervous.

 

[bruceb58]

Look up the torque spec and set the wrench to that. What did you do?

SThough I am very sure it is a lot more torque than what is normally there as the torque wrench is a lot longer than the wrench I used to remove the plug.

Length of the handle means nothing if you have the torque wrench set to the specified torque.

 

[foodfisher]

If it didn't strip and it doesn't leak, you're good to go.

 

[Gyrene]

If it didn't strip and it doesn't leak, you're good to go.

Agree.

 

[MTboatguy]

I seriously doubt you over torqued it, if you did you would have a leak, no leak, they as foofisher said, you are good to go, heck I never have used a torque wrench on mine, I simply tighten it by hand, then snug it up with a socket wrench.

 

[bigdee]

I'm sure it is ok. If you did over-torque the plug you will know it next time you change oil.

 

[bruceb58]

I always use a torque wrench on oil plugs. Takes an extra 30 seconds.

 

[glenn property of pam]

I can honestly say that I have 3 torque wrench's and 2 torque screwdrivers and I have never bothered checking the oil drain plug. The only thing I loss sleep over is checking that the old gasket from the oil filter hasn't got stuck on the filter housing.

 

[bruceb58]

Dealers do it ALWAYS. On many cars with crush washers, it's fairly important. It's really important on anything with an aluminum pan.

I take it you don't use a torque wrench for your wheels either?

 

[MTboatguy]

Dealers do it. On may cars with crush washers, it's fairly important.

I take it you don't use a torque wrench for your wheels either?

I always use my torque wrench after running the lugnuts on with the air gun

 

[greenbush future]

Oil pan doesn't get torqued around my place either. All it takes is snug fit with the wrench and 3=5k miles later ya do it again. Had a gasket on the oil filter stick one time, makes one heck of a mess if you leave the old one on and then start it up to make sure all's good.

 

[bruceb58]

Some cars like Hondas use crush washers. You need to change the crush washer every time you change oil and torque them properly to get the correct squish. Most engines you can get away with not using one especially with steel pans with regular washers or plugs that have o-rings. I have seen a bunch of aluminum pans with threads ruined from incorrect torque. Now it's just a habit of mine to always use it. I have all the torques written down on a white board in my garage so it takes just a second to do it.

 

[royal0014]

Use an endcap type filter wrench. Take a paint marker and write on it which vehicle it's for, socket size for the drain plug, and torque spec.
Saves me some extra crawling under and back out :facepalm:

 

[robert graham]

I've never used a torque wrench on any of my vehicles, outboard motors, boats, trailers, etc.....how about just "good and darn snug"?....Of course for a cylinder head or similar the torque and tightening patterns/sequences are critical and torque wrenches are required.....not for every nut, bolt and screw.....but for those folks that everything has to be "brain surgery", then by all means go for the torque wrenches....

 

[bruceb58]

I've never used a torque wrench on any of my vehicles, outboard motors, boats, trailers, etc.....how about just "good and darn snug"?....Of course for a cylinder head or similar the torque and tightening patterns/sequences are critical and torque wrenches are required.....not for every nut, bolt and screw.....but for those folks that everything has to be "brain surgery", then by all means go for the torque wrenches....

So the factory manuals list the torque for everything for fun right?

 

[Tim Frank]

"good and darn snug"

That is OK for run-of-the-mill fasteners.
But there are myriad other ones that need to be " good and REALLY darn snug" and even some that need to be "reefed on tighter than a bull's butt at fly time".
I always use a torque wrench for those last ones!

 

[nwcove]

"tighter than a bull's butt at fly time"

........ummm......dare i ask?? lol

 

[rbh]

^^^ Yup, wha the heck??? LOL

I never really worried about doing the torque thing if it was a steel pan and plug, but if it was aluminum or magnesium with a steel plug thats a little different.

 

[Barramundi NQ]

Torque specs on a oil plug are to eliminate the "idiot" factor. For most of us who have changed our own oil for the last 30 + years we know when it feels firm enough to stop. Saying that of course, doesn't mean that someone who torques their oil pan plugs everytime is doing anything wrong. In fact good on you! By torquing everytime the oil plug will always be right.......that is not a bad thing. So I reckon to those who torque well done, and to those that don't torque, well done too. My 2 cents

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

farm snug