First oil change - torque question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 844
Likes: 0
From: Houston The Republic of Texas
First oil change - torque question
First Corvette and first oil change.
I'm going to change the oil on Friday and after reading Talon90's how-to, I noticed the drain plug gets torqued to 18 ft-lbs. The oil filter gets 22 ft-lbs or 3/4 of a turn with an oil filter wrench, which seems normal for the filter.
I've changed oil many times on my other cars through the years, but they didn't have an aluminum pan, so I'm concerned about over-tightening and messing up the pan or the threads.
Please correct me, but to me 18 ft-lbs would be the equivalent of me laying on my back and using only 1 hand to tighten the nut with a 13mm socket attached to a 1/2 inch ratchet until the nut won't tighten any more. Not two hands to tighten and not grunting until it won't tighten any more with one hand. Just tighten until it stops. Does that sound right?
After adding the oil and cranking it up, I'll check for leakage at the pan to make sure it's dry.
Just checking. Thanks for your time.
oz
I'm going to change the oil on Friday and after reading Talon90's how-to, I noticed the drain plug gets torqued to 18 ft-lbs. The oil filter gets 22 ft-lbs or 3/4 of a turn with an oil filter wrench, which seems normal for the filter.
I've changed oil many times on my other cars through the years, but they didn't have an aluminum pan, so I'm concerned about over-tightening and messing up the pan or the threads.
Please correct me, but to me 18 ft-lbs would be the equivalent of me laying on my back and using only 1 hand to tighten the nut with a 13mm socket attached to a 1/2 inch ratchet until the nut won't tighten any more. Not two hands to tighten and not grunting until it won't tighten any more with one hand. Just tighten until it stops. Does that sound right?
After adding the oil and cranking it up, I'll check for leakage at the pan to make sure it's dry.
Just checking. Thanks for your time.
oz
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,078
Likes: 19
From: Cumming, GA
This always works for me. I've never used a tq wrench on the oil pan as it seems like overkill to me. Just snug it up with one hand and call it a day.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 147
From: St. Louis MO
In 30+ years of changing my own oil on so many cars, a strong hand is the only tool needed to install an oil filter. I've rarely seen the need to use an oil filter wrench and that was in some rare instances on some cars, late model Corvettes not being the case.
The torque spec on the oil pan bolt is more for those who would otherwise are prone to over-torquing. Yes you are right, one hand just tighten until it stops is just fine.
The torque spec on the oil pan bolt is more for those who would otherwise are prone to over-torquing. Yes you are right, one hand just tighten until it stops is just fine.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 844
Likes: 0
From: Houston The Republic of Texas
Thanks so much, guys. I'm set, now.
And Dave, yeah, I remember a long time ago having to borrow a mechanic's Vise-Grip chain oil filter wrench to break the seal on one.
Replacing the oil filter with just enough torque that I could remove it the next time without using a wrench was always my goal.
Now if I could only remember whether to Zaino the bottom of the oil pan or not.
oz
And Dave, yeah, I remember a long time ago having to borrow a mechanic's Vise-Grip chain oil filter wrench to break the seal on one.
Replacing the oil filter with just enough torque that I could remove it the next time without using a wrench was always my goal.
Now if I could only remember whether to Zaino the bottom of the oil pan or not.
oz
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
With the rubber gasket on the drain plug, if you tighten it with a 6 inch ratchet, it will not come out.
Oil filters, I have always just tightened as tight as I could by hand. I try to tighten at least 3/4 to 1 fulll turn after the gasket contacts the block.
Oil filters, I have always just tightened as tight as I could by hand. I try to tighten at least 3/4 to 1 fulll turn after the gasket contacts the block.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: Weymouth MA
Get a good fitting oil filter wrench before you try to take off the factory filter. As said, it is really tight. If you use a filter wrench to tighten the new oil filter, I wouldn't go much beyond 1/2 turn after hand snug, otherwise it will be difficult to remove. 6" ratchet with one hand snug is about as tight as the drain plug needs to be, or you can crank it down till the pan cracks, then back it off a 1/4 turn!
Enjoy your vette!
Enjoy your vette!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 3
From: Huntington Beach CA
I used to have a sport bike. The Japanese crotch rockets are made of aluminum and plastic. It became a habit to always use a torque wrench when doing anything with my CBR 929.
If something I'm working on has a torque spec., I use the torque wrench. I like that Chevy put the numbers in the owner's manual.
Just trying to avoid that sinking feeling when you realize you just stripped something. I like the peace of mind.
If something I'm working on has a torque spec., I use the torque wrench. I like that Chevy put the numbers in the owner's manual.
Just trying to avoid that sinking feeling when you realize you just stripped something. I like the peace of mind.
