Torqueing the oil drain plug

[illflem]

I personally have never used a torque wrench on any drain plug and have never had one leak, fall out or break. What brings this up is reports of folks breaking their plugs when torquing to factory specs.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Whats a torque wrench?



I use a torque wrench on three things (other than the internal engine components), wheels, head, and clutch, everything else is the "Tighten it 'till it strips, then back it off a 1/4 turn" philosophy.



Later, Rob

 

[RGT]

I just tighten the plug 'till I see the gasket deform a little, pretty much only use a torque wrench for internals... .

 

[JMichelson]

Torque Wrench ?

Tighten it until it smokes and go two more turns

Seriously, I do use a torque wrench. I don’t have a calibrated wrist for tightening bolts. Jeff

 

[Chipstien]

By feel here.

 

[Desperado]

By feel for me, if it feels tight it must be tight.

 

[Bigsaint]

By feel also



Scott W.

 

[BFC]

Torque wrench on an oil plug? PE LEASE! Internal, transmission's,OK, oil PLUG, come on! Good'n'tight works for me.



Glenn

 

[lschultz]

Torque wrench for me. I have learned my lesson the hard way. Not on oil pan plugs though.

 

[JLEONARD]

Good 'n tight with a "choked up " grip has always worked for me, and I usually keep my vehicles a long time which means a lot of oil changes!

Jay

 

[BigMike]

I have my oil changed at the dealer. Don't know whether they torque or not, but last time they must have over tightened. Stripped the threads on the pan, it started leaking and they finally had to replace the whole pan. That's not an uncommon problem I am told.

 

[John Berger]

By feel here. I've never had an oil pan plug come loose on me on any vehicle I've ever driven. I check the Super Plug though, from time to time, since they have a rep for coming loose on our trucks.

 

[LSMITH]

I tighten mine just snug, no more than 1/4 turn past contact with the pan. I fight to get it loose every time I change it, any tighter and I would be in trouble.

 

[dalton4]

I'm also doing it by feel. Next time may be the bad one but I 've had no problem using the feel method for 42 years.

 

[radixr]

I never take mine out! (Fumoto Oil Drain Valve:-laf :-laf :-laf )

 

[Fireman Dave]

Originally posted by LSMITH

I tighten mine just snug, no more than 1/4 turn past contact with the pan. I fight to get it loose every time I change it, any tighter and I would be in trouble.

I'm with Howard. That thing seems to get tighter on it's own between oil changes.

 

[RustyJC]

1/2" drive breakover bar with a 4' cheater pipe works pretty good!



Seriously, I just use a short-handled 3/8" drive ratchet and snug it down gently. I've done this for over 40 years and never stripped a drain plug or had one come loose.



Rusty

 

[The Vetterfarm]

I like to use a little teflon pipe sealer like for plumping jobs. I use it on all plugs no leaks and the plug doesn't freeze in to the threads... Chris

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by radixr

I never take mine out! (Fumoto Oil Drain Valve:-laf :-laf :-laf )

I did torque the Fumoto when I installed it using a crow's foot wrench.

 

[bfreel]

Well, I read all the posts about factory drain plugs being bad, so shortly after taking delivery on my truck, I changed the oil and filter, and installed the aftermarket HDOP-02 drain plug. Mind you, I have been doing my own oil changes going on forty six years, and never, have had a plug loosen or come out using the tighten by feel methord! It wasn't long after, driving at fifty MPH, that the check gauges light came on. The oil pressure gauge was on zero. I pulled into a station right away, shutting the truck off at the same time. Popped the hood and checked the dipstick, it was dry. looked under the front of the truck to see oil drippng from the pan. Got around behind the front wheel, took another look, the plug was gone and the undercarriage was covered with oil. Well when I got it back home, the factory plug, which I saved went back in and torqued to 40 FT LBS. New oil and filter, and a lottta luck nothing happened to the motor, I was back in business. Have changed oil & filter many times since, always torqueing to 40, with no problems. Still don't torque anything but the Ram. Go figure?