Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) wanna argue?

[kluther]

i changed my oil today for the millionth time. when i torqued the drain plug in at 38 ft lbs,it snapped the head off. i went to the local dealer and asked politely what is going on. i'm not over torquing the bolt. the adviser said lets ask the diesel tech. he looked at me and said you over torqued it and you probably ruined your oil pan too. i asked what is the torque if i'm over doing it . he said use a 6 inch 3/8 ratchet and snug it up. jiffy lube does this all the time. i told him the manual said 44 ft lbs. he almost fell over laughing and said no way its about 20 ft lbs. so i asked to be proven wrong,we looked in there manual and the look on his face was priceless. needless to say i purchased a new drain bolt and left as fast as possible ken

PS i have a Geno's finger touch drain but i don't trust them enough to use it.

 

[Bob4x4]

I just want to add that although the factory service manual is a great source of info they do have mistakes in them. Going through the 03 fuel class with the truck and manual side by side we found quite a few mistakes. Every year D/C sends out stiky page corrections for the manuals,you do it your selfers are cheated out of these so you will never get the corrected pages,sorry

If you look at how thin the flange is on that factory drain plug and how easy that oil pan is to crush you might want to consider that that book is only a guide not an infalible bible.

I have had the fumimoto oil valve on my truck for a couple of years..... no problem yet



Bob

 

[snowracer69]

Sounds just like the "diesel tech" who told me my steering box "jumped a gear. " Didn't know at the time it wasn't physically possible, so just brushed it off.



Haven't been back since I firgured that out... BTW, they charge $52 for a friggin fuel filter!!! I about went insane when I found them on Geno's for $12. 99. Theivin', lyin', no good sons-a-... ...



Josh

 

[illflem]

I've always torqued my drain plug by feel without a problem but once checked with a torque wrench, it was about 25 ft/lbs. I feel this is totally adequate and 44 ft/lbs is way too much. According to this poll 72% of the respondents don't use a torque wrench - https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=67648

 

[LSMITH]

Originally posted by illflem

I've always torqued my drain plug by feel without a problem but once checked with a torque wrench, it was about 25 ft/lbs. I feel this is totally adequate and 44 ft/lbs is way too much. According to this poll 72% of the respondents don't use a torque wrench - https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=67648

I would agree with Bill above, except I don't go over about 18 Ft/Lbs on mine. JUST snug, and I fight to get it out 5000 miles later EVERY time.

 

[Big White Beast]

Can't figure that out either......

I never tighten mine that tight yet when I go to loosen it it nearly kills me. Last time at the swap meet I bought a huge breaker bar just for oil changes, hope it saves my knuckles.



Garrett

 

[BFC]

Good'n'tight always worked for me so far... ... ... ... ... ... do you guys think that we sweat the small stuff just a bit :-laf :-laf



Glenn

 

[TowPro]

If this Geno's thing you have is the one where you have to push in the lever, then turn it to open the oil flow, don't be affrade of it. I put 70K miles on one with no problem.



Of course there always is the chance somebody could go under the truck and drain the oil as a prank, but if they were, they could do it just as easy with a wrench.

 

[Hohn]

yeah, I am one of those shady types that goes by feel for almost everything except differential and engine work. All the other stuff like lug nuts, drain plugs, and the like, I do by hand.



This allows you to feel the tension in the fastener, and you can also tell when it starts to let go. IMO, the more delicate the fastener, the more you need to do it by hand.



One good way to keep from over-torquing things is to use a 1/4" ratchet setup as your primary tool, then go bigger as needed. Just use a bunch of adapters...



I second the good word on the Fumoto oil drain valve. Had one on my maxima for 4 changes-- no problems.



Hohn

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by Hohn

yeah, I am one of those shady types that goes by feel for almost everything except differential and engine work. All the other stuff like lug nuts, drain plugs, and the like, I do by hand.



This allows you to feel the tension in the fastener, and you can also tell when it starts to let go. IMO, the more delicate the fastener, the more you need to do it by hand.



One good way to keep from over-torquing things is to use a 1/4" ratchet setup as your primary tool, then go bigger as needed. Just use a bunch of adapters...



I second the good word on the Fumoto oil drain valve. Had one on my maxima for 4 changes-- no problems.



Hohn

I personally have twisted and broke 3/8 dia grade 8 bolts with your standard 3/8 drive ratchets, and I was'nt even really going at it. It's all a matter of leverage. My primary tool in the garage and the shop that I am contracting at is a stubby 3/8 drive. Large enough to fit in the palm of my hand comfortably with the 3" handle. Nothing spokier than a 10mm bolt spinning lose in an aluminimum block when you are tightening down the oil pump.



Sticks

 

[KennyM]

I snapped mine off three oil changes ago. I considered it my lucky day when the dealer only had one in stock.

 

[Big White Beast]

KennyM????

Were you using a torque wrench??



Garrett

 

[KennyM]

Nope, just lots of torque.

 

[Cobra]

Hey I haven't changed my oil millions of times but I do have the finger touch drain from Geno's garage and I haven't had any problems. No drips on my garage floor, nothing. Lots better than snapping off the plug.

 

[speedracer]

Chalk me up with the 'tighten till it feels right' crowd. Never had one come out, haven't broken one either. I also don't struggle to remove it at the next oil change.