| MARFONG |
I just did my first DIY oil change on my MDX. How important is it to torque the drain plug? I borrowed a friend's 1/2" torque wrench and had a tough time torqueing the plug. Since I did not raise the vehicle to do the oil change, I had limited space to torque. I just tightened the plug with a 17mm wrench. I plan to get a 3/8" torque wrench (which of shorter than the 1/2" wrench) to do the torque later. It doesn't seem to be much room under the car to properly torque the plug without raising the front wheels.
Any tricks to make it easier to torque? A torque of 29ft/lbs doesn't seem to be much, so I was carefully not to overtightened, but I also don't want to undertighten. I wonder if the dealer where I got my last oil change had torqued the plug, because it sure took some effort to loosen it.
Also, since I plan to torque later when I buy the 3/8" torque wrench, do I need to change the crush washer again? I had planned to loosen the plug and then re-tighten with the torque wrench. |
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| DaleB |
I think the danger of overtightening is much greater. If it feels tight, I would not worry. It is not about to loosen on it's own. For your own comfort check it for a few days to be sure no oil drops are forming on it when it's warm and after sitting overnight. The main reason for a torque spec is two-fold. One to be sure you don't overtighten, thereby stressing something, and the second, is to be sure you do the first one the same everytime.
In this case, I believe there is more concern about over-tightening. The torque spec is not more important on an MDX than any other vehicle. |
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| Fabvsix |
| I've changed my oil for years ! Never used a tourqe wrench in my life. COMMON SENSE is best here ......DON'T OVER TIGHTEN the bolt. I use a PLAIN OLD RAQUET WRENCH AND COMMON SENSE ! Oh, and I'm NO mechanic nor do I plan to be ! :cool: ;) :) |
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| yogi799 |
quote:
Originally posted by Fabvsix
I've changed my oil for years ! Never used a tourqe wrench in my life. COMMON SENSE is best here ......DON'T OVER TIGHTEN the bolt. I use a PLAIN OLD RAQUET WRENCH AND COMMON SENSE ! Oh, and I'm NO mechanic nor do I plan to be ! :cool: ;) :)
RIGHT ON! For about 50 oil changes I've done in my life, never used a torque thingy (don't even own one). Tighten enough so it's tight. That's all the science there's to it. |
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| Lrpba300 |
| Well, I'm with Fabvsix & yogi799. I've done my own oil changes for my car's / SUV's & usually my other half's vehicle for close to 40 years and like 100,000 times. NEVER used a Torque wrench once. If your mechnically inclined, you get a "feel" for it. You tighten enough, w/o OVER tightening. I've used a Torque wrench for cylinder heads, crankshaft bearing caps, etc., but never the oil pan plug. (I'm not trying to be a SA, I guess some of us just have the touch, & some don't!!) |
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| mgmdx |
| Ditto. :4: Same as yogi799 and Lrpba300. Have not used a torque wrench for the past 20+ years of oil changes. |
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