Total newb strips his oil pan

[Ultramaroon]

If you don't yet have a workbench set up with a vise, consider one.

I suggest going to the hardware store and pick up an assortment of nuts and bolts. Then intentionally strip them to get a feel for what's tight enough and what's too tight. Just before the fastener starts to strip, or using proper terminology, yield, it's already been over-torqued.

The old-school torque wrenches like @humfrz mentioned are really underrated. They're simple and a great tool for learning feel.

[KR-S]

So, while we're on the subject of torque wrenches, how's a Craftsman torque wrench? Though my brother has a torque wrench (Craftsman as well), I'm certain that it's out of calibration and I would rather have my own anyway.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by KR-S 86

So, while we're on the subject of torque wrenches, how's a Craftsman torque wrench? Though my brother has a torque wrench (Craftsman as well), I'm certain that it's out of calibration and I would rather have my own anyway.

I have a couple that are probably older than you. Had them calibrated once and checked every few years. No drift. Still work fine.

Of course it's probably not realistic to compare today's product to those from 1989.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I have a couple that are probably older than you. Had them calibrated once and checked every few years. No drift. Still work fine.

Of course it's probably not realistic to compare today's product to those from 1989.

@Ultramaroon 's old torque wrench ......

You see, Ultramaroon, I figure it this way. The old torque wrenches may have lost some of their tension ...... but, we have lost some of our wrenching strength ....... so, I figure it all equals out .....


humfrz

[Ashikabi]

Originally Posted by KR-S 86

So, while we're on the subject of torque wrenches, how's a Craftsman torque wrench? Though my brother has a torque wrench (Craftsman as well), I'm certain that it's out of calibration and I would rather have my own anyway.

I have one that's older than I am. Works well but the during that keeps the ratchet direction locked is broken. Had it calibrated and it's good

[stevesnj]

DON"T STOP WRENCHING!!!

I started when i was 12 changing oil on my moms Mazda and all other cars and had to buy Haynes or Chilton repair manuals and actually read and decipher how to do even the easiest task. No videos,just black and white pics in a book which NEVER showed every step in a pic.

Here's Chiltons online.. http://repair.chiltondiy.com/Pub/DIY...epair&b=119615

$25 for a year access is cheap and has electrical diagrams. Then as you get better use the Factory Manual found somewhere on the interweb. Proper tools are key to easier repair. Slowly build your tool set. Buy a 3 drawer tool chest so you are compelled to fill it..lol

I only take my car to a mechanic for things I can't do myself. i.e. 4 Wheel alignment.

Have fun!!!

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by humfrz

@Ultramaroon 's old torque wrench ......

You see, Ultramaroon, I figure it this way. The old torque wrenches may have lost some of their tension ...... but, we have lost some of our wrenching strength ....... so, I figure it all equals out .....


humfrz

Wait, are we still talking about torque wrenches?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Wait, are we still talking about torque wrenches?

Let me help you focus here .....


humfrz

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by humfrz

Let me help you focus here .....


humfrz

lolol!!! There it is!

[MrDinkleman]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

The old-school torque wrenches like @humfrz mentioned are really underrated. They're simple and a great tool for learning feel.

More than just "underrated"; From what I've read, they are actually more accurate than click types and are sometimes required for critical assemblies. Click-types are definitely more convenient, though. And cooler, too: how cool sounding is it to click-click, click-click, click-click, click-click, click-click when tightening lug nuts...

[Golevka]

Originally Posted by qqzj

i can feel your pain ...

i started working on my cars after reading lots of online chats. One of the key insight is that a good torque wrench is a very expensive tool and needs to be frequently calibrated. so the cheap stuff we buy are not going to be useful, except for tightening lug nuts. for anything less than 40 lb ft, just hand tighten. a good rule i use is that i use a short 3/8 wrench with a short pipe. i use both when removing nuts and only use the short one when tightening. this way i won't strip a nut/bolt and i can always remove them later.

hope this helps.

This is indeed very helpful. Thanks!

[cwpbrz-ji]

I have probably spent more time riding on motorcycles, than in cars, and would like to share a story about torque wrenching.

During my last months of military service (mid 1960s), I walked into a local biker shop, told the Wrench I would clean up & do other mindless chores if he would teach me, ...and he handed me a broom.

This Wrench seldom, if ever, used a torque wrench and did something I thought was interesting.

He held a bathroom scale against a wood beam, had me push on it as hard as I could, with one hand, then the other hand, and then both hands.

He told me the weight that registered was my "base push/pull power in pounds."

He then had me spend part of my time loosening and tightening bolts with a long handle (breaker) wrench on an old automobile engine; verifying tightness with a torque wrench, ...when I thought I was close to spec.

This taught me a lot about removing broken bolts, tightening things on the road, and Marklar .

If I have to torque something to 80 ft. lb. (foot pounds), I do it in stages of, 20, 40, 60, 80, which is considered "overkill" by my learned mentors who say 30, 60, 80; to which I replied, “Different Strokes ?”

@humfrz I smiled a lot and took delight in reading your responses == thank you.

@Ultramaroon You displayed one of my favorite type of torque wrenches == thank you.

[babydriver]

Originally Posted by Golevka

This is the one I have:
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/a...ac68/9010430-P
AutoCraft 1/2" Drive Click Torque wrench.

It looks exactly like the one from Harbor Freight. I suspect that these are all made in one factory in China.

[babydriver]

Originally Posted by Euro7R

I've always went with the "hand tight" method with my oil changes, no leaks or issues. I can't imagine the drain plug over time suddenly loosening itself?

An easy solution is to buy a supply of the appropriate metal crush gaskets for your oil pan bolt and replace the gasket each time you change the oil. Thread the bolt in by hand until the gasket first contacts the pan. Apply the ratchet and socket with a little torque as the gasket crushes flat. Once it has been squashed nearly flat, the resistance will go up a noticeable amount. Just make it "snug" after that and you're done. The other obvious advantage is that with a new gasket the bolt won't leak.