Torque wrench question

[kellan]

Hey,

I picked up some oil and a torque wrench and did my first oil change today.

The torque wrenches I had used in the long distant past had a guage-like tension indicator. This new wrench looks like a ratchet with a knurled handle that you turn to adjust the torque according to numbers engraved on the shaft (I set it to 18 ft/lbs), but no tension meter. I assumed it would give an audio cue, like the tension setting on an electric drill.

Anyway, once I had drained the oil, I replaced the drain bolt and tightened it until I heard a click. I had assumed that the wrench would ratchet and not turn any tighter once it reached the proper torque, so I kept turning. It clicked again. Now I could only assume that the single click had been the magic event and that I had now overtorqued 2X. I loosened the drain bolt and retorqued it to one click. It didn't seem like very much pressure, but I guess that's how it should be.

Questions: did I do this correctly? Is there any chance that I did some damage with my first (overtorqued) attempt?

Thanks,
Kellan

[chanito]

Yes you are correct, you are to torque until you hear the first click, when you hear the second click you probably vertorque by about 5 lbs, but since you losen the bolt and tighten again you should be OK.
And it is common to think that the bolt is too loose, until you get used to the feel of the torque wrench ;D

[Kami no Chiizu]

The first time I changed my oil, I was unfamiliar with the torque wrench, and I overtorqued it. I have a very, very, very slow oil leak, now, but it's never been a real problem.

[cooterssrt4]

so a torque wrench is essential. And everything must be torqued i was just gonna guess to see how tight it would get. but i guess its better to just get a torque wrench.

[Kami no Chiizu]

It's not like you can have too many tools.

[cooterssrt4]

got a old style one yesterday..........so the oil drain plug needs to be torqued too?. i thought i saw a thread where it had all the torque specs. or was that all in my head

[Antig]

Jul 18, 2008 6:39:54 GMT -5 cooterssrt4 said:

got a old style one yesterday..........so the oil drain plug needs to be torqued too?. i thought i saw a thread where it had all the torque specs. or was that all in my head

I made a sticky over at TotalRuckus with all the torque values (maintenance section).

It is a better idea not to use a torque wrench for the oil drain bolt. Tighten it with your fingers until snug, then give it a quarter turn. That bolt isn't holding in much pressure so it doesn't need to be too tight.