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I keep seeing techs skip the torque wrench on aluminum oil pans
It's not just about stripping threads, it's about the gasket crush. I watched a guy at the shop in Mesa over-tighten a Ford 5.0 pan by feel last month, and it started seeping after 500 miles. The spec is often around 18 ft-lbs in a star pattern, not 'good and tight'. Has anyone else had to fix a leak from this?
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jennifer83311d ago
What's the actual torque spec for that pan, and do you think the gasket material changes it?
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sage30811d ago
Honestly, I just go by feel on those pans, always have. Tbh, I stripped a bolt once trying to hit the spec in the manual.
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the_thea11d ago
That 18 ft-lb spec on the aluminum pan is basically there to save you from yourself. I mean, it's not just about the threads, it's about squashing that rubber gasket flat in the right way. If you just crank it down, you create high spots and low spots. It'll seal for a bit, then it starts weeping. I've seen so many come back for that exact reason. It's lazy and it costs everyone more time in the end.
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