Almost Stripped My Oil Drain Bolt! DOH!

Wrightsville Beast · Feb 12, 2004

I used an older torque wrench on my drain bolt the other day. Set it to 18ft-lbs. and started turning. It gets tighter and tighter - but no click. I start to get worried because I know from feel that it is getting too tight.

Turns out my torque wrench was broken. Used my other one and it was def. set too tight. It seemed to tighen back to normal torque OK - so I think I dodged a bullet.

Geez - a couple more turns and I think she would have stripped. That would not have made my week.

TCM · Feb 12, 2004

I think you are better off using a regular wrench or socket to tighten the drain plug. Although it is a small risk, I avoid using and sort of force on the drain plugs as today's cars seem to have them strip quite easily. I am glad to see you caught yours in time.

dmz · Feb 12, 2004

The oil drain bolt is designed to snap off when over torqued to protect the aluminium oil pan. If you over torqued it you might have compromised it's integrity and may snap off too easy next time. You should replece it with a new plug on your next oil change.

BMW_Jim · Feb 12, 2004

My dealer stripped the oil drain plug the last time they changed the oil. You can definately strip it before it shears off. They had to get a new oil pan shipped in by air. :crying: :crying:

Almost Stripped My Oil Drain Bolt! DOH!

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