Table of Contents
Can you over tighten oil drain plug?
Unfortunately, you can do damage by overtightening, too. If you over-tighten the drain plug, you can strip the threads. And while it’s harder to do, you can damage the rubber gasket atop the oil filter if you really overtighten it. In the shop, we tighten the oil plug about as much as we tighten a spark plug.
Can you change oil without removing drain plug?
No you need to remove the oil pan drain plug to get all the oil out of your engine. Removing the oil filter will only remove about 1/3 of a quart.
How tight does the oil drain plug have to be?
Your oil drain plug should be tight enough not to loosen and let all your oil drain out while you drive and that it should not be so tight that it strips the threads.
Should you torque oil plugs?
Don’t ever hand tighten the engine oil drain plug. It will eventually vibrate loose and fall out. It needs to be tightened properly. While you could probably Google the torque specification for your vehicle, it’s generally around 25 to 30 ft lbs.
What do I do if my oil drain plug is stuck?
You’ll need to spray penetrating oil on the oil plug and leave it to sit for several hours. Then you can take a small hammer and tap counterclockwise to ensure that you are loosening the plug.
How do you change oil without ramps?
How to change oil without ramps – Quora. You can use a floor jack and a pair of jack stands. Or you can drive 2 wheels on one side up on the curb and get down in the gutter to access the drain plug and filter.
How do you torque an oil drain plug?
Run the plug down with your hand until it stops flush with the oil pan. With a wrench tighten the plug very lightly until it stops and is only snug with the pan. Then tighten the plug 1/4 turn. That’s it your done.
Is hand tight OK for oil filter?
Oil filters do not need to be too tight. If you can safely unscrew the filter with your hand, requiring only minimal resistance from the tightened position, then your filter has the correct tightness.
How long should you let oil drain from car?
Remove the drain plug by loosening it (counterclockwise) with the proper wrench and unscrewing it. Hold on to the drain plug as you remove it; the oil will start pouring out as you pull it away from the oil pan. Allow the engine to drain for five minutes or until the flow of oil has slowed to a trickle.
Should I use a torque wrench on oil drain plug?
Despite +30 years of wrenching, I always use a torque wrench on my oil drain plug precisely because it is steel into aluminum. First the torque spec almost certainly takes into account oil coated threads since it is unavoidable. Second, most wrencher’s experience is a steel bolt in a steel hole.
Do you need torque wrench for oil drain plug?
The ratchet, socket set, and oil filter wrench have their place. Apart from these basic items, you may need a torque wrench to properly install the plug and filter, though most experienced mechanics just tighten the bolt and filter by feel.
Does an oil drain plug need a washer?
You definitely do NOT need anew drain plug at every oil change. Depending on the vehicle , you MAY need a new crush washer at every change ( gasket). If you have been told that you need to replace both at every change by a dealer, quick change place or other, you have been being ripped off.
How often should you change your oil drain plug?
Your drain plug should last the life of your engine if it is properly Torqued every time during oil change. I haven’t stripped a single drain plug in 20 years.
Why does my oil drain plug leak?
There can be several reasons why your drain plug is leaking. If the washer is missing or deformed or if the gasket has dried out or torn, then these may be responsible for the leak. It’s also possible that the plug was installed too tightly, causing the threads to be damaged and oil to leak out past them.
Can you change oil with one jack?
Can you change oil with one jack? Of course, it can be done, but only with the front end of the car lifted up. Look out for where the oil drain is on the pan( back, side, center, and so on). You actually may or may not drain the last of the oil while the front of the car is still lifted.
Can I use a scissor jack to change oil?
Depending on design, it may fit lift points on your specific vehicle, and maybe only to a certain height, to get the tire a couple inches off the ground. This makes it almost useless for anything else, such as lifting a different vehicle or completing an oil change.
Is it OK to change oil on ramps?
It is just fine as the majority of vehicles have their engine oil drain plug located near the rear edge of the oil pan. This angle caused by the ramps would only speed the draining of the oil.