Oil filter

[Myfocus]

Good point abt the sump material. For the rest of the folks contemplating DIY oil changes or car repair, the sump threads can be damaged by overtightening, worse still if the sump is Aluminium. Once that's done you'll have to use a thread insert (eg heli-coil) or replace the sump/pan. As Turbobrick mentions, the washer deforms to form a good seal and to provide a limited "cushion" against overtightening. Due to the metallurgy the washer hardens after tightening and over time (heat, vibration etc). So reusing the washer is Not A Good Idea .

 

One way to avoid overtightening is to use a torque wrench. You do have a torque wrench, don't you? No? :-O

 

Most cars that come with drain plug washers come with Aluminum or Copper washers.

 

Many are crush type but mechs always re-use them, defeating the purpose of having crush type. The washer is just another safeguard from overtightening the soft aluminum oil sump that most cars have today.

[Turbobrick]

Good follow up by MyFocus

 

A Torque wrench is an essential tool for any DIY mech, of course I have one!

 

Cheapo one though, Sellery brand retailing around $60. Good enough for shadetree mech as we don't use daily so it won't give way that fast

 

A reasonably well build Torque wrench costs around >$150+.

 

Do U know that torquing spark plugs and wheel nuts are also overlooked by many?

I had hell of many times trying to open up wheel nuts and spark plugs of my friends' cars as the previous mech over tightened them way too much!

[Myfocus]

Ahem, just following good practices.

 

And, I guess you know that a torque wrench esp the "click" type need to be re-cal at least annually, possibly within 6 months? The exception are the "beam" type, but that is the most mis-used type (leading to inaccurate readings :-( ). It gets expensive, really fast, huh?

 

Good point on the wheels and spark plugs. Yes, I carry a torque wrench in my car, why do you ask? :-)

 

wonder how many ask the tyre shop/mechanic to *hand*tighten* instead of using the pneumatic wrench?

 

To add more consideration, how many people know the required torque values eg wheels? and are the figures quoted wet or dry? and no, KY is not the lubricant you use here :-P

 

ok, enuff for the day, time to balek....

[Turbobrick]

I use the standard click type and have not calibrate for a year +

 

Guilty as charged!

 

I don't carry my torque wrench around as I only use it when my car is sitting home, changing spare tire how U may ask? Well, I don't carry one!

[Myfocus]

Be careful, I've seen tolerances as wide as 15% after 6-9 months. Usually due to the techs who dun set it back to lowest setting b4 storage, or they use it as an impact wrench instead of applying steady pressure.

 

I used to not carry a spare but the boot board started to sag so no choice.

[Turbobrick]

BTW, where to get a torque wrench calibrate? My boot board is starting to sag as well

[Myfocus]

P$B :-)

 

Snap-on (AllTools?) has an in-house facility, but I did not check if their standards are traceable.

 

Prev co had facilities for that (traceable, summore!), but now no access, so I'm going to have problems too..... In retrospect, should have gotten the beam type of torque wrench :-(

 

Sagging boot board? too many brochures? :-) One solution i've seen is to use industrial foam (the high-density closed-cell type), then have cutouts for tools. Keeps things out of the way and reduces rattling.

 

Now in RF design co, so all these nice stuff no longer available. sigh....

 

 

BTW, where to get a torque wrench calibrate? My boot board is starting to sag as well

[Turbobrick]

P$B? Going to cost quite a bit rite? I'd stick with watever I can push out of my torque wrench for the time being

 

When I was in the army as a mech, go access to plenty of tools and goodies to work on my car with too! Weekend duties means service car

 

Too bad now have to borrow or beg for tools tat I don't have access to, bummer

[tinoyong]

Anyone here used VIC oil filter before?

[Pisces69]

Anyone here used VIC oil filter before?

 

Micro n Vic r very common brands of oil filter. Price slightly cheaper than Original.

 

I still prefer to stick to the original filter though.

[tinoyong]

 

Micro n Vic r very common brands of oil filter. Price slightly cheaper than Original.

 

I still prefer to stick to the original filter though.

 

If u check out a YouTube video on the 2 different filter brands, massive difference in quality..from my view

[Pisces69]

 

If u check out a YouTube video on the 2 different filter brands, massive difference in quality..from my view

 

Ya Im not surprised. I never liked these brands. Maybe cos we suspected there were many imitations long ago.

 

I always try to use Original Oil/Air filters.

 

They might look simple but the wrong paper element means the size of dirt might b let in. Also original oil filters hv the safety valve. Some after-market or imitations dun have or have buy it dun work well.