Anybody know the Alero oil plug torque specs?

[xBa380]

Doing an oil change for my friend this weekend and want to know if anybody has the torque specs for the oil plug? It's a 2002, 4 cylinder model.

I can't seem to find them anywhere online. I know you can easily do it without torquing, but if I can torque it, I will. I would guess around 18ft/lbs?

Appreciate the help!

 

[JHZR2]

Id guess between 18-22 ft lbs...

JMH

 

[xBa380]

Yeah, that's what I figure as well. Ill probably go to 20 ft lbs, right in the middle! haha

And its a 2004*, not a 2002 like I said above if anybody should have the right specs who may read this.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Are you kidding me? You use a torque wrench on a drain plug? I am doubting it has an offical torque spec. but if it does it would probably not be inth ft-lbs but in in-lbs or newtons!

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: JohnBrowning
Are you kidding me? You use a torque wrench on a drain plug?


It's probably a good idea John for people who aren't used to torquing by feel.

 

[xBa380]

I normally don't and have yet to do so, but I just got my nifty torque wrench and want to put it to good use other then rotating tires... So why not!

And it IS in ft/lbs, not in/lbs.

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: JohnBrowning
Are you kidding me? You use a torque wrench on a drain plug? I am doubting it has an offical torque spec. but if it does it would probably not be inth ft-lbs but in in-lbs or newtons!


You might be surprised I've actually managed to find a torque spec for the drain plug on every car I've changed the oil on (I'm pretty sure, at least, there might've been one or two that I couldn't). Same reasoning, I bought the torque wrench, might as well use it.

The range is a bit surprising, too. I've had the specs as high as 29 lb*ft (in my 07 Civic).

 

[bdcardinal]

all drain plugs have torque specs. when i worked at sears, i always torqued drain plugs, a real cya thing.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
all drain plugs have torque specs. when i worked at sears, i always torqued drain plugs, a real cya thing.

Yup. W-M torques drain plugs too. We have a list with the makes and engines. Some of them Ive memorized. Honda ALL are 31 ft-lbs. Modular Fords are 10 ft-lbs. 6.6L Chev Duramax is 58 ft-lbs.
Sorry, I dont know an Alero. Dont run across them enough. If I had to guess, 18 ft-lbs.

 

[SWHeat]

Whoa, 58 ft-lbs? I know its a diesel and all, but is just keeping non-pressurized oil in the sump. Wow!

 

[Matt_S]

The service manual does indeed say 18 ft-lbs.

The Alero is mechanically very similar to the Grand Am, by the way (the service manual is the same for both cars).

 

[xBa380]

Appreciate it guys! Thanks!

 

[PT1]

I torque all drain plugs on my Harley but the cars get the SWAG torque method.