When the socket just spins, and the screwdriver just tears the can, it isn’t much fun. Don’t be that guy.
oil filter tightness question
- Thread starter mco30mco
- Start date
I think once the filter based has bottomed out using hand tightening you are not going to be able to do anything more. I would think impossible to distort using my hands at least.
That's basically what I said in post 40 about a torque stop with P-gasket type oil filter. Once the filter bottoms out on the filter seat, more tightening will only make the filter tighter on the mount spud threads, and not compress the P-gasket any more.
Agreed with the operative word being "shouldn't." My hypothesis on the Toyota Denso, the Express Lane lube 'tech' used a filter tool (as noted in posts #28, #29) that went past the intended 'stop', bent metal dug into the gasket and compromised the seal some how. Had I not snugged the filter more later with no improvement, might reach another conclusion. Either way, flat or P type, l follow same procedure ~3/4 turn after gasket contact. CQ Prem P-type, filter shows 3/4-1 turn after gasket contact.
Same here. I think heat cycles on the gasket and changing the filter when engine warm with metal expansion makes using a tool necessary.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
Hand tight always. The exception being the GM PF63 filters on the 5.3 engines that got a TSB made for them because all the engine vibration was causing them to come loose so they say tighten it by hand and then use a filter cup tool to tighten it about a quarter turn more. I had one my first year of being a mechanic before the TSB came out that vibrated loose and the truck got towed in and I had to go clean someone’s driveway. So I make sure to have the tool to tighten those with now.
Hard to say how much the tech torqued it. If it moved at all when you checked the tightness then it wasn't super tight. Also possible that filter had a defect in the P-gasket or debris someplace that caused it to leak regardless of how tight it was. The filter would have to be torqued a lot once the filter bottomed out to start bending metal IMO. In any case, what you experience was most likely a very rare case. I've never seen any P-gasket type filter I've used leak.
Honda recommends a 3/4 turn after contact to tighten their oil filters properly.
I have never* used a tool to tighten a filter, nor have I checked whether they are 3/4 turn past hand tight. As others mentioned, this may change if my grip strength declines over the next few decades.
*one time a Purolator One filter failed to seal properly at hand tight. I then used a wrench to tighten it further.
*one time a Purolator One filter failed to seal properly at hand tight. I then used a wrench to tighten it further.
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According to the owner's manual.
"The oil filter on Suzuki motorcycles should be torqued to 14.5 foot-pounds (16.5 for the GSX S1000 GT). After hand-tightening, use a torque wrench to achieve this final tightness."
Arnold Schwarzenegger or Pee-wee Hermann? Baby gorilla or King Kong?
To think I use to laugh at those commercials of gadgets to assist old people opening jars, cans, etc.. Seems I have trouble now-a-days opening almost all new product packaging. My vindication is always handing it to a young person to watch them struggle too.
At some point previously Honda actually had a torque spec for oil filter installation. Link shows a post by @Tegger showing the spec to be "10-14Nm, or 3/4 turn with tool" ~8ft/lbs. He was a firm believer in it using a "cap socket". Having a torque spec kinda 'out there' imo. ~3/4 turn after gasket contact has always worked fine for me, and is a fairly standard recommendation.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/oil-change-observations-from-today.241158/#post-3842118
On the motorcycle example above, I could/can see where having a torque spec more critical for installation.
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I hand tighten with one hand. Never had an issue with an oil filter leaking.
Notice this lady is trying to tighten the lid...
Your point? When you are old, anything goes, lol.
Ironic, because I just had to do the "wax on, wax off" lesson (again) to my young summer employee about righty tighty, lefty loosey. He also has trouble with north/south. Now, Karma is going to kick me in the rear end later today.
Honda S2000 is 15-18 lb-ft which is 7/8 turn after contact. Gasket is between 2 metal ridges so it gets torqued due to vibrations. Filter is marked with numbers all around the edge. Filter cap wrench has an opening on part so you can see also.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
I guess I've been lucky. I've been doing my own oil/filter changes since the 1980s and I've never had a hand tightened oil filter leak. I definitely don't have brute force behind my bones. Sometimes over the course of the OCI, they snug up such that I need a cap wrench, etc to remove them. I've never had one be more loose at the end.
Have you looked at the intelligence level of an average American? Just sayin...