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- Jul 16, 2020
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Why You Only Hand Tighten an Oil Filter
- Thread starter kschauweker
- Start date
That doesn't look like fun at all. But you do know, you've opened up a can of worms. Hand tight vs torque is one of those subjects that will divide the troops here on BITOG.
Base just makes contact then 3/4 more turning. Stop.
I've seen videos where the videographer cranks on a canister and says, "All the way until it stops".
Except an s2000. They have a torque spec. Hand tight is not enough
That wouldn't have happened if he used a torque wrench and tighten it to the correct spec.
Oops...
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
If you put a Sharpie mark on the dome of the filter, 3/4 of a turn is easy. Or scratch the paint. Oh the horror.
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2014
- Messages
- 4,118
Some automakers have torque specs. Others don't.
I use my torque wrench.
That s2000 torque spec can be used by any/all common canister filters.
12ftlbs/Kia/Hyundai
13ftlbs/Toyota
15-18ftlbs---s2000(?)
The whole 1/2 turn, 3/4 turn, 7/8, 1 full turn... is a cop out. Pure laziness on the automakers that don't list torques for oil filters. Even more sad when an engine is used by multiple vehicles in multiple markets and lists a torque for some and 3/4 turn after contact for others... on the SAME engine.
I've never had a difficult to remove filter.
I use my torque wrench.
That s2000 torque spec can be used by any/all common canister filters.
12ftlbs/Kia/Hyundai
13ftlbs/Toyota
15-18ftlbs---s2000(?)
The whole 1/2 turn, 3/4 turn, 7/8, 1 full turn... is a cop out. Pure laziness on the automakers that don't list torques for oil filters. Even more sad when an engine is used by multiple vehicles in multiple markets and lists a torque for some and 3/4 turn after contact for others... on the SAME engine.
I've never had a difficult to remove filter.
Time for a large pair of Slip Joint pliers or a pipe wrench.
If only it was possible to tell when the "base just makes contact" with the filter. I've never had a filter where I could see when that happens. And as for feeling when that happens? Better to use a torque wrench.
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got room to swing.
I mark my filters' domes and do the 3/4 turn they ask.
I just did my oil and I needed the oil filter wrench for just a nudge (1/8 turn?) to free the filter.....perfect.
Hand tighten for a half a century. Never had a leak.
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Im sure designs vary from one car to another but for my cars the squish height of the gasket and the thread pitch of the filters works out to where the filter base is making metal to metal contact with the engine block at 1 turn past initial gasket contact. Tightening beyond that it is stretching metal somewhere rather than compressing gasket.
Before installing the oil filter, lubing the gasket with oil or atf, then hand tighten. But in my oil age I not very strong any more so I hand tighten and then give it a touch more with the wrench. Never wrench hard enough to bend the canister, if you use the wrench for installing.
Would a three prong oil filter wrench work?
