Re: drain plug torque spec

["Linus D. Toy" <linust@interramp.com>]

At 07:36 PM 5/3/96 EDT, fjbauer@dsavm.e-mail.com wrote:

>Subject: drain plug torque spec

>go down to pep boys or some such place and buy a small handful of the
copper    
>crush washers.  replace this every time you change your oil.  i remember
the    
>torque spec for the tranny/diff drain/fill plugs is 17 lbs/ft so i'm sure
this  
>is a safe starting point for the oil drain plug.  if you try to make your

>2 bit copper seal last for several oil changes, you will have to use more

>torque each time until you have stripped your rather expensive oil pan.

>not worth the savings, especially if you don't buy your seal from the
dealer.   
>by the way, the dealer just goes to a local supply house and buys a small

>handful of the copper crush washers and marks em up 1000% for the trouble.


good point on replacing regularly, though i'll admit to doing otherwise on
occasion.  unfortunately, on the '91 200q 20v, the oil pan is an aluminum
casting with a 1.25" drain plug, not the simple bolt used in the older cars.
would be that the crush washer were only 2 bits;  try about $1.25 each.  i
recall the 17 lb-ft number too, but that was for a steel oil pan on a
rabbit.  haven't found one for the aluminum pan, so i usually go just past
snug, watch for leaks, then go my merry way.  so far so good.

--ldt
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* linus toy           email:  linust@interramp.com                   *
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