Oil Filter Torque

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Chucky44

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Hi,

I know that the torque specs for the oil filter says once the filter is snug to a 3/4 turn hand tighten. I'm just wondering if you guys are doing the same? I mean hand tighten doesn't seem to me to be enough when driving on roads and stuff. What do you guys do?

Thanks.
 

RoadRamblerNJ

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Hi,

I know that the torque specs for the oil filter says once the filter is snug to a 3/4 turn hand tighten. I'm just wondering if you guys are doing the same? I mean hand tighten doesn't seem to me to be enough when driving on roads and stuff. What do you guys do?

Thanks.
I felt like that too at one time. I have created leaks by over tightening oil filters, valve cover gaskets, etc. Don't try to out think the engineers. They got it right. Still doesn't feel tight enough to this old wrench, but since I started to use published torque specs, none of my **** leaks anymore. (Slow learner here).

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averageguy

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When you tighten the 3/4 turn after snug it compresses the rubber gasket and creates pressure against the filter like flattening a lock washer. As big as the contact surface is a little pressure goes a long way. Plus, there isn't really any force trying to make it come off. Besides, if you over tighten it once and try to get it off you'll find out why 3/4 past snug is enough.:)
 

RLJ10X

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I HATE to change oil after someone else. Motorcycles are really bad because you often can't get a wrench on the filter. Sugsrpuss's Cellica had an oil filter on so tight (one of those little filters, like on a motorcycle) the socket end just rounded off the oil filter. I ended up screwing the filter socket onto the filter.

There have been a number of times that I've hammered a screwdriver into the filter to get it off. What a mess.

Snug, plus 3/4. You'll be glad when it's time to get it back off.
 

smurfs_of_war

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I have always just tightened it until I can't turn it by hand (one hand) any longer. Never used a wrench to tighten my filters. This has been my torque spec for years. I have had a few walk off when doing the "snug plus 3/4" and a few that leaked. I've never had an issue doing it this way.

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SYKRAMMAN

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If you have to flex your arm muscle,then it's too tight. Haven't had an issue in 20 years except when you don't check the gasket that one time.
 
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Pull Ya

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Over torqued is what your filter feels like from the factory. Hand tight is just fine.
Jay
 

Amos

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I have always just tightened it until I can't turn it by hand (one hand) any longer. Never used a wrench to tighten my filters. This has been my torque spec for years. I have had a few walk off when doing the "snug plus 3/4" and a few that leaked. I've never had an issue doing it this way.

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What he said. Always hand tighten and have never been able to take one off by hand when oil change time rolls back around.
 

pickupman66

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I have always just tightened it until I can't turn it by hand (one hand) any longer. Never used a wrench to tighten my filters. This has been my torque spec for years. I have had a few walk off when doing the "snug plus 3/4" and a few that leaked. I've never had an issue doing it this way.

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Pretty much the same. snug until I cannot turn it any more. I have changed my own oil since I was 16. Im 40 now and have never had one back off or that I put on that I could not remove. I also worked at a Havoline Lube for a few years and did it this same way.

Always put a little finger dip worth of oil on the ring to allow it to slide and not stick either.
 
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Chucky44

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Good enough, hand tighten it is. thanks guys.
 

Cobayashi

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hand tighten, grab the end of the filter with your finger tips and tighten as tight as you can get it that way, for piece of mind after that go 1/4 turn with your palm after that. been doing this for years never had a leak, plus you can always get it off when time to change it.
 

rollinrollin

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45 ft/lbs should do[emoji23]

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chrisp2493

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Last time I changed the filter I forgot to check that the old gasket came off. Never had one stick before...well I had oil spraying out the side when I started it up haha
 

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