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Warning: I keep seeing guys skip the torque wrench on aluminum oil pans

I watched three different techs in our shop this month just zip on aluminum oil pans with an impact gun. That's a fast way to warp the sealing surface or strip the threads. The spec on a common 2.4L Honda pan is only 9 foot pounds, which is way less than you think. I started checking used pans we pulled, and about half have slight warping from over-tightening. It only takes an extra minute to do it right. Has anyone else noticed this becoming a common habit?
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3 Comments
hugo_cooper43
Honestly, that spec is so low it's basically finger tight. A quick bump with an impact on low setting seats it just fine, never had one leak. You're way more likely to get a leak from under-torquing and forgetting to check it.
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parker183
parker1831mo ago
Man, that Honda spec is actually 7 foot pounds, not 9.
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amy_henderson83
Wait, only seven... that seems way too low for that bolt.
2