rnln

Do you really put 51 ft/lb on your oil tank drain bolt?
For a long time, I was too lazy to use my torque wrench on this drain bolt. I just felt it by hands. Recently, I force myself to use the torque wrench on it and I feel 51 ft/lb is WAY too much. Today, I had to adjust my torque wrench down to 40 ft/lb, and adjusted it up to 51 ft/lb 3 times to make sure my torque wrench is working. Above 45 ft/lb I was so affraid I will break something. I honestly feel between 40 and 45 ft/lb is more than enough. What do you guys think?

KC911

I use 52 ft/lbs on the crankcase plug and 30 ft/lbs on the oil tank plug per my Bentley...interesting to see what the "pros" do.

Keith
'88 CE coupe

rnln

Oh mine, I might switch them around. I just did 31 ft/lb on the case and 51 on the tank... because I thought the case is aluminum, it should take less torque compare to the steel tank. Arghhh. I hope I didn't damage the tank.

mlucitt

I checked the 964 PET and the data is even less conclusive.
Chapter 2 covers maintenance. On page 83 it says the engine drain plug torque should be 52 ft/lb and the thermostat housing drain plug torque should be 48 ft/lb.

On page 20 of Wayne Dempsey's book, 101 Projects for your 911 Porsche it lists the torque for both of the drain bolts as 30.8 ft/lbs. .

I agree with you that these 22mm x 27mm aluminum washers crush nicely at 31 ft/lbs.

Good Catch,
Mark

Peter Zimmermann

Drain plug torque:
Engines with sump plate (oil screen cover) = 42 Nm (30 lb/ft)
Engines with plug in crankcase = 70 Nm (51 lb/ft)
Reservoir (oil tank) = 42 Nm (30 lb/ft)

Edward

So perhaps I am the only one who has NEVER taken a torque wrench to any drainplug of any car. Never a leak, never had one stuck, and never had any stripped threads of any kind. Can't say I am "right," but it so far I have never been "wrong."

Edward

Germancar90

+1

cal44

+2

Peter Zimmermann

...psssst, me either...

KC911

I never even had a torque wrench before I purchased my 911 (and barely knew how to turn a wrench) but I wanted to "learn" my car, so I acquired the knowledge and tools as I went along and have continued to do things "by the book" that many probably don't think twice about doing by feel. The first time I removed my oil plugs...I wished the previous wrench had used one .

Keith
'88 CE coupe

Antony.

+4

rnln

Me too, I never used torque wrench on oil drain plugs untill a little while ago when Draco complain I always over torque. I guess always use torque wrench on everything can be bad too. I remember 31 and 51 but forgot which is which.

Still, I think 51 is way too much on the engine case. I did it again by hand, with without torque and tried again with torque. I think I am happy with more like 40 on the engine case. Do you think the bolt can have a chance to back out itself at 40 ft/lb?

Thanks guys.

dutchcrunch

there was a service bulletin for the 964 and they reduced the the torque on both the crankcase and the tank. i wll find out. 51 lbs is way to much.

eventually the the tank fitting will start to twist on the tank.

rnln

Now someone is reading my mine . Dutchcrunch, please post if you can find it. Thanks

Peter Zimmermann

Please refer to my above post, torque for the tank plug is 30 lb/ft, not 51 lb/ft...