Daniel5691

I notice that some bolts have markings with red paint on my car.
Just part of the assembly process? Does it mean a special type of bolt or tightening procedure?
Just trying to learn. Thanks

Dan

LexVan

Visual identifier for torque spec?

Imo000

Just a mark that the bolt was torqued durring assembly.

dr bob

As IMO says, it's part of the original QC process. Some critical bolts may have two or even three different colors on them to show the multiple checks. The paint often crosses washer and car boundary to show evidence of tampering.

I went on a mission when I first got the car to "catalog" all the engine bay bolts and bits that had these QC paint marks on them. Somewhere in my car digital archives I have them detailed in JPEG's. In the meanwhile, I do actually use paint markings when working on the car to do the same thing the factory did. Cheap nail polish does the job, and comes off easily with a wipe of brake-clean as I go into maintenance tasks for the second or third time.

Randy V

Bob, is that you?

Daniel5691

oh my. That dude is....

linderpat

ok; morning milk through my nose; thanks Randy

dr bob

Randy, there truly is a difference between nail polish and lipstick-on-a-pig. I'll let you do the diving to see if there's still a red paint mark next to the missing bolt.