Torque Wrench Suggestions

[Richard]

I've got a Honda Hybrid car. Tend to do my oil changes myself as I've had work done before in life and didn't like what they did.

As I'm told, the oil pan is made from aluminum. The drain bolt, isn't. I've had a couple conversations about someone tightening down their drain plug (which has a crush washer) and stripping the oil pan threads.

That strikes me as a terribly inopportune thing to do. Enter idea of torque wrench. I've already got a 1/2" but not sure I need that for this bolt.... besides.... might be a good excuse to add a tool to the box. (I am thinking either 1/4" drive or maybe 3/8)

Not interested in paying $1,000 for one BUT, also not interested in finding one for $12.95 as I'd expect it to break on first use. Who makes a good torque wrench these days? My 1/2" is a clicker type, I like that. I see digital readouts now.... that tells me they have a battery. Batteries can die. Seems clicker style can go out of spec.... so all have some issues.

Thoughts/suggestions?

 

[Roadworthy]

The click type can indeed go out of spec. For that reason you should set it back to zero after use to prevent stretching the spring. I got a Craftsman at Lowe's for the lug nuts on my tractor. If you're worried about batteries and going out of spec you could look into an old fashioned deflection type. I bought a Craftsman about fifty years ago and it's still fine, it just doesn't go high enough for my tractor. Surf Amazon, they've got a BUNCH of them. Don't go by the drive size, go by the torque range you seek. Get one that has your desired torque somewhere near mid to two thirds scale if you can.

 

[aczlan]

Clicker type from Harbor Freight, 1/4" or 3/8" are going to work well enough for what you need to do.
Currently on sale for $5 if you are spending $50:

Or, just use a wrench or a small (3/8" or 1/4" ratchet) to snug it up.

Aaron Z

 

[5030]

Clicker type from Harbor Freight, 1/4" or 3/8" are going to work well enough for what you need to do.
Currently on sale for $5 if you are spending $50:
View attachment 780243

Or, just use a wrench or a small (3/8" or 1/4" ratchet) to snug it up.

Aaron Z

Cheap wrench and inaccurate as well...

 

[5030]

I have the HF Icon torque wrench and it's as good accuracy wise as a Snap-On (see Project Farm's episode about them). Nice thing about the Icon is it torques in both directions, the cheaper ones only torque in the tightening direction. I need reverse torque for pre loading my rear bearings on my 1 ton truck.

Nice thing about the icon is it's not expensive. I paid just over 100 bucks for mine with a HF coupon and it comes with a fitted case and a certified torque certificate. A cheap wrench is just that, cheap and not accurate.

100 bucks is chump change compared to stripping your drain plug and having to replace the pan.

 

[2manyrocks]

My daughter has a Honda Insight. There is quite a bit of discussion about the oil drain plug on that model along with the oil pan being integrated into the engine in a way that if you strip the plug, you basically have to replace an entire assembly that is very, very expensive.

So....a good torque wrench is cheaper than stripping the plug on these things. Some install Fumoto oil drain valves to avoid removing and installing the oil drain plug at all.

 

[stumblinhorse]

I guess I am old school. I don’t need a torque wrench to do an oil change. I have and had many aluminum pan vehicles. Snug enough not to leak on a drain plug is pretty easy to judge.

I would not do the fumoto valve. But again I am old school. Remove the plug make sure all oil is drained then replace plug with new crush washer and snug it up. Check it after a couple drives.

But I think a 3/8” drive wrench is a good investment. But only if you are doing more than oil changes…. There are many other tools I would put higher on my list. 1/2” is necessary since 80-200 ft/lbs is much harder to do by “feel”.

 

[2manyrocks]

This is a very specific Honda topic. I recommend going to one of the various Honda owners forums for a very complete discussion of the considerations involved.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I only use a torque wrench for head bolts. Sometimes even they are too big, like 1 1/4" studs, surrounded by bolts. I don't have torque multipliers, so I just tighten those really good. I did a dozer over 25 years ago. Head gasket was leaking and the water had washed a groove in the sleeve. I welded up and smooth filed it. It was a cat D7 with a 4 cylinder with 2 heads. My brother ran across it recently and it just finished clearing 100 acres. No head trouble. He talked with the guy that bought it.

 

[stumblinhorse]

This is a very specific Honda topic. I recommend going to one of the various Honda owners forums for a very complete discussion of the considerations involved.

Overtightening an oil plug is an age old issue, but mostly because dealer oil changes are done by the least experienced worker with an addiction to an air impact tool. I am familiar with this phenomenon as in my brand new dodge Cummins 2500 with “free” oil changes, they air tooled my plug thru the pan. Then they had to remove the engine in a 1 month old truck to replace the pan…