1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Oil drain plug really 27 ft/lb ?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by our1vue, Apr 27, 2012.

  1. our1vue

    our1vue Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    313
    58
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Just did the first oil change on my Prius. The oil drain bolt didn't
    feel like it was torqued on at 27 ft/lb. It felt less, maybe 20? Putting it back in, it seemed like 27 ft/lb was pretty excessive. I stopped at 22 ft/lb. Are people out there really tightening them that much with a torque wrench or just tightening them until it seems tight (which I would bet is less than 27 ft/lb. Thanks for the help.
     
    #1 our1vue, Apr 27, 2012
  2. jjPrius

    jjPrius Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2011
    68
    19
    0
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I use a torque wrench set to 27 ft-lb to tighten the drain plug. This has been a pretty standard spec for most Toyotas I have owned (dating back to a '91 LS400) and with a new crush washer in place have never had any leaks or any issues or damage at all to the pan.

    Jeff
     
    #2 jjPrius, Apr 27, 2012
  3. gliderman

    gliderman Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2011
    751
    223
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    You dont want anyone stealing your drain plug. I do 27 ft-lbs and it is no problem.

    Now the oil filter is another story. I think it has excessive torque rating.
     
    #3 gliderman, Apr 28, 2012
  4. our1vue

    our1vue Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2012
    313
    58
    0
    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks jjPrius and gliderman. The filter I torqued to 18 ft/lb as spec'ed. The drain bolt is the one that bothered me. It just seemed like I was going to strip it if I tightened it to 27, especially since it didn't seem to be on that tight to begin with.
     
    #4 our1vue, Apr 28, 2012
  5. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    3,193
    2,323
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Torqued mine to 27 ft-lbs using a Horror Freight 3/8" torque wrench, but with a new aluminum/teflon washer of course. No issues and the feel was progressive.

    OTOH, for the filter, I had left the filter cup wrench on the cap and tightened it as tight as I could by hand. Then, I put my CDI torque wrench @ 216 in-lbs on there, and the torque wrench immediately clicked. Just to check against a possible malfunction, I put my super long handled ratchet on there and it wouldn't move. So, I guess it's possible to tighten the oil filter cartridge well past 18 ft-lbs by hand. :cautious:
     
    #5 The Critic, Dec 6, 2012
  6. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2012
    1,388
    351
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Well you are assuming your wrench is accurate. Maybe it is not, and putting out excessive torque. I have access to an ISO certified calibration lab at work and it shocked me how out of whack these things are out of the box. The click type is the worst, the beam type with a needle tend to do better. Now if my friend in the lab would only get him an NPT to schrader adapter so I can check my tire gauges too... :p
     
    #6 Jonny Zero, Dec 9, 2012
  7. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    3,193
    2,323
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The CDI 3/8" drive inch-lb torque wrench had a calibration certificate in the box.

    Not sure about the horror freight one though, lol, that one could be way off.
     
    #7 The Critic, Dec 9, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)