MK3 2012 Focus - Oil Change 101

[kam327]

Originally Posted by JMD787

Is there a torque spec for the oil drain plug?

I don't get it, why is this an issue? Hand tight has worked for generations. Don't mess with success.

[jrollings]

Originally Posted by greg hazlett

German specs: Guttentight!

LMAO...very nice

[BLEICHED_Focus22]

There's nothing special from one oil to another. Some have additives in them but nothing to be concerned with.

[2012sel]

Originally Posted by kam327

I don't get it, why is this an issue? Hand tight has worked for generations. Don't mess with success.

You are confusing the filter with the drain plug. The filter is the one that gets hand tightened.

[kam327]

Originally Posted by 2012sel

You are confusing the filter with the drain plug. The filter is the one that gets hand tightened.

Thanks for making an attempt to clarify, but I have hand tightened the drain plug (ok, with a crescent wrench, but still just judging the tightness by feel) forever. I think we're starting to overthink things...

[kam327]

Originally Posted by 2012sel

You are confusing the filter with the drain plug. The filter is the one that gets hand tightened.

And I really highly doubt the jiffy lube guys are looking up the torque specs for each and every car they service and getting their recently-calibrated torque wrench out of its box to tighten the frackin' drain plug.

[2012sel]

Originally Posted by kam327

Thanks for making an attempt to clarify, but I have hand tightened the drain plug (ok, with a crescent wrench, but still just judging the tightness by feel) forever. I think we're starting to overthink things...

I just wanted to make sure someone unfamiliar with the process doesn't misunderstand and try to hand-tighten their drain plug. By definition, hand-tight does not involve a wrench.

Hand´-tight` (~tīt`)
a. 1. As tight as can be made by the hand; as, to tighten the nut hand-tight.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Originally Posted by kam327

And I really highly doubt the jiffy lube guys are looking up the torque specs for each and every car they service and getting their recently-calibrated torque wrench out of its box to tighten the frackin' drain plug.

Exactly why I wrote the guide in the first place. It's a perfectly valid question if you've never done an oil change and don't have a reference point. I also tighten the bolt with a wrench by feel. For those who are inexperienced, getting a "feel" for the torque needed with a torque wrench first, is probably a good idea.

[brent375hh]

Originally Posted by 2012sel

Nothing in the manual on it that I see. Acura shows 29 ft/lbs for steel plug in an aluminum pan, but some of their forum members think that's too much.

Educated guess after trying it on another bolt...20-25 ft/lbs.

My Mazda with the same basic engine called for 19-21 ft/lbs

[kam327]

Originally Posted by 2012sel

I just wanted to make sure someone unfamiliar with the process doesn't misunderstand and try to hand-tighten their drain plug. By definition, hand-tight does not involve a wrench.

Hand´-tight` (~tīt`)
a. 1. As tight as can be made by the hand; as, to tighten the nut hand-tight.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Ha! A fair point!

[2012sel]

Originally Posted by JMD787

Is there a torque spec for the oil drain plug?

Ford mechanic feedback...

"Per shop manual the spec is 20 ft lbs. Sounds high to me I would think 10 -15lbs would be better"

Added to OP...
Oil pan drain plug/Part# 6730/ Torque 27 Nm (20 lb-ft)

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