People who use impact guns on oil drain plugs need to stop

Was at a shop in Phoenix last week and watched some kid zing a drain plug back in with an impact wrench. Stripped the pan within seconds. I see this at least twice a month and it's always some backyard mechanic who thinks torque specs are just suggestions. A drain plug needs maybe 30 ft-lbs max, not 300. Why do people refuse to just use a damn torque wrench for something this basic?

2 comments

2 Comments

mila_perry1314d ago

You see this kinda thing a lot at those self service garages? My buddy TJ bought a house from an old guy who clearly did all his own car work. The first time TJ tried to change the oil on his F150, he spent an hour trying to break loose the drain plug with a breaker bar. He finally had to use a torch on it. The old guy had obviously hit it with an impact and then never changed the oil again, because what came out was basically black sludge with glitter in it. TJ had to drop the pan and replace it anyway.

nina_johnson8614d agoMost Upvoted

Cringe every time I see a drain plug that's been gorilla torqued on there. Had a similar thing happen with my old Civic, previous owner must have used a breaker bar on the oil filter housing. Spent a full afternoon with a strap wrench and some penetrating oil just to get the damn thing off. The sludge with glitter part gets me though, that's basically the engine telling you it's done. At least TJ learned the hard way that sometimes you gotta just drop the pan and start fresh.