changing your oil a job for me or a mechanic?

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Reluctant-but-ready · Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:16 pm

I just bought 4 quarts of oil and a filter for my bike... and well in the owners manual it says i need a tork wrench and a special tool to put on the filter... i change my car oil all the time and all i have is a plain old wrench and a filter with a grip..... Do i really need a tork wrench and a special tool for the filter?... or are they trying to scare me in to bringing it into a Honda shop... sorry for the wide variety of newbicious questions.. but what can i say.... im a $%#@ing newb! Happy trails fellas

nyrblue35 · Fri Oct 14, 2005 12:45 am

i honestly dont think you need a torque wrench to tighten the nut on the oil pan. i never have used one on my bike or on any car for that matter. oil filter needs to be hand tightened first, then turned another time by wrench. if you have the new filter in hand, you know what kind of wrench you need. in most cases common sense goes a long way.

Pongo · #3 Unread post by **Pongo** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 4:17 am

Get a good torque wrench if you intend doing your own servicing. If you do get one make sure it can torque to some of the low torque settings required for your bike, maybe as low as 10-12 ft pounds.

The oil filter bolt on my honda is easy to over-torque and the subsequent damage will cost way more to fix than the cost of a torque wrench.

There is just so much stuff on a bike that needs to be torqued correctly, better safe than sorry.

Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:17 am

Changing your oil is incredibly easy, and shops charge way to much for what they do, and the time they do it in.

Always use a torque wrench. You might be getting away with it on your car but you don't want to strip the threadings. That just creates more trouble than it's worth.

You can get a dial in torque wrench for less than $20. A sway bar style was recently on sale at sears for 12.99. They are not only useful, but they look cool too.

Also, only use the torque wrench to tighten. NEVER use it as a breaker bar, you'll slowly upset the calibration. Then it doesn't matter if you have a torque wrench or not

Craig7220 · #5 Unread post by **Craig7220** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 6:38 am

I went out and bought a torgue wrench after I twisted the head off the bolt once. The wrench was alot cheaper.....

peterman · #6 Unread post by **peterman** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:07 am

I look for any excuse to buy tools. Even though you may think its stupid to have a torque wrench for an oil change (I think its a little stupid anyway). There will be plenty of other times where you will be glad you have a torque wrench. Especially if you already work on your car.

Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:22 am

I look for any excuse to buy tools. Even though you may think its stupid to have a torque wrench for an oil change (I think its a little stupid anyway).

Yeah, stupid until that one time you over tighten a bolt in a casing especially an aluminum casing and either strip the thread or split the casing.

I had a honda that I took to jiffy lube mid winter to get my oil changed because I lacked a garage at the time. I drove away and all the sudden the oil light came on. The guy had over tightened the bolt and destroyed the oil pan. I guess the other lesson to learn is find out how much to torque each bolt.

Of course after a sensible debate with the management at Jiffy Lube, they agreed to fix all damage and give me $500 to not sue them. Honestly, I'm surprised that no one noticed the oil slick my car left when pulling out of the garage, especially the guys in the pit. Anyway- least expensive oil change ever!

...another reason why mechanics aren't always the poo

Reluctant-but-ready · Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:05 am

Alright Alright a tork wrench it is... i guess im going shopping today.. but about the special filter tool ... the filters pretty big so i dont think any wrench will fit on it... (at least that I own) i think it would need a belt wrench... you know a wrench with an adjustable belt as the head... i saw it on tv once.. what is this wrench called.. and where can i find it? (BELT WRENCH is just what i think it would be called) happy trails fellas!

#9 Unread post by **cb360** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:25 am

A torque wrench is a great thing to have if you're gonna be wrenching a lot. I don't know if I'd go to the trouble if all you're gonna go is change your oil. Just don't put the bolt back on too tight. If you're getteing oil drops put it on a little bit tighter. They don't have to be all that tight and you'll know if it isn't on tight enough because it will leak. This is assuming it isn't already buggered up.

#10 Unread post by **ZooTech** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:33 am

Reluctant-but-ready wrote:i think it would need a belt wrench... you know a wrench with an adjustable belt as the head... i saw it on tv once.. what is this wrench called.. and where can i find it? (BELT WRENCH is just what i think it would be called)

Strap wrench.

Wal-mart.

<$10.00 for two sizes.

You're welcome.