OT- Ford Focus oil drain plug torque

[Bob - MI]

Daughter came home for Easter and the new car was due for an oil change. This is a 2008 Focus with the 2.0L 4cyl with 14K miles and she has been having the car serviced by the local Ford dealer in Columbus, OH. The drain plug was in so tight that I had to use a socket and hammer the end of the ratchet to get it loose. When looking at the drain plug it looks like there is aluminum showing in the threads. The dealer apparently has a lube tech with more brawn than brains and over-tightened the plug (filter was way too tight as well).

This car has a cast aluminum pan on it and I'm sure this is quickly going to be a case of stripped threads. I don't have a manual and I wonder what the torque setting on the drain plug should be?

Thanks for any help here. This kind of thing really frosts me because some careless idiot at the dealership will cause a problem that will be around for the life of the car. If it were some quick lube place I would not be as surprised as a Ford dealer doing this.

Happy Easter to you all!

 

[Brian Jasper co. Ia]

I can't give an exact figure for torque, all I can say is "snug". You can't really say you're surprised more by being done at the dealer over a quick lube place. The Chevy dealer I work for had 1 really good lube tech that left to go to school. He would find all sorts of honest work for the rest of us. Then when they tried to replace him, we got 3 dummies in a row that talked a good story, but did dumb things like fill the radiator overflow jug with trans fluid, forget to put the plug back in, forget to put the oil in. I guess I can see "DEX COOL" on a cap being confused with "DEXRON", but that's still dumb. The latest guy I caught putting the oil filter on with a wrench. I says, YOU will be chiseling that filter off when they come back for the next service.

 

[Bob - MI]

Yeah, I guess you are right. Stupidity has no boundries. It just amazed me that anyone would over-tighten something that far. I had to use a filter wrench and hammer the ratchet to get the filter off too. It was at least 2 full turns on the filter before the gasket released.

I have sold aluminum castings for a number of years and I know that the alloy that they are using has very low ductility and the localized thickening for the thread boss creates higher likelyhood for porosity in the boss. This all translates into easily stripped threads.

I am going to get a new drain plug because the old one shows some damage and have her install it next oil change. She is planning on talking to the service manager about using a torque wrench. I hope that will do some good.

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 10:55:33 04/11/09) Yeah, I guess you are right. Stupidity has no boundries. It just amazed me that anyone would over-tighten something that far. I had to use a filter wrench and hammer the ratchet to get the filter off too. It was at least 2 full turns on the filter before the gasket released.

I have sold aluminum castings for a number of years and I know that the alloy that they are using has very low ductility and the localized thickening for the thread boss creates higher likelyhood for porosity in the boss. This all translates into easily stripped threads.

I am going to get a new drain plug because the old one shows some damage and have her install it next oil change. She is planning on talking to the service manager about using a torque wrench. I hope that will do some good.

The problem is most likely the mechanic using an impact wrench.

Those are great, for taking things apart.

No so great for putting things together.

I had the Ole Lady take her S-10 to Wally World for tires one time.

When I had to get a wheel of of it after that, it was close to impossible, I had to have a 1/2" scoket, extension, pull handle, and 4' cheater, and then had to bounce my 200+ pounds on it.

That guy needed a butt kicking.

 

[NovaNewfie]

I don't know what the torque specs would be I do quite a few oil changes helping a buddy with a shop down the road we just snug them. You shouldn't really come on to them most are in soft aluminum or sheet metal pans.
I always make it a point to torque my wheel studs though. I've had 3 wheels come off while going down the road. Losing a wheel on the highway at 70mph is not much fun.
I was at a shop one day for a mandatory safety inspection(I think its a Canadian thing) and the mechanic put my lug nuts on one of my wheels with a 3/4 inch impact and looked at me like I had three heads when I told him to give me a torque wrench and I'd put the rest on myself. I won't take my vehicle to a shop if they won't let me watch what they are doing. I've had too many people screw up my vehicles.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 18:33:55 04/11/09) I don't know what the torque specs would be I do quite a few oil changes helping a buddy with a shop down the road we just snug them. You shouldn't really come on to them most are in soft aluminum or sheet metal pans.
I always make it a point to torque my wheel studs though. I've had 3 wheels come off while going down the road. Losing a wheel on the highway at 70mph is not much fun.
I was at a shop one day for a mandatory safety inspection(I think its a Canadian thing) and the mechanic put my lug nuts on one of my wheels with a 3/4 inch impact and looked at me like I had three heads when I told him to give me a torque wrench and I'd put the rest on myself. I won't take my vehicle to a shop if they won't let me watch what they are doing. I've had too many people screw up my vehicles.

What? You expect something done right for a lousy $100 per hour shop charge?!
:shock:

 

[Anonymous-0]

All Data says 21 FT LBS for 2008 focus with 2.0L