I'm getting ready to change my valve cover gasket on 2.5L. I have the Feldpro replacement gasket as suggested here by many. Do I really need to torque the valve cover bolts?? I do not own a torque wrench!! Just wondering?
Valve cover torque necessary?
- Thread starter YakTJ
- Start date
I would just use a 3/8" drive ratchet wrench with an extension and socket and get them good and tight, as even as you can by feel. Don't use a 1/2" drive ratchet as that size's extra handle length would make it too easy to overtighten the bolts.
Tighten them in a pattern a bit at a time to keep the gasket flat and loaded evenly. 115 in. lbs is the tightness for each bolt and that's not much so don't get too happy with the 3/8" ratchet wrench. Good and firm with that short of a wrench and you'll be fine.
Tighten them in a pattern a bit at a time to keep the gasket flat and loaded evenly. 115 in. lbs is the tightness for each bolt and that's not much so don't get too happy with the 3/8" ratchet wrench. Good and firm with that short of a wrench and you'll be fine.
Jerry, thanks for the info. I thought about buying a torque wrench at Harbor Freight for $19.99 but then wondered about accuracy and quality at that price. I've changed valve cover gaskets on old ford V8s with out a torque wrench in the past and have done ok.
I use a very small ratchet for valve cover and other like bolts that are small and easy to over torque. Snug is the name of the game. Breaking bolts off in interesting locations provides great training and incentive to master the feel of correct torque by hand. I use a torque wrench where and when it is necessary, but not for the easy stuff. I use this same ratchet for things like T-stat housings.
Rob, I have been thinking of buying a torque wrench but confused about what to get! There are so many price points... $19:99 HarborFreight $300 Snap On !!! Then there are different torque specs per wrench. Some in inch pounds and then different Footpound range of each wrench! Do you need 2 wrenches one in Ft pounds and one in inch pounds?? Help !
I have both as I just did the valve covers and needed the inch pounds...of course they are both HF ones, so I used a luggage scale to see how far off they were from the reading of the scale. For the valve cover you could just follow some of the recommendations above and use a 1/4" ratchet.
I have a HF inch/lb that works fine and seems to be accurate enough. The 1/2" drive I use is a Craftsman probably 30 years old and still kicking. Just make sure to let down all the tension while storing it.
I'm no fan of all of the tools sold by Harbor Freight but their torque wrenches are surprising in both their high accuracy and quality. I've used their 1/2" and 3/8" torque wrenches for years and they are fine. In fact a friend took his to his Air Force standards lab he worked at where such tools are tested and calibrated. They came through his tests with the same accuracy as the far more expensive brands Air Force aircraft mechanics use.
I have to do some automatic transmission work within the next week which requires an inch-lbs. 1/4" torque wrench which I just purchased Sunday from Harbor Freight for $19.95. I wouldn't use it inside my automatic transmission if I didn't trust it implicitly based on years of good results with my larger HFT torque wrenches.
I have to do some automatic transmission work within the next week which requires an inch-lbs. 1/4" torque wrench which I just purchased Sunday from Harbor Freight for $19.95. I wouldn't use it inside my automatic transmission if I didn't trust it implicitly based on years of good results with my larger HFT torque wrenches.
When buying torque wrenches you will probably need 3, a 50-250ft/lbs 1/2 drive, an 20-80ft/lbs 3/8 drive, and a 1/4 drive that I don't remember the usual range for but it's low. The ranges may move around a bit but that's a fairly generic range. Those 3 will cover everything you feel the need to check. Even on most of the small stuff I will use the torque wrench the first few times to help develop the feel. Also learn what a stretching bolt feels like before it snaps. That skill will save you lots of trouble.
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There must have been a time
when we could have said no.
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There must have been a time
when we could have said no.
CDI makes great torques wrenches at an affordable price. US made. They will still be in use by your grand children, just need to have them calibrated occasionally. I have four torque wrenches, three at home,SO, Wright and CDI and plus cheap Tekton in the UAE as a throw away tool for lug nuts.
The inch pounds harbor freight one I just bought torqued out perfectly, my ft lbs one is off by about 10lb....but I was not aware that you were supposed to zero them out for storage and kept it "loaded" for several years in the drawer.I'm no fan of all of the tools sold by Harbor Freight but their torque wrenches are surprising in both their high accuracy and quality. I've used their 1/2" and 3/8" torque wrenches for years and they are fine. In fact a friend took his to his Air Force standards lab he worked at where such tools are tested and calibrated. They came through his tests with the same accuracy as the far more expensive brands Air Force aircraft mechanics use.
I have to do some automatic transmission work within the next week which requires an inch-lbs. 1/4" torque wrench which I just purchased Sunday from Harbor Freight for $19.95. I wouldn't use it inside my automatic transmission if I didn't trust it implicitly based on years of good results with my larger HFT torque wrenches.
Not 0, but the bottom of the wrenches rated range. Just to be clear, putting your 50-250 ft/lbs wrench to 0 will kill its calibration as well.
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There must have been a time
when we could have said no.
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