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Herby Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2005 Posts: 742 Location: LALA Land
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 5:11 pm Post subject: Oil drain plug torque |
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Just got my first bug a little over a week ago and I'm going to change the oil. Don't have a bentley manual yet since I don't have very much money left, so just asking what the torque specs are for the drain plug and the bolts for the plate that hold the oil screen. Thanks! _________________ 62 Beetle
73 Super Beetle German Look project
03 TDI Jetta
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Travis Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2003 Posts: 263 Location: Battle Ground Wa
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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I believe they are 7 ft/lbs. |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76937 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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The acorn nuts are 5ft-lbs and the center drain is 25ft-lbs _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
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Travis Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2003 Posts: 263 Location: Battle Ground Wa
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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Is it bad to undertorque the center bolt? I doubt it, and it still dosen't leak oil even though I only tightened it down to 7ft/lbs. |
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myk648 Samba Member
Joined: November 12, 2002 Posts: 550 Location: Xenia, Ohio
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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Tight is tight....too tight is broken! |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76937 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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snug on the center is fine. If it drips... make it tighter. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
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Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 1991 Location: Dump
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Posted: Wed May 29, 2019 11:08 pm Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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Travis wrote: |
Is it bad to undertorque the center bolt? I doubt it, and it still dosen't leak oil even though I only tightened it down to 7ft/lbs. |
Glenn wrote: |
snug on the center is fine. If it drips... make it tighter. |
I usually drain taking the 6 acorn nuts off. This time I drained from the center first then pulled the screen, (less of a mess) which always seems to be a waste of time for my driving habits, because it’s always clean after 1000 or so miles.( 6 months to a year always happens before 3000 miles.)
Now, I torqued the center to 24 ft/lb with a new crush washer. It seemed tighter than I would’ve expected, but 7 ft/lb seems like you could maybe run the risk of losing the oil. Which is correct? Do you harm the studs in the case by putting torque on that center bolt when tightening it down? |
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wayne1230cars Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 2685 Location: Canada
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Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31378 Location: Hot Arizona
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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Herby wrote: |
Just got my first bug a little over a week ago and I'm going to change the oil. ....just asking what the torque specs are for the drain plug and the bolts for the plate that hold the oil screen. Thanks! |
If you really have "bolts" there, consider changing to correct studs and acorn nuts (cap nuts). And if you're going to torque those, consider a 1/4" drive torque wrench, like the ones that go on sale at Harbor freight for $10. And I personally have never torqued the drain plug, just nees to crush the copper washer.
Doesn't hurt to check the new copper drain plug washer and six copper seals with a magnet either !!! Some can be just copper-plated !!! _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 1991 Location: Dump
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 8:42 am Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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I have the studs. Used the wrong terminology. I torqued it to 24 ft/lb. I thought that was correct. Hopefully I didn’t put torque on those case studs and loosen them. |
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bluebug66 Samba Member
Joined: June 28, 2005 Posts: 239 Location: Tennessean
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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My Bentley specifies 5 ft-lb for the cap nuts. I don't think a ft-lb torque wrench is that generally accurate in the low end of the range so I use a Snap On in-lb torque wrench set to 60 in-lb. Threads in case are soft and easy to pull out. 60 in-lb has never had any leaks for me. Make sure that the flange surface on the drain cover is flat or this will cause a leak. Tighten them in a star pattern. |
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Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 1991 Location: Dump
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 8:56 am Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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I’m talking about the center drain plug. I know the acorn nuts are 5 ft/lb. I thought the center was 25 ft/lb. by using the center plug are you putting lateral stress on the studs? I used a torque wrench to 24 ft/lb and am hoping I didn’t ruin anything. Is it best to drain by taking the whole plate down? I o our drained from the center because it’s less messy. |
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 9:09 am Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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Frodge wrote: |
I’m talking about the center drain plug. I know the acorn nuts are 5 ft/lb. I thought the center was 25 ft/lb. by using the center plug are you putting lateral stress on the studs? I used a torque wrench to 24 ft/lb and am hoping I didn’t ruin anything. Is it best to drain by taking the whole plate down? I o our drained from the center because it’s less messy. |
It is recommended to clean the sump plate and screen each oil change. You may open the drain first, then remove the plate once oil is drained. Sludge tends to collect on the plate and screen areas, and should be cleaned per the factory. I have added some magnets on the plate, under the screen, these pick up ferrous bits of metal, a good idea seeing as the Bugs lack a real oil filter.
So clean the screen and sump each oil change!
Note that the sump must use leak proof acorn nuts, and soft copper washers under each acorn nut, not steel washers, not copper plated steel either (some vendors have supplied copper plated steel washers, they dont seal well, too hard, the fakes are found with a magnet.)
Bug On! Oil On! _________________ Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information
Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022 |
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Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 1991 Location: Dump
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 9:12 am Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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I did clean it. I’m asking about torquing the center plug to 24 ft/lb puts unnecessary lateral stress on the studs in the case. Im Hoping that doing it this one time did not loosen the studs in the case. |
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69823 Location: Phoenix Metro
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 9:15 am Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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Frodge wrote: |
I did clean it. I’m asking about torquing the center plug to 24 ft/lb puts unnecessary lateral stress on the studs in the case. Im Hoping that doing it this one time did not loosen the studs in the case. |
It shouldn't affect them unless they are already messed up.
I've never had any issues with the studs from properly torquing down the center drain plug. _________________ How to Post Photos
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Frodge Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 1991 Location: Dump
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 9:19 am Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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I torqued it to 24 ft/lbs. I did it a little less then specified. How in fact do these get messed up? If not from using the center bolt? |
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bluebug66 Samba Member
Joined: June 28, 2005 Posts: 239 Location: Tennessean
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 9:32 am Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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The stock VW plate is pretty heavy and I don't see how it could deflect enough to pull on the studs, especially at the recommended torque. After market plates are not nearly as heavy so maybe this could be a factor. |
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wayne1230cars Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 2685 Location: Canada
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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Don’t think it would be a problem either. Using a torque wrench on the drain plug is not a bad idea. It will give you an idea of what “snugged up” means as that can be somewhat subjective. I would guess that many VW oil changes are done without a torque wrench. As far as 24 or 25 pounds torque, no big deal. Torque wrench variance could easily account for that. Don’t worry about an exact value on that.
Certainly on the outer studs, over tightening can be a problem. Sometimes a stud will pull right of the case. No big deal. Just thread it back in. Sometimes the threads in the case get messed up but they can be repaired by retapping oversize.
When you have completed the oil change, just run the engine for a few minutes with a clean piece of cardboard or newspaper underneath to check for leaks. An oil change is pretty simple but certainly very important and vital for engine life. _________________ 1960 beetle
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12467
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: Oil drain plug torque |
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Pretty sure VW made this progressive refinement of deleting the center drain plug because mechanics were not cleaning the screens. So delete that and you are forced to remove the six cap nuts. I don’t find it to be any more messy if you loosen, then remove the nuts then slightly loosen last one, dislodge the seal and drain it into pan, viola no mess, if you are allergic to oil wear gloves. When you get the cover off and cleaned lay a straight edge across the holes and straighten if needed. The get bent because people over torque. |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76937 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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In case you missed this...
Glenn wrote: |
snug on the center is fine. If it drips... make it tighter. |
_________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
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