Your fleet running reports

[integrale_evo]

Hands up anyone that has never used a torque wrench on spark plugs

The washer is designed as a crush washer. Even when tight you can easily tighten them more if you try. It acts as a safety margin to not rip the threads out of the head.

Too loose is usually worse than a tad too tight as the plug can vibrate and fret the threads away.

Just nip them up until they’re snug but don’t go full gorilla on them and they’ll be fine.

[nuttinnew]

I was starting to wonder if that was the reason. I get it now

[Sundayjumper]

Hands up anyone that has never used a torque wrench on spark plugs

But I don't suppose you'll be surprised to hear that from me

It's only relatively recently that I've started using a torque wrench on wheel bolts. And I think that's only because I started using an impact driver for spinning them in & out and that seems to give pretty random results. So if I'm needing a wheel brace to nip them up anyway I might as well use the torque wrench.

I think the only thing I'd insist on a torque wrench for is head bolts. I can see it being quite important there. Everything else.... it's just proportional to the bolt size isn't it ? Big bolts do more tighter. Simples ?

[Beany]

Hands up anyone that has never used a torque wrench on spark plugs

I only bought a torque wrench a year ago, and it's cheap and I don't remotely trust it

[mik]

Someone do a poll.

I have a decent torque wrench, but yeah - it remains firmly in the box for most jobs on suspension / brakes / wheels bolts, and I’d definitely not think to use on on plugs…. At low torque levels you have to be super smooth - if you stop then the wrench triggers before you’ve started it turning again - cos physics. Tightening down a cylinder head however - absolutely.

[Mito Man]

I only use it for wheels and other high speed spinning things.

[Jobbo]

Someone do a poll.

I have a decent torque wrench, but yeah - it remains firmly in the box for most jobs on suspension / brakes / wheels bolts, and I’d definitely not think to use on on plugs…. At low torque levels you have to be super smooth - if you stop then the wrench triggers before you’ve started it turning again - cos physics. Tightening down a cylinder head however - absolutely.

I have a bicycle torque wrench as well as a couple of big ones for wheel bolts. I’m sure the bike one would give a pretty accurate low torque setting. I’ve never actually used it though

[V8Granite]

Interesting...@mik they look perfect to my dodgy eyes.

So I wasn't sure how accurate the torque wrench I had was, mate said it hadn't really been used much, but was a decent one so was happy it'd be accurate. The plugs should be 16-20Nm. I set the wrench to 18, figured I'd use the current plugs (which should be torqued correctly as a guide) - if the current ones didn't move much, the wrench was about right.

I noticed that I could give a couple of the current plugs another good 1/2 turn before it clicked...and that felt really, really tight so got a bit concerned and dropped it down to 16. Then fitted the new ones.

Disappointing if that's the case....I'm due back at the garage for the next service so I'll have a word. Thanks @jamcg

That’s not how it works, the initial tightening would cause the washers to crush and make a seal. By tightening it more you are not confirming whether the torque wrench is set right at all. The only way to do that is with a scribe line torque check.
To do that you’d need to mark a position with a flat by paint marking the area and then scribing a line over it, then loosening it, fitting a new crush washer and with a dual indicator torque wrench re-tightening it to the line and noting the torque.

Just check it breaks off by tightening a bolt that you know is far tighter, then set the torque and tighten.

Dave!

[V8Granite]

I have a 1/4”/ 3/8” and 1/2” torque wrench.

If I know a torque for a fastening I use it, if not I’ll be sensible.

You’re all a bunch of monsters. I bet you fuckers use copper grease on wheels bolts too!!

Off to have a lie down in a dark room

Dave!

[Mito Man]

I just make the torque wrench click click sound when I don’t have one and that makes me feel good so I sleep at night

[Jobbo]

You’re all a bunch of monsters. I bet you fuckers use copper grease on wheels bolts too!!

That would be madness. Should only use it for smearing on brake pads to stop them squealing.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I have a 1/4”/ 3/8” and 1/2” torque wrench.

If I know a torque for a fastening I use it, if not I’ll be sensible.

You’re all a bunch of monsters. I bet you fuckers use copper grease on wheels bolts too!!

Off to have a lie down in a dark room

Dave!

I always torque, unless it's a low figure in which case it's done hand tight.

I also copper grease my wheel bolts

[Sundayjumper]

Increasingly ludicrous fuel consumption update. We’ve reached the Chunnel terminal in Folkestone:

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Boosted slightly by a long stretch of roadworks on the M20 with a 50mph limit. I’m now desperate to finish the tank and find out how far off this really is.

[JonMad]

blimey

[mik]

I’m now desperate to finish the tank and find out how far off this really is.

You’ve probably just inadvertently changed the units to “km per 14litres” or another very useful metric.

[Sundayjumper]

I bet you fuckers use copper grease on wheels bolts too!!

Yep Just a tiny dab. And I’ve never had any problem with them coming loose or damaging the wheel. However I *have* had some major grief with seized bolts on cars I’ve bought. So I am going to continue doing it !

[mik]

I bet you fuckers use copper grease on wheels bolts too!!

Yep Just a tiny dab. And I’ve never had any problem with them coming loose or damaging the wheel. However I *have* had some major grief with seized bolts on cars I’ve bought. So I am going to continue doing it !

I would never use copper grease for that.

Mainly cos normal lithium grease is perfectly adequate. Just the teensiest smear to ensure they run in smoothly. Brand new bolts / nuts / hubs don’t need any of course, but as soon as you get any hint of corrosion wheel bolts become total nobs.

[McSwede]

I bet you fuckers use copper grease on wheels bolts too!!

Yep Just a tiny dab. And I’ve never had any problem with them coming loose or damaging the wheel. However I *have* had some major grief with seized bolts on cars I’ve bought. So I am going to continue doing it !

I too, have always used a dab of copper grease on wheel nuts with no problems at all.

[Sundayjumper]

I’m going to keep updating this because I know you’re all fully invested in my story now

We’ve arrived at our hotel just outside Bruges. The car says we’ve done 185 miles @ 93.8mpg. The stop-start shuffling getting on & off the tunnel ruined it. And FWIW it’s lovely smooth quiet tarmac on the A16 & E40 from Calais to here.

F3916CA0-21A8-468D-AB82-1A88B732EB85.jpeg (26.53 KiB) Viewed 796 times

[V8Granite]

I bet you fuckers use copper grease on wheels bolts too!!

Yep Just a tiny dab. And I’ve never had any problem with them coming loose or damaging the wheel. However I *have* had some major grief with seized bolts on cars I’ve bought. So I am going to continue doing it !

It’s not that they are loose, they are overnight. It’s about 15% I think or thereabouts which is far lower than most garages Ugg’s dugga them to. It won’t affect the wheel but it’s still wrong.

It’s one of those do it right now you know, as apposed to being wrong enough to cause issues.

Dave!