oil pan drain plug torque specification

[Gary G.]

Gentlemen,
I have not been able to locate the torque spec for the oil pan drain plug for a 1975 corvette, L 48.
Thank you in advance for the information.

[John H.]

Re: oil pan drain plug torque specification

Gary -

It's 20 ft-lbs. You'll find it on the "Engine Torques" chart in the "Engine" part of the "Specifications" section in the back of the Chassis Service Manual.

[Gary G.]

Re: oil pan drain plug torque specification

Thanks John. I was using a Chilton manual, and I did not see it. I need to add more materials to my library.

[Dick W.]

Re: oil pan drain plug torque specification

Gee whiz, I always thought it was tight + 1/2 round.

[Larry M.]

Re: oil pan drain plug torque specification

Gee whiz, I always thought it was tight + 1/2 round.

In the first forty-five years of my life I never used or never saw anyone else use a torque wrench on an oil drain plug. He** you were lucky if the oil changer/mechanic used a box end instead of a cresent wrench.

I finally changed when the wife bought a car with a very $$$ cast aluminum oil pan. Been using a torque wrench on oil pan drain plugs ever since.

Larry

[Gary G.]

Re: oil pan drain plug torque specification

I had a black rubber gasket that was chewed up on the oil pan bolt. I replaced it last year with a nylon Fel Pro gasket. Unfortuantely, I missed a small piece of the rubber, which stuck to the oil pan. When I went to change the oil today, I noticed a small spot of oil, and the plug was quite loose. The bolt is fine, and I think that I just didn't tighten it enough last year, lying on the ground with ramps. Cleaned the pan, tightened the bolt better this afternoon, and took the car for a 20 mile ride. No problems. I have never used a torque wrench on a drain plug, but I agree that an aluminum pan would be a prudent use of such a tool. I used to work in a garage when I was going to school, and we just used a wrench.