Just remember there are inch pounds and foot lbs.I have a wrench in each.I don't use them on the drain plugs but I do on the derby cover.

 

I had been using one from Harbor Freight and one day I decided to check it against my neighbors digital SnapOn torque wrench and discovered the HF wrench was over tightening things by a ton. Not saying all Harbor Freight stuff is bad I own a lot of it but good to check the accuracy of whatever wrench you are using.

 

doesn't surprise me, I wouldn't buy a pack of batteries from harbor freight, let alone a torque wrench to torque bolts on a $20k plus motorcycle, or a jack to hold such bike. I strongly believe u get what u pay for and will only buy American made tools

 

I have the harbor freight AA batteries and they are so ****ing bad. I get cutting and grinding wheels there nice and cheap. With tools you get what you pay for. My best quality wrenches are all handmade by my great grandpa.

 

Anything with rubber seals, compression gaskets and dissimilar metals i will use a torque wrench. Suspension components, engine and transmission internals.

Oil plug...no.

 

I always put Teflon tape on my drain plugs. No, I don't use a torque wrench on them. I do use a torque wrench for nearly everything else, especially engine components. I have never lost a plug nor have I twisted the threads out of a case. Maybe experience has a few rewards, or is it blind luck?

 

are you sure the snap on wrench was calibrated correctly? I've seen some reviews that rate snap on torque wrenches as pretty inaccurate. and the hf wrenches tested pretty close. better than craftsman.

 

I'll say this: If you rely on a torque wrench to tell you when to stop turning, you're a disaster waiting to happen. I've had HF, Craftsman, Snap on and MAC... they've all tried to F^2% me at one point or time. The last time I let a MAC torque wrench screw me was when I was working on the case halves of a Lycoming Aircraft engine, while the engine was still in the plane. I'll never do that again. So, Now... I torque to MY specifications and then back up with the torque wrench. If it don't click with in 1/4 of a turn my arm specifications, then theres a real chance something is wrong with the bolt or threads already.

so... I vote... snug using your own hand and follow up with a wrench.

 

Everytime, it is a good habit to develop.

 

Um.... doesn't an oil plug have dissimilar metals (aluminum case, steel plug) and a rubber seal (o-ring).....?

Why the double standard for an oil plug.... just curious.......