Inch lbs Torque wrench
 

I am about to replace leaky valve cover gaskets on my dd. The Nissan Xterra has plastic valve covers that are to be torqued in two steps. The first is 17inch lbs, my inch lbs torque wrench has a min of 30inch lbs... would a gentle tightening suffice for the first pass?

I just did my DD Civic. The specified torque was also lower than the lowest setting on any torque wrench I own, so I just did an itty bitty tight with my socket wrench. No leaks after about 150 miles so far.

If you hgv ave a hood feel for that - it will fine

I have a Park Tool beam type, purchased from a bicycle shop years ago...the first mark is 25 in/lbs.

Just use a light touch an you'll be just as accurate imo.

6 lb/ft is about it for soft gaskets. Anything more than that and you'll have problems.

FYI: The newer/current aircooled 911 rocker gaskets are not "soft"... I torque mine to 18 lb/ft as recommended by Peter Z & I've had no leaks from this area in nearly 15 years!

"Regarding torque specs, I'll say this one more time, with a couple of qualifiers. For 911s built through the '89 3.2 litre Carerra, that use 11-hole, aluminium lower covers, and use-once super-thin greenish blue gaskets, or green gaskets with a silicone bead, the torque spec for the 8mm Nylok nuts, used with proper German aluminium sealing washers, is 18 lb/ft.

It has nothing to do with heat cycles, or anything else. My shop buttoned up thousands of 911s using 18 lb/ft, many we didn't see until the next 15K service was due (many of our customers would have the in-between service done at an oil change only facility, or they would do it themselves). NONE had to return for follow-up tightening, NONE leaked, NONE had stripped hardware, NONE had hard-to-remove covers/washers, ALL were assembled using new gaskets, new washers, and new Nylok nuts."

Precision need needed on VCG. Just snug them up with minimal leverage. If they leak, snug more.

Listen to the Peter....bof 'em...and tighten in the proper order....bone dry if nothing else is amiss.

I have a beam type inch pounds torque wrench. It seems that for so many things to get the thing hooked on the nut or fastener to torque, I can't see the scale to know what torque I am torquing it to. As a self confessed tool junkie I looked for a torque wrench that had a low range or 10 to 80 or 90 inch pounds. I just can't see spending $200 to $300 for one of those. In the end, I just use a T-handle type socket wrench and a little wrist action and call it good.

I got lucky about ten years ago and found a Snap-On inch pound torque wrench, complete with recent calibration paperwork (nestled neatly in the bottom of the case), at a neighborhood garage sale. I offered five bucks against the ten they were asking, settled on seven and have been happily applying light torque ever since. Definitely my best garage sale score ever.

_

i use the off hand method for things like this. it doesn't allow me to over tighten fasteners.

Unless you want to drop $60-100 on a tool, you need a small beam wrench.
I use this on my telescopes:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FMXEWQC
It was cheap and readily available. 18 inch-pounds should be in the safe zone (where the wrench is accurate enough).
Otherwise, look at bicycle tools, they have a few 1-5 newton/meter click type wrenches, but the price is too high for a one time use item.

Or, just wing it by hand like every other person with a plastic valve cover does :)

Thanks for all of the opinions! Just want to get this right as getting to them requires removing the intake manifold and associated parts.

Geez what’s so hard Bout this?
Just crank-em down until they strip/snap and back off 1/8 turn.:confused:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1588866117.png

Plastic valve covers!! I was actually a bit surprised they were so fragile.

Just remember that the bottom 10% and top 10% of all iso certified torque wrenches are not certified

you get a LOT of leverage with a lever (wrench) on a hectically wound incline plane (screw/nut).

17inch lbs is the same as 2lbf at 8.5" (typical ratchet)

Do you know what 2lbs feels like? - there ya go.

Because of this thread I dug around and found this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AZRWSJY/?coliid=IGRIK5UAOJVGA&colid=3NLGV3C4S9L8P&psc=1&re f_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

German made. I did not order it, I put it in my wish list. Every year my wife asks what I want for birthdays and Christmas gifts. For most things through the year if I want something I just get it. I will save this for a her to get me as a present.

These look nice:
https://www.alliedelec.com/product/wera-tools/05074711001/71410636/

I looked at the screwdriver style but worried there would not be room to get them on the top valve covers. The ratchet style will work.