All the torque specs in the service manual show 2 figures:

Spark Plug torque 12-18 ft-lbs

Well what the hell is it, 12 or 18 ft-lbs.. or something in between??

All my other service manuals for my other vehicles have just 1 number:

Spark Plug torque 13 ft-lbs (PT Cruiser) sothe harley tableshave me confused. What do you guys who use a torque wrench do?

 

thats just a range, anywhere from 12 to 18 ft lbs. some like to use the high end, others the low end, others in the middle. whatever makes you confident that it's tight and done right.

 

I was wondering that too. The manual is full of specs like that, are they just a suggestion? I generally go for the middle of the pack.

 

AS PREVIOUSLY POSTED: Wrap up that pretty torque wrench and PUT IT AWAY. Save it for critical internal engine torques. The new MOCO torques specs are:

Snug: like the seat mount screw
Tight: like cover bolts, drain plugs and spark plugs
MF Tight: like rear axle nuts

 

My degreed mechanical engineering friend and biker/motorhead tells me that the lower value is the minimum necessary to prevent the fastener from loosening, and the maximum value is the upper limit before more applied force may cause damage. Solution--choose the midpoint between the minimum and maximum and torque to that value. Given the +/- inaccuracy of most torque wrenches, especially those that haven't been recently calibrated,the midpoint makes good practical sense as well.

 

It's common to indicate a range for fastener torque. Go to the mid-point between high & low and you'll be fine.

 

Then why in hell don't they give the spec as the mid-point instead of a range? I'm no mechanic but I have service manuals on most vehicles I've owned & never seen torque specs given as a range. Might be useful for an engineer but makes no sense to a backyard mechanic.

 

+1

 

So why get pissy with me? I was just trying to answer your question.
If it bothers you that damn much throw the friggin manual out the window and be done with it!

 

Sorry, wasn't pissed at you, unless you're responsible for 'them' using a range instead of a number.