mnl119

Some speculation...

If you ever look at an oil filter gasket closely, they are beveled.

If you tighten them beyond the recommended 3/4 to 1 turn past contact, you are increasing the area of the gasket that makes contact, but not the pressure that the gasket surface experiences.

It's the pressure on that surface that dictates the pressure to which it can contain leaks.

Of course this all assumes that the bevel angle is designed to make the above statment true.

ritzz06

Am I the only person that coats the gasket with oil b4 installing it? No one has mentioned this so maybe it is just assumed? I hand tighten then do about 1/2 turn with a filter wrench w/no leak issues. Not everyone's hands have the same strength.

capevettes

I always moisten the gasket with a bead of oil on my fingertip. I also fill the filter with oil before installing. I have always hand tightened to about 1/2 turn past snug.

erikszr1

Please....by hand only, "one" hand........cant tell you how many times i change oil for a customer after they have done it themselves......and i cant get it off without a hassle...

z06clif

I was taught that to use a wrench to put it on will damage the rubber gasket. Also to put a layer of new oil on the gasket.

Clif

2k Cobra

I stand corrected. The shop manual, not me, requires 22 ft. lbs. Drain plugs 18.

I agree with you guys that I have never tightned a filter that much. 22 ft lbs works and you can get it off. (contact area lubed)

2k

9C1

Back in 2007 & 2008 (sounds like ancient history now) there were threads on here about how hard it was to get the factory filter off for the first time. I don't know what torque value they used, but I remember it was a b*&^h to get off.

I have used a wrench to tighten 1/8 to ¼ turn past hand tight for years on all kinds of cars. No leaks and no problems removing the filter either.

ipmtim

Changed oil last night and used the torque wrench.
No way I could get 18 ft/lbs by hand.
Not to stray........but I also took out 1/2 cup of oil from my catch can