Oh my throbing middle finger…. I think every begining mechanic should be required to have and use a torque wrench. For some reason everyone seems compelled to over torque oil drain bolts. I guess since they are large bolts they can tolerate quite a bit of overtightening, but if you look in FSMs (factory service manuals) the torque spec is quite low, typicaly in the range of 15 ft lbs or even less. So I was out in the garage tonight, the heat is finally bearable, and was slowly putting things back together with the swapped engine. Figured I better drain the engine oil. Put the small 3/8 breaker on it and tugged at it. Ugh. Alright, fine, I’ll use the 1/2″ 20″ long breaker. I’m working at an awkward angle, so the bigger bar should make it easier. It works, eventually, and suddenly, unfortunately. Going in the pull direction is usually a good habit, but didn’t save me this time since my arms were extended and the angles were wierd. My middle finger met metal car. Amazingly I did not drop the bar, but I was cursing up a storm. Owwie! This was a good one, owwie!
That was it, I could barely muster removing the drain bolt. I’m done for today.
Oh wait, this engine was out of the original FX and the last person who worked on it and did an oil change on it… was me!
I think you just need to start some weight training and protein shake drinking!
So he can smash his finger with more force?
Even if I tighten the drain plug on my FJ80 to service manual specs, it is effing tight when it comes time to remove it. There’s probably some adhesion forming between the pan, bolt flange, and that OEM coated gasket washer from the heat. It’s like how the oil fill cap spins on easy when the o-ring is oily, but when time comes to remove it, a rubber mallet is required to start the cap turning.