Transmission drain bolt torque

[CptSumTingWong]

Just did my first transmission fluid change. Manual says torque the drain bolt back to 21 ft lb. But I can't get 21 ft lbs on it. I thought it was my torque wrench or the sealant on the threads but I've checked 2 different torque wrenches and tried a brand new drain plug with the factory sealant pre applied.

By the time the drain plug is screwed in until it's flush with the housing I'm at under 15 ft lb. Pretty much feels the same amount of tightening effort from 1/4 way in through all the way in, doesn't seem to get tighter. When I took it out, and from what I've seen online, there's like 4-5 threads still showing and it's tight.

I checked to make sure there's no crack in the housing. Am I going crazy or something, why isn't this torquing? Do I leave the bolt flush? Re tighten with it poking out a few threads? Keep tightening until it becomes recessed?

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[galaxy]

Bro, it's just a drain plug. You're not going crazy, but you're overthinking it. Just snug it up good until it feels right.

 

[WD Pro]

Bro, it's just a drain plug. You're not going crazy, but you're overthinking it. Just snug it up good until it feels right.

Normally I would agree with you, but as this is a 350 and bearing in mind the harmonics and the reputation for vibrating things loose, I can understand the OP's concern

WD

 

[Dana Pants]

If this is a tapered NPT plug like the internet shows, the correct thing is number of turns after finger tight, as torque measurement is exceptionally poor for tapered threads. NPT is typically 1.5 to 3 turns past finger tight. Don’t forget to re-apply some form of thread sealant.

 

[Clint81]

I am curious what kind of sealant you all would use for this application? I was similarly puzzled about how far to tighten the drain plug, I eventually just decided "good enough" and marked it so I could see if it moved. I did not apply new sealant.

 

[CptSumTingWong]

[

I am curious what kind of sealant you all would use for this application? I was similarly puzzled about how far to tighten the drain plug, I eventually just decided "good enough" and marked it so I could see if it moved. I did not apply new sealant.

Per manual
Thread Sealant with PTFE / TA24B (WSKM2G350A2)

https://www.motorcraft.com/us/en_us...-and-adhesives/thread-sealants-with-ptfe.html

 

[CptSumTingWong]

Normally I would agree with you, but as this is a 350 and bearing in mind the harmonics and the reputation for vibrating things loose, I can understand the OP's concern

WD

Yes, mostly this... I've also never had to torque an oil filter before either, but here we are...

 

[Clint81]

Per manual
Thread Sealant with PTFE / TA24B (WSKM2G350A2)

https://www.motorcraft.com/us/en_us...-and-adhesives/thread-sealants-with-ptfe.html

Thanks for the link!

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