Oil Filter Housing Cap?

[Bhavick]

Hi,

I recently brought this oil filer cup wrench

Laser Oil Filter Cup Wrench 76mm | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Laser Oil Filter Cup Wrench 76mm has 14 flutes. at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

and i was wondering what the best tool was to use to tighten the oil filter cap as it needs tightening to 25nm? I was thinking of using a 3/8 torque wrench as that's the size of the oil filter cup wrench but I worried it might be too big?

Thanks

 

[Rob Mayercik]

If 25 nm falls somewhere in the middle of the adjustment range of your torque wrench's range, it'll at least be accurate. There's always drive adapters to convert larger/smaller drivers to 3/8, and they shouldn't alter the torque.

Honestly, though, I've never used one of those on my Jetta - I use a "strap wrench" (looks like someone cut a hunk of fan belt and attached one end to a handle), and I just snug it down good. Never had an issue with leaks, and fairly sure I've not overtorqued (on the assumption that before I could get too tight the wrench would slip.

 

[BobnOH]

I've never needed a tool to remove the thing (2 hand grip of death) and never a torque wrench to tighten. There is a big round o-ring on the base, you want it just tight enough to compress the o-ring. Very similar to any car.
That tool will make it all the easier.

 

[Bhavick]

I was more worried about the amount of space i would have between the oiler filter cap and front of the car if i was to use a 3/8 torque wrench. Am guessing i'll be ok.

 

[KrashDH]

The sealing is not done by how much you tighten the cap, it's sealed by the O ring on the ID/OD surfaces. Just snug enough to keep the cap from backing off is all that's needed.

 

[Sauaciden]

Always did it hand tight and had no issues in 3 years of owning my TDI

 

[Metal Man]

I never used a torque wrench on one, just snug it down.

 

[Prairieview]

Use some lubricant for the o-ring....and threads, actually. My ancestors swung farther from dee tree and I can't pinch-grunt that hard with bare hands....so I need to use an "end-socket-type" cap wrench and 3/8 inch ratchet to carefully tighten.

 

[JETaah]

You need only to make the surface of the cap meet the surface of the canister. That sucker is never gonna shake loose and unwind three or four revolutions to leak. I have fought with some customer cars where it took an 18" ratchet to break loose the cap.