TIL I was over-torquing valve cover bolts on the 6.7 Powerstroke for years

I was helping a buddy in his shop in Tacoma and he pointed out I was using the wrong spec from an old manual. I was cranking them to 18 ft-lbs, but the updated spec for the newer gaskets is actually only 12. No wonder I kept seeing slight leaks after a few months. What other common torque specs have people seen change on newer engines?

2 comments

2 Comments

vera_brown4015d ago

Man, that whole "updated spec" thing hits home. I was using the old head bolt torque sequence on my 5.4 Triton for way too long, straight out of a Chilton's book from like 2002. Found out the hard way after a head gasket job that the factory service bulletin had a totally different tightening pattern. It's wild how much this stuff gets revised and the average person just has no clue unless they're deep in the forums.

diana15514d ago

You really think those updates are a big secret? Most of the time the new spec is right in the new gasket box. I see guys ignore the paper all the time. Like the GM 5.3L manifold bolts, the torque dropped way down. If you use the old number you pull the threads. It's not some hidden knowledge, people just don't read the instructions.