What are the torque specs for the drain plug and the oil filter?

And would it be risky to switch to synthetic oil after 90000 miles? I just bought this car last week from the original owner and she just did the normal trip to the dealer every 3000 miles.

What are the torque specs for the drain plug and the oil filter?

And would it be risky to switch to synthetic oil after 90000 miles? I just bought this car last week from the original owner and she just did the normal trip to the dealer every 3000 miles.

yea, i would not switch to synthetic now, it's just a lil' late. Stick with regular weighted oil, possibly a blend if you are just itching to use synthetic in it. Oil filter should go on hand tight, tight as you can get it without using any tools. not sure about the drain plug, doesn't have to be super tight, don't put everything you've got into it that's for sure.

yea, i would not switch to synthetic now, it's just a lil' late. Stick with regular weighted oil, possibly a blend if you are just itching to use synthetic in it. Oil filter should go on hand tight, tight as you can get it without using any tools. not sure about the drain plug, doesn't have to be super tight, don't put everything you've got into it that's for sure.

If the filter is just hand tight, how come an oil filter wrench is used? And I live in moderate climate, Pacific Northwest (Portland). Should I use 10-30 or 5-30? Ive always used 5-30 with my other cars (2000 Celica GT-S and SRT-4). And lastly, what can actually happen if a 80-90k mi car is then switched from dino oil to synth?

on b14's u dont need ramps or a jack to do a oil change...u just slide up in there

i dont know about you guys, but i'm a big boy... not so little in the middle.
i do not fit under my car.

HAHA :biggthump

If the filter is just hand tight, how come an oil filter wrench is used?

I updated the write up with the FSM's info on tightening the oil filter. Basically it sates to tighten until you feel a slight resistance, then tighten an extra 2/3rds of a turn.

I personally like to use a filter wrench because they are hot and my arthritis is kicking in ;) lol. Really I use one because it just makes thing easier ( I like easy).

Mike

And lastly, what can actually happen if a 80-90k mi car is then switched from dino oil to synth?

Your oil seals could start to leak. Valve stem seals, front + rear main seals. It won't happen instantly but it would over time because the synthetic oil interacts with the rubber differently. I'm sure someone could explain it better (thats my extent of knowledge on this subject).

Mike

Your oil seals could start to leak. Valve stem seals, front + rear main seals. It won't happen instantly but it would over time because the synthetic oil interacts with the rubber differently. I'm sure someone could explain it better (thats my extent of knowledge on this subject).

Mike

Ah! Good to know. In that case, in your opinion, would Synth Blend lower friction/breakdown enough to warrant using it, while at the same time preventing the seals to fail since its half fossil oil? Or should I just stick to Jurassic lubricant? (I dont think I have ever used reg oil in any of my cars ever except for my beater from years ago... :)

In my opinion.. Well let me tell you a story, I started using synthetic blend on my car when I got it. At the time It had @80k on it (previous owners used dyno oil). I used the blend up until @ 140k with no ill effects. I switched back to dyno oil because its cheaper (5qt walmart jugs ftw :))

Now I'm at 156k and I don't have any leaks, the car runs fine and it doesn't burn a drop of oil. So back to my opinion.. Use what you want really I'm sure there is a proven downside to switching but I didn't see any. I only mention it because people in the "know" say it *could* cause oil seal problems.

Mike

In my opinion.. Well let me tell you a story, I started using synthetic blend on my car when I got it. At the time It had @80k on it (previous owners used dyno oil). I used the blend up until @ 140k with no ill effects. I switched back to dyno oil because its cheaper (5qt walmart jugs ftw :))

Now I'm at 156k and I don't have any leaks, the car runs fine and it doesn't burn a drop of oil. So back to my opinion.. Use what you want really I'm sure there is a proven downside to switching but I didn't see any. I only mention it because people in the "know" say it *could* cause oil seal problems.

Mike


Thanks for all the help, and you are damn quick to respond! I appreciate it :biggthump

Thanks for all the help, and you are damn quick to respond! I appreciate it :biggthump

No problem. As for what viscosity to use for your climate? I go by the sticker under the hood and what the FSM recommends: 5w30 for all ambient temperatures.

Reference:
http://www.sr20.net/d/70267-1/Oilviscosity+.jpg

Mike

And would it be risky to switch to synthetic oil after 90000 miles? I just bought this car last week from the original owner and she just did the normal trip to the dealer every 3000 miles.


You will get different answers to this question, but I've switched my most recent 3 cars over to full synthetic (I like Castrol Syntec) at around 100K miles with no leaks at all. Years ago synthetics might have caused leaks, interfered with break-in, or not blended well with conventional oils. I don't think that's been a problem for the last few years.

But, as the disclaimer says, "your mileage may vary".

I believe that's wrong info on changing to synthetic on high mileage cars. The synthetics are fully compatible with dino oil (most of them contain dino oil anyway these days). What you may be remembering is you shouldn't change to detergent oil if the car has had a steady diet of non-detergent oil. Nobody uses that crap anyway. The problem was all the build up would suddenly break loose and clog the filter, starving the engine. My cheap-ass neighbor lost an engine that way when he couldn't find any more non-detergent oil.

Google bobtheoilguy to get ton's of tech info on oil. While there, check out Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5W-30. It borders on being a super oil. I use it in everything except my diesel.

Something I thought I'd add...

b14 lowport SR20DE motor,

Forwhatever reason, my motor had a no-name brand filter with no hex on the top of the oil filter to use a wrench on and it was obviously tightened more then hand-tighten so I couldn't get it off. Considering it was a tight space, what I did was and this is only if you don't mind a little mess if you drained out all your oil. I just stabbed the filter with a phillip screw-driver and then turned the filter that way. Note, I stabbed it so the screw driver should be perpendicular to the side of the oil filter, and don't do it where you think the threads are either for obvious reasons.