Can't find torque spec online
Basic maintenance details like torque specs for oil drain plugs or intake screws are frequently missing from online searches, leaving people with no information on how tightly to reinstall parts. Without these numbers, people are forced to guess or struggle to finish routine maintenance.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
- This comes up 13.8× more often in r/AskMechanics than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
Can't find torque spec online
- 1Knowing by feel when to stop tighteningDid this help you?
- 2Searching onlineDid this help you?
- 3Asking on mechanic forumsDid this help you?
- 4Checking multiple sources or forums online for conflicting torque numbersDid this help you?
- 5guessing tightness based on feelDid this help you?
- 6searching online for informationDid this help you?
- 7Tightening bolts until they feel 'snug' by hand without a torque wrenchDid this help you?
- 8Asking human mechanics on specialized forums to verify search resultsDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“for the life of me, I can't find a torque spec for the oil drain plug.”source ↗
“Removed the circled screws on intake on accident. Does anyone know if these need to be torqued back in to a certain tightness? I’ve tried searching online, but haven’t found any info.”source ↗
“Looking for torque specs for slide pin bolts, caliper bracket bolts, brake line and nipple. Also which bolts and parts to use locktight on and the ones not to.”source ↗
“I've tried googling it but given that 90% of results are AI garbage now I don't trust what I've found.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4How to know if a missing engine nut or bolt is important
- 3Why are service manuals and wiring diagrams so hard to find?
- 4Where to find non-standard replacement trim?
- 2How to find minimum brake rotor thickness with no documentation
- 5How to torque bolts without a torque wrench
- 16Mystery part fell out during car repair — what is it?