Found out my torque wrench was 30 lb-ft off after 2 years of use

I was going through some old calibration records last week and noticed my main 3/4" drive torque wrench was reading way low. Took it to the shop down the road that does calibrations and they told me it was 30 foot-pounds off at the high end. I've been torquing head bolts and main caps with that thing for 2 years. Makes me wonder how many of my jobs are going to come back on me. You guys send your torque wrenches in for calibration every year or just when they feel off?

3 comments

3 Comments

derekward22d ago

30 pound-feet is actually not that much on a 3/4 drive wrench that goes up to 300 or more, so you're probably within 10 percent which is still fine for most engine work. I've been wrenching for 15 years and never once sent a torque wrench in for calibration, I just check them against a beam style wrench I have at home and call it good.

martin.paige23d ago

Man, does that feeling just sink your stomach when you find out something like that? I had a similar thing happen with a click-type torque wrench a few years back, and it made me second-guess every single bolt I'd ever touched with it. Your mileage may vary, but I'd say sending them in once a year is cheap insurance compared to having a head gasket job come back on you. I think the real kicker is it's not just the big stuff like head bolts, it's all the little nuts and bolts you torqued down that were wrong for two years. Take this with a grain of salt, but I'd probably pull the oil pan on the last motor you did and just check a few main caps with a fresh wrench to sleep better at night.

evan_campbell22d ago

Yeah I'd definitely pull that pan and check a few mains just to be sure you're not losing sleep over it.