From: aarcuda69062 on
In article
<472312f2$0$68445$892e0abb(a)auth.newsreader.octanews.com>,
Built_Well <built_well_toyota(a)hotmail.com> wrote:

> What accounts for this schism between shops that
> use torque wrenches to tighten the lug nuts of
> rotated tires and shops that use impact wrenches
> with torque bars to tighten the lug nuts to their
> final torque?

Can only speak for myself here.
I don't and will not use torque sticks because I have heard
enough horror stories from those that did use them about wheels
coming loose/off even though they diligently calibrated their
impact guns as the instructions said to, to not want to risk it.
The day that I get too lazy to use a torque wrench is the day I
should hang it up.

> Which is better for the customer?

A good quality torque wrench.

> Is there a
> greater chance of not torquing all 5 or 6 lug
> nuts to the same, identical torque when using an impact
> wrench with torque stick/bar?

There is a good chance of not achieving the correct torque.

> As I mentioned recently, the tech at my Toyota dealer
> did not use a torque wrench.
From: Ray O on

"Built_Well" <built_well_toyota(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4723a62b$0$68469$892e0abb(a)auth.newsreader.octanews.com...
>
> Guess what I saw today. An '08 Camry Solara SLE coupe being
> displayed in the lobby of Sam's Club. I popped the hood
> and saw that the oil filler cap has 5w-20 written on
> it /and/ 0w-20.
>
> Some of the Denso parts were made in Japan and other
> Denso parts made in Tennessee. The oil pump was
> made in Tennessee; couldn't tell where the water pump
> located directly below it was made. At least I think
> that was the water pump. It had a small hose
> running out of it to the radiator and a small
> heater hose running into the water pump from the heater core.

The oil pump is not visible from outside the engine. The water pump may or
may not be visible, depending on engine design.

>
> The large radiator hoses didn't pass through the
> water pump, unlike what "Auto Upkeep" says. Instead the
> upper radiator hose went directly to the radiator
> from the engine, and the lower radiator hose went
> directly from the radiator to the engine.
> It seems only the heater core hoses connected
> to the water pump, if I'm interpreting things right.
> The same setup is in my '06 Camry LE. This differs from
> what "Auto Upkeep" says, which is: "The lower hose connects
> to the water pump." I wonder if I'm misinterpreting what
> I saw.
>

Yes, you are misinterpreting what you saw. Radiator hoses on modern Toyotas
run from the block to the radiator.

> Anyway, it was a very nice Solara. No plastic
> wheel covers. All metal. The rate of tread wear on the
> Michelin tires was only rated at 400, unlike my
> Camry's 460 ;-)
> Well, at least, I got the better tires.
>
> Say, I've scratched the front passenger-side
> plastic wheel cover while parking, so I'm thinking
> of getting a new set. Do you think I should stick
> to the silver color like the originals or change to
> the shiny chrome covers? The car itself is
> silver (lunar mist metallic). Do you all think
> chrome hubcaps/wheel covers would look good
> on it? I don't want to drop $30 or $40 and find that
> the chrome covers look gauche.

Appearance is a matter of personal taste. Get what looks good to you.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)


From: Ray O on

"Built_Well" <built_well_toyota(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4723a62b$0$68469$892e0abb(a)auth.newsreader.octanews.com...
>
> Guess what I saw today. An '08 Camry Solara SLE coupe being
> displayed in the lobby of Sam's Club. I popped the hood
> and saw that the oil filler cap has 5w-20 written on
> it /and/ 0w-20.
>
> Some of the Denso parts were made in Japan and other
> Denso parts made in Tennessee. The oil pump was
> made in Tennessee; couldn't tell where the water pump
> located directly below it was made. At least I think
> that was the water pump. It had a small hose
> running out of it to the radiator and a small
> heater hose running into the water pump from the heater core.
>
> The large radiator hoses didn't pass through the
> water pump, unlike what "Auto Upkeep" says. Instead the
> upper radiator hose went directly to the radiator
> from the engine, and the lower radiator hose went
> directly from the radiator to the engine.
> It seems only the heater core hoses connected
> to the water pump, if I'm interpreting things right.
> The same setup is in my '06 Camry LE. This differs from
> what "Auto Upkeep" says, which is: "The lower hose connects
> to the water pump." I wonder if I'm misinterpreting what
> I saw.
>
> Anyway, it was a very nice Solara. No plastic
> wheel covers. All metal. The rate of tread wear on the
> Michelin tires was only rated at 400, unlike my
> Camry's 460 ;-)
> Well, at least, I got the better tires.
>
> Say, I've scratched the front passenger-side
> plastic wheel cover while parking, so I'm thinking
> of getting a new set. Do you think I should stick
> to the silver color like the originals or change to
> the shiny chrome covers? The car itself is
> silver (lunar mist metallic). Do you all think
> chrome hubcaps/wheel covers would look good
> on it? I don't want to drop $30 or $40 and find that
> the chrome covers look gauche.


From: Ray O on

"Built_Well" <built_well_toyota(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4723a4a1$0$90449$892e0abb(a)auth.newsreader.octanews.com...
>
> Ray O wrote:
>
>> While technicians should not be tightening lug nuts with an impact gun
>> without any kind of torque limiting, using a torque wrench or torque
>> stick should be fine.
>
> Thanks for the reassurance, Ray O. "Auto Upkeep" agrees with you,
> saying lug nuts can be tightened with an impact wrench fitted with
> a torque stick or a torque wrench.
>
> The tech wasn't using a regular impact wrench/gun. His tool was
> electric/automatic but it looked like a silver ratchet
> with a long extender bar. Didn't look anything like the regular
> impact guns/wrenches, which look like drills.

Besides pneumatic, there are electric impact wrenches, which are easier to
calibrate than pneumatic ones.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)


From: Built_Well on

Looking in the oil row of Sam's Club, I saw
5-gallon pails of 10w-20 universal /Tractor/
hydraulic and transmission oil for $30, which comes
to $1.50 a quart. I mention this in case some
of our tractor friends think $1.50 is a good price.

I also saw a dozen rolls of blue shop towels from
Scott for $15.86. Each roll is 41 square feet (55 sheets).
That's a darn good price and beats sister-store Walmart's
$1.77 per roll of 55 sheets (slightly larger 43.6 square
feet per roll).

Everybody else wants at least $2 per roll for Scott's blue
shop towels.

Correction: the Michelin floor jack at Sam's will raise
to the height of the chassis in just one pump of the
lever, not to its full height of 22 inches.

Anyhow, great deals at Sam's Club.