i've got a 2006 F-150 5.4L 4x4 that i bought new. does anyone know the torque spec for the transfer case fill and drain plugs? i went out this evening and drained the fluid for the first time ever. i was expecting a knuckle buster after reading other forum posts but they came out like butter.

i put some anti-seize on the drain plug before i screwed it back in. i tightened to what i felt was reasonable, then loosened a couple times and played with the settings on the torque wrench. at best all i got was less than 5 ft-lbs (60 in-lbs). tonight i am looking at the haynes manual and i see that they have it spec'ed to 18 ft-lbs (216 in-lbs)!!

i am so glad that i missed the spec page when i was looking at the new manual the other night. i have a deep rooted fear of striping aluminum threads! do you think haynes is correct or should i stick with my gut feel? thanks.

 

a follow up post and word of warning ... when i completed this project last month i used my gut feel and not haynes torque spec. i tightened the fill and drain plugs to 4 ft-lbs (48 in-lbs). if i had used haynes spec of 18 ft-lbs (216 in-lbs) i am most certain i would have either stripped the threads or stress fractured the aluminum case. there is probably some poor soul out there that has followed haynes spec and found himself in a bad situation. so BEWARE. if you have a 2006 F-150 5.4L 4x4 like me please use your gut and not the haynes spec when tightening your transfer case plugs!!