I have no idea why this is not posted in the owners manual. Anyhow, I'm doing my first oil change in the morning and would like to know the torque specs for the drain bolt (05 xB).

If no one knows the number I'll use the specs from my 93 Civic manual :?

 

38 N-m / 382 Kgf-cm / 28 ft-lbf

 

Sounds right. May I ask the source you used? Thanks none the less.

 

Hand tightened is good enough really. When you work at a dealership people laugh at you for busting out the torque wrench for anything other than engine rebuilds.

 

I've never heard of hand tightening the oil drain plug bolt :? Now the oil filter can be hand tight. I still like to use a filter wrench and give an extra 1/4 turn after hand tightening.

Torque specs are giving for a reason.

For instance a buddy of mine from work just had his oil pan replaced because Wal-Mart stripped the damn threads. They (wal-mart) claim the cause was just wear and tear on the threads from changing the oil. The Intrepid has just under 100k. News Flash, if the bolt was put back to manufacture specs each time removed Wal-Mart would not of had to shell out $388 for a new oil pan. :? Yeah, replace oil pan every 90k