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Oil drain plug torque by vehicle (from owner’s manuals)

Among the vehicles covered here, only Honda and Nissan print the oil drain plug torque in the owner's manual: 30 lbf·ft (40 N·m) for most Honda engines and 22 to 29 ft-lb (29 to 39 N·m) for most Nissan engines, always with a new washer. For other makes the value is in the service information, not the owner's manual.

By the Torque Reference editors 21 sources cited Last reviewed Method
Contents7 sections

Key takeaways

  • Honda's 2016 and later manuals: 'Put a new washer on the drain bolt', then 30 lbf·ft (40 N·m) on most engines, 29 lbf·ft (39 N·m) on the Pilot and the 2017 Accord V6 ⁠1 ⁠2 ⁠3.
  • Nissan prints a range, typically 22 to 29 ft-lb, and 22 to 27 ft-lb for the 1.5L VC-Turbo ⁠4.
  • Nissan: re-install the plug 'with a new washer' and 'Do not use excessive force' ⁠4.
  • Subaru publishes its values in a service bulletin instead: 41.7 N·m (30.8 ft-lb) for most 2011 to 2022 four-cylinder engines, with a one-time-use gasket ⁠5.

Drain plug torque published by the manufacturer

VehicleEngineTorqueSource
Honda CR-V2016all30 ft-lb40 N·m⁠1
Honda CR-V2017all30 ft-lb40 N·m⁠6
Honda CR-V2022all30 ft-lb40 N·m⁠7
Honda Civic2017sedan30 ft-lb40 N·m⁠8
Honda Civic2021sedan30 ft-lb40 N·m⁠9
Honda Civic2022sedan30 ft-lb40 N·m⁠10
Honda Accord20174-cylinder30 ft-lb40 N·m⁠3
Honda Accord20176-cylinder29 ft-lb39 N·m⁠3
Honda Accord2019all30 ft-lb40 N·m⁠11
Honda Pilot2016all29 ft-lb39 N·m⁠2
Honda Pilot2022all29 ft-lb39 N·m⁠12
Nissan Rogue2013all22–29 ft-lb29–39 N·m⁠13
Nissan Rogue2014all22–29 ft-lb29–39 N·m⁠14
Nissan Rogue2020all22–29 ft-lb29.4–39.2 N·m⁠15
Nissan Rogue2021-2022PR25DD 2.5L22–29 ft-lb29.4–39.2 N·m⁠16
Nissan Rogue2021-2022KR15DDT 1.5L VC-Turbo22–27 ft-lb30–37 N·m⁠16
Nissan Rogue2024-2025KR15DDT (only engine)22–27 ft-lb30–37 N·m⁠4
Nissan Altima2013all22–29 ft-lb29–39 N·m⁠17
Nissan Altima2018all25 ft-lb34 N·m⁠18
Nissan Altima2019all22–28 ft-lb29–39 N·m⁠19
Nissan Altima2025all22–29 ft-lb29.4–39.2 N·m⁠20

Who publishes it

The table above lists every drain plug value found in the owner’s manuals of the vehicles on this site, as printed. All of it comes from Honda and Nissan. In the research behind this site, the US owner’s manuals checked for Ford, Chevrolet and GMC, Ram and Jeep, Toyota, Subaru, Hyundai and Kia gave no oil drain plug torque. The one exception was a UK-market Hyundai Tucson manual that prints a value in kgf·m only, which is not used here. Tesla’s cars have no engine oil to drain.

That doesn’t mean the others have no specification. It is in the service information. Subaru shows this well: its owner’s manuals don’t print a drain plug torque, but its 2022 service bulletin lists one for every engine and transmission, and tells technicians to “ALWAYS refer to the applicable Service Manual and review proper torque procedures” ⁠5.

Subaru engine oil drain plug torque, service bulletin 02-189-22 ⁠5
Model Years Torque
Legacy / Outback H4, Impreza, Crosstrek, WRX, BRZ, Forester H4, Ascent 2011–2022 (varies by model) 41.7 N·m (30.8 ft-lb)
Legacy / Outback H6 2013–2019 44 N·m (32.5 ft-lb)
Forester H4DOTC 2011–2013 44 N·m (32.5 ft-lb)
STI 2015–2021 46.5 N·m (34.3 ft-lb)

The same bulletin lists separate CVT fluid drain plug values from 31 to 47 N·m (22.9 to 34.7 ft-lb) by transmission ⁠5. A transmission drain plug is not the engine oil drain plug; don’t swap the values.

Reading the Honda and Nissan values

Honda prints one number in three units, for example “30 lbf∙ft (40 N∙m, 4.0 kgf∙m)” ⁠1. The 2017 Accord manual prints two values side by side, 30 lbf·ft (40 N·m) for the four-cylinder and 29 lbf·ft (39 N·m) for the V6 ⁠3. The 2016 and 2022 Pilot manuals give 29 lbf·ft (39 N·m) ⁠2 ⁠12.

Nissan prints a range. The 2025 Rogue, with the KR15DDT engine, is 22 to 27 ft-lb (30.0 to 37.0 N·m) ⁠4. The 2018 Altima manual is the exception, a single 25 ft-lb (34 N·m) ⁠18. Aim for the middle of a range, not the top.

Washers

Both makers call for a new washer every time. Honda: “Put a new washer on the drain bolt, then reinstall the drain bolt” ⁠1. Nissan: “Clean and re-install the drain plug with a new washer” ⁠4. Subaru marks its drain plug gasket as one-time use, for all three plug types in the bulletin ⁠5. The torque values assume a fresh washer.

Avoiding a stripped drain pan

Drain plug threads wear with every oil change. Subaru redesigned its plug in 2022 “to reduce excessive oil drain plug wear after performing multiple maintenance services” and the risk of cross-threading: the new plug is made of a more durable material, has a 17 mm instead of 14 mm hex, and has a redesigned pilot point ⁠5. Subaru gives no warranty coverage for the replacement “as the fault cannot occur without improper torque, poor workmanship, incorrect tool usage” ⁠5.

Nissan’s manual makes the same point in four words: “Do not use excessive force” ⁠4.

  • Start the plug by hand. Cross-threading is the failure Subaru’s new pilot point is designed against ⁠5.
  • Use a torque wrench in its range. 30 ft-lb is close to the bottom of some 1/2 in. drive click wrenches; TEKTON’s 25 to 250 ft-lb model does not measure below 25 ft-lb ⁠21. See how to use a torque wrench.
  • Use the printed value in your wrench’s unit. Honda and Nissan print both ft-lb and N·m; there’s no need to convert.
  • Don’t add oil or sealant to the threads unless the manual says to. None of the manuals quoted here do.

Sources

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  21. 21

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