I do it "hand tight" but fairly tight. On something like this that does not have a lot of stress or strain on it ( like wheel lugs for example ) it does not need to be "as tight as possible". Also, too loose on your lugs, and your wheel comes off and that could kill someone. An oil filter too loose means at worst, it will leak, probably by a tiny amount. I would then soon detect the leak ( on my garage floor ) and the give it another 1/4 turn.

So far, I've never had any leak at all.
Plus, I like the tactile feedback of doing it by hand.
You really can "feel" when it is "just right".
But I did put a decent amount of "umph" onto it.
Somtimes, after it is baked on there for 10,000 miles, it will still take a tool to get it off next time. I never use any tools on the disposible metal canister filters on my other cars. It is #1 easier on me, and #2 it is the correct way.
-John

 

My concern is not so much a leak from the filter cup as much as the filter element not having any space for the oil to bypass the filter itself. The filter element has a ring of material on each end that appears to seal that filter so oil must pass though the filter element.

Out of concerns about people here only hand tightening the filter cap or letting someone else change their filter, I looked up torque specifications for the filter cup. Since the correct filter wrench has a 3/8" ratchet attachment, it could be it is designed for a torque wrench.

In the '05 Workshop Manual section 303-01C-3 Engine - Escape Hybrid 2.3L Torque Specification it says the Oil Filter cup torque is 33Nm or 24 lb-ft.

Does anyone have any concerns or comments about these torque specifications?

GaryG

 

Thanks Gary, I was wondering if Ford had published a torque spec for the filter cup. 24 lb-ft doesn't sound excessive, but I'll need to get a wrench on it to know for sure how it feels. At that torque I'm guessing the cup could not be unscrewed by hand.

 

My gut feeling was 24 Ft/Lbs was more than I expected.

Are you sure it's not 24 inch/pounds?
( or 2.4 foot/pounds )

Just did a quick internet search.
An Aircraft quality torque wrench for "spin on" oil filters only measures from zero to 17 ft/pounds.
I found another page for automotive spin-on filters that says 15 ft/pounds is recommended.

Of course, ours is not the same style.

 

Yep its 24 lb/ft its the same for the Fusion with the 2.3L which uses the same filter and housing. That is not that tight and is at the lower limit of a 3/8 torque wrench. 24 lb/ft would break a 4mm bolt but not a 6mm.

 

Thanks for confirming the 24 lb/ft in the manual. It is important that owners here understand how a filter works. This is not a hand tight or hand remove filter that as has been stated IMO.

GaryG

 

What does it say on the side of the filter?

What brand of filter do you have?

I just got back from a 3 day filter training school and their filters all have directions on the side of the can.

 

Obviously it doesn't say anything on the filter, since it's a cartridge, not a spin on. The 24 ft-lb sounds like the correct "factory number" but I don't think it needs to be nearly that tight to stay leak-free. I would urge anyone changing their own oil to get the correct filter housing wrench. It is a unique cup with (I think) fourteen sides. I would not recommend using a universal "clamp on" type of wrench. That's fine for spin on filters that are one use only but not so good for cartridges (in my opinion).

Incidently, I have a pet peeve with the factory over tightening things. I partially rounded my oil drain plug with an almost new 6 point Craftsmen socket. I was very worried I would not be able to get the plug out. A few years ago, on my (then) new Dodge truck, I crushed the factory filter with a removal tool before I finally got it off and had to use a foot long pair of channel locks to remove the oil filler cap for the first time.

 

I was looking for the oil filter torque value, thanks for the information. Does anyone know the oil drain plug torque? This is my first post, but I gained a great deal of knowledge from reading the forum. Thank you all who take time to share your knowledge.