I am doing a valve adjustment on 3VZE Toyota RV and will be replacing the valve covers. Not a fun job!

The book and You tube videos say to torque the valve cover bolts to 48 inch pounds or 4 foot pounds. My torque wrench only shows as low as 5 ft pounds. Can I put the torque wrench at 5 ft pounds and then back off 1 ft pound?

 

No. Figure your 1/2" torque wrench is approximately +/- 5 ft-lbs. You are very unlikely to even get close.

Just pick up a 1/4" torque wrench. https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-...nch-61277.html You'll be right in the middle of the range.

I know there will be plenty of folks here that will recommend you just tighten by hand. They'll say "I've always done it that way." But the ones who have stripped the aluminum head usually don't speak up. For $20 ($10 if you wait for a sale), you'll use that new torque wrench more than you could imagine.

 

I used to just do it by feel, I used to screw up lots of stuff, maybe not at that instant.

Can't wait for a sale, have my 25% off coupon and ready to go..

Thanks for the response, always appreciated.