I don't feel like I'll ever feel comfortable using a torque wrench. I always feel like I set it to the proper torque and keep going to the point where I'm worried I'm about to snap a bolt if I go further. I changed the oil for the first time on my new-to-me S2000 today and set it to 29 ft lbs. I started turning until it just didn't really seem to want to go any further without hearing any kind of click. I gave up out of fear and left it where it was. It seems plenty tight to me.

The wrench I'm using has a lot of leverage so I'm aware I need to be careful. Here's my torque wrench:
Any tips, or thoughts? Am I using the wrong tool for the job?

For some background, I'm fairly inexperienced but I've done projects (on my old Miata) like cleaning the intake manifold, changing the radiator, oil changes and shifter rebuilds.

Thanks Everyone

 

It is possible to calibrate them. You can also use one of these to see if yours is in the ballpark:


When you store your wrench, unlock it and take it down to zero. Don’t just leave it at the setting you used and throw it in your tool box.

 

I never use a tq wrench on a lot of fasteners, but also have been wrenching on stuff since I was a kid (dad is a mechanic) and am totally comfortable getting non critical fasteners "correct enough". I do tend to always use them on wheel lugs though since you are doing 20 of them and usually in a hurry. It is best to have them not only correct, but also evenly torqued hence using it there.

But more directly aimed at your question. You just trust the wrench. If you feel yours is not working, test on something less critical. For example, loosen and tighten your lugs and tq them a few times. That tq wrench is 14 inches long. So, to tq something to 29 ft*lbs, you should be pulling a little less than 29 lbs (about 25 lbs with that length wrench). So go pick up a 25 lb object using about the same motion you use to tq something with the wrench and you will get a feel of how hard you should be tugging. On some tq wrenches if you have one of the settings in between settings it can lock up and not click so be sure you are using/setting it correctly and looking at the ft*lbs and not NM scale on them if using ft*lbs.

 

Also a few other items

You can calibrate as mentioned above.
Never use a swivel or anything you do not have to with a tq wrench. Sometimes it is the only way but that almost inevitably will cause incorrect tq. If you have to use an extension, use the shortest possible one that will work.
Keep one hand on the head of the wrench to help keep it straight with the fastener to avoid it being crooked and binding, which under tq's things.
Keep your back hand loose on the handle. If the tq wrench has a handle that wobbles, keep it centered (Those are meant to ensure you are pulling straight on the handle) If you grip too hard on it you can pull crooked.

 

When will people get the units correct? The unit of measurement in non metric torque measurements is pounds feet, lb ft. Even the Delco unit mentioned above shows ft lb but this i INCORRECT.

 

It is not wrong either way the way people are using it here really. The thing between the lb and the ft is a multiplication sign (you multiple lbs of force times length of lever in feet). And in math, it does not matter which way you multiply... 12 X 1 is the same as 1 X12 So only the semantics police would care which way we say it. But since you want to get all semantics-y you are incorrect as well. The actual correct way to say it is lbf ft, not lb ft

In physics though there is a difference in lb ft and ft lb and they are both used in different ways. But it really does not matter in this case since we all know what we are saying. No mechanic in the world is confused by either and so we really do not care. It is just one of those things that get used technically incorrectly but everyone has accepted forever. Kind of like "centrifugal force or centripetal force" and the fact that one can argue neither exist and it is all just tangential

 

If by "semantics police" you mean those people who care about being correct, then I am one of them. There is an important difference which you ignore. Foot ponds is a correct usage when describing a moment in structural calculations. This is quite different from torque.

 

I am an engineer by trade I know the differences. Was even a physics tutor for some time (Statics). But I also am not so tight and anal that something like this causes me to get all worked up and use one of my 14 posts ever on a forum to not answer the OP's question, but instead hop in and bitch about something that does not matter in this conversation.

 

Well, it is sad that someone who may have taught others is so lax in his use of the correct units of measurement that he doesn't care. There are many who do.

 

Torque for the engine oil drain is 33 lbf-ft. Why set the wrench to 29 (over 10% too loose)?

I was taught to always pull the wrench as it's easier to instantly stop pulling than pushing if you have any weight on it.

-- Chuck