David,
I neglected to answer all your questions. Do you need a torque wrench to properly torque an oil filter?? If that’s the only thing you’re going to be using it for, my answer is no. The torque is 16-18 foot pounds. For decades I’ve been securing oil filters (after I lube the gasket with a light coat of DC-4 (which you can also get at A/C Spruce) by running the filter down by hand to contact, then using my wrench to rotate the filter 90 degrees. I’ve never had a filter leak using this method.
However, if you’re interested in performing other tasks that are permitted under the preventive maintenance list, you definitely need a torque wrench. You can spend over $200 for one, but I believe that a $50-60 one from Home Depot will be fine. My preference is one that is calibrated in inch-pounds. You’ll rarely, if ever need one that has an upper limit of more than 500 inch pounds (40 foot pounds). I also prefer the click type over the deflecting beam type. The most common place you’ll use it in preventive maintenance tasks is to torque spark plugs (25 to 30 foot pounds)
The Tempest oil filters have an internal magnet that captures any ferrous metal that might go through the filter, and the recent ones have a pre lubed gasket-which eliminates the need for the tube of DC-4.
Keep in touch,
Steve
