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Been using the wrong size socket on oil drain plugs for way too long

Had a 2012 Civic on the lift last week and the drain plug was just not coming loose. I was cranking on it with a 17mm, getting mad. My buddy walks by and goes, 'That's a 14mm, man.' I've been grabbing the 17mm for Hondas for years because it fits over the bolt head, but it's sloppy. The 14mm is the actual correct size and grips way better. No wonder I've rounded off a couple over time. How many other 'close enough' socket habits do you think we pick up without noticing?
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3 Comments
evahenderson
Sometimes a sloppy fit gets the job done faster.
6
drew_mitchell
@evahenderson That's a dangerous line of thinking, isn't it? A sloppy fit might get the shelf up faster, but it falls over when you put books on it. Quick plumbing fixes just lead to bigger leaks later. Speed often costs more time fixing the mess you made.
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ivan_murphy80
Wait, did @evahenderson just say a sloppy fit is okay?
2