'How Do Engineers Get These Numbers?:' Mechanic Works On 2023 Ford. He's Shocked by What the Directions Say

Automotive computers can calculate fuel injection to the millisecond. Now, apparently, they’re timing your elbow grease too. A mechanic working on a 2023 Ford Escape couldn’t believe his eyes when the repair instructions demanded an almost comically precise torque ritual.

Ford tech Justin Cole (@fordtechjcole) of West Michigan has a “seen it all” vibe as he introduces a recent TikTok clip where he shares the super-precise instructions from a diagnostic computer on how he should torque the crankshaft bolt on a 2023 Ford Escape.

“‘Install a new crankshaft bolt. Torque to 103 foot pounds, loosen 90 degrees. Torque to 74, plus 90 degrees.’ Then you have to pause for .2 seconds, then 15 degrees,” he explains in the clip that’s been viewed more than 124,000 times. “I don't know if I have time to pause for .2 seconds. I might need to get a stopwatch.”

Why Such Weird Torque Specs Exist

As strange as the instruction sounds, there’s science behind it. Many modern engines, including Ford’s EcoBoost lineup, use torque-to-yield (TTY) bolts on the cylinder head and crankshaft. These fasteners are designed to stretch slightly during tightening, ensuring a consistent clamping force even as materials expand and contract during operation.

The torque-and-angle method, specifying not just torque but also degrees of rotation, provides greater accuracy than torque alone because it compensates for frictional variations between threads and bolt coatings. Torque-to-yield bolts allow for better repeatability across engines built on assembly lines, where robots apply precise, preprogrammed angles rather than relying on manual torque readings.

That oddly specific “pause for 0.2 seconds” likely originates from those robotic assembly procedures, where a brief delay allows the bolt material to relax before the next tightening step. It’s not something a human technician could or needs to measure, but the computer documentation preserves the data literally, turning an automated calibration note into a human instruction.

For working techs, these overly detailed directions highlight the long-running disconnect between design engineers and the people who perform the repairs. Mechanics in the r/Justrolledintotheshop subreddit and similar forums often share stories of service procedures that seem written for robots or by engineers who’ve never held a wrench. Examples include torque sequences that require exact degrees of bolt rotation across multiple passes, or oil change procedures buried deep within dozens of steps in a service menu.

Still, Ford isn’t alone. Automakers from Toyota to BMW employ multi-stage torque-and-angle specs in their service manuals. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers, these procedures are vital to maintaining precise fastener tension in modern aluminum-block engines, where uneven stress can cause leaks or even warping.

When Computers Write the Instructions

The rise of digital service systems like the Ford Diagnostic and Repair System means more techs are following step-by-step on-screen guidance rather than printed manuals. These systems often pull directly from engineering databases, including test-bench data that is not intended for shop-floor readability. The result? Instructions like “pause 0.2 seconds” get carried over, confusing humans but perfectly logical to machines.

That’s one reason many seasoned mechanics learn to interpret manufacturer specs with a mix of respect and skepticism. In the end, Ford’s 0.2-second torque pause isn’t a prank or mistake. It’s just a window into how exact modern manufacturing has become.

Today’s engines are engineered to tolerances measured in microns, and every bolt’s behavior under load is modeled in simulation before a car ever reaches the road. But as Cole’s viral clip shows, the human side of the job still matters. You can write torque specs to the decimal point, but someone still has to interpret them with common sense and experience.

“Maybe I’ll start bringing a stopwatch to work,” he jokes at the end of the video. It’s easy to assume plenty of other Ford techs are ready to start timing right along with him.

Motor1 reached out to Cole via direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if they respond.