Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Metric System: Description
The metric system is based on quantities of one, ten, one hundred, one thousand and one million.
The following chart will assist in converting metric units to equivalent English and SAE units, or vise versa.
| MULTIPLY | BY | TO GET | MULTIPLY | BY | TO GET |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-lbs | x 0.11298 | = Newton Meters (N.m) | N.m | x 8.851 | = in-lbs |
| ft-lbs | x 1.3558 | = Newton Meters (N.m) | N.m | x 0.7376 | = ft-lbs |
| Inches Hg (60° F) | x 3.377 | = Kilopascals (kPa) | kPa | x 0.2961 | = Inches Hg |
| psi | x 6.895 | = Kilopascals (kPa) | kPa | x 0.145 | = psi |
| Inches | x 25.4 | = Millimeters (mm) | mm | x 0.03937 | = Inches |
| Feet | x 0.3048 | = Meters (M) | M | x 3.281 | = Feet |
| Yards | x 0.9144 | = Meters | M | x 1.0936 | = Yards |
| mph | x 1.6093 | = Kilometers/Hr. (Km/h) | Km/h | x 0.6214 | = mph |
| Feet/Sec | x 0.3048 | = Meters/Sec (M/S) | M/S | x 3.281 | = Feet/Sec |
| mph | x 0.4470 | = Meters/Sec (M/S) | M/S | x 2.237 | = mph |
| Kilometers/Hr. (Km/h) | x 0.27778 | = Meters/Sec (M/S) | M/S | x 3.600 | Kilometers/Hr. (Km/h) |
| 1 inch = 25 Millimeters | 1 Cubic Inch = 16 Cubic Centimeters |
| 1 Foot = 0.3 Meter | 1 Cubic Foot = 0.03 Cubic Meter |
| 1 Yard = 0.9 Meter | 1 Cubic Yard = 0.8 Cubic Meter |
| 1 Mile = 1.6 Kilometers | - |
Refer to Metric Conversion Chart (Fig 1) to convert torque values listed in metric Newton- meters (N.m). Also, use the chart to convert between millimeters (mm) and inches (in.).
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.