Buick Park Ave drain plugs

[Carlostrece]

The OEM drain plug (see photo) is a brilliant design (IMO) with a rubber, silicon, or plastic seal built in to it. I think the OEM plug was designed for many reuses. However, mine is now 28 years old with 105K miles. So it should probably be replaced.

I bought a Goldplug (see photo) with a magnet in it. The Goldplug has what looks like a flat washer. Is it an ordinary flat washer or is it a crush washer?

Edited in Later 1: Goldplug's website says it's an aluminum crush washer. The Goldplug website sells a package of 5 replacement crush washers $8. Shipping is probably extra. Hmm. I assume Amazon Prime sells the same Goldplug washers at a higher price, but with free shipping. Hmm.

Edited in Later 2: I don't like the idea of having to buy and replace crush washers for Goldplug when the OEM Buick plug doesn't require that. Also it appears to me that the OEM plug would be least likely to leak - at least if I het a new OEM plug. My 28 year old OEM plugged is getting clapped out (but still doesn't leak yet!).

Edited in Later 3: I'm beginning to realize the OEM Buick drain plug is a brilliant design, least likely to leak, can be reused many times, and is a bargain price. A replacent OEM plug only costs $6.40 at local NAPA. The OEM Buick plug is looking better and better the more I learn.

Edited in Later 4: I'll try the Gold plug because I already bought it, but if it leaks I'll get a new OEM plug. I'm annoyed that I will now have to deal with a crush washer. That magnet better be worth it!

I have a feeling that I just spent money to create a new problem/hassle when changing oil. Learning experience is a cruel teacher.

The ideal (custom) solution would be to use epoxy to glue a neodynium magnet to the tip of a new OEM Buick/GM drain plug. Then a person could have it all.

View attachment 282361

 

[Egg_Head]

In 40 years of changing my own oil in my and family member's vehicles, I have never experienced an OEM oil drain plug cause issues with cross-threading. Only aftermarket, just saying.

 

[D60]

In 40 years of changing my own oil in my and family member's vehicles, I have never experienced an OEM oil drain plug cause issues with cross-threading. Only aftermarket, just saying.

Uh huh. Every LOF tech just responded: Challenge Accepted!!

 

[Astro14]

It is a crush washer, always, every time, on a drain plug.

Buy crush washers in bulk on Amazon for 10* cents each, and stop worrying about this. How many threads have you started obsessing about a drain plug on this car?

Pick one - go magnetic, go OEM - but make a decision.

By the way, not one of my Gold Plugs have ever leaked. Not one. Perhaps because I put a new crush washer on them every time. IF a new crush washer is going to break you, financially, with its cost, by adding a few cents to your oil change, you have much bigger problems than which drain plug you chose.

Maybe skip that Starbucks just once, and you’ll have enough to cover the crush washers for your next dozen oil changes.

* Looks like my memory is off, last buy of bulk crush washers was closer to 20 cents each. Gasp! What am I to do?

 

[BrendanC]

dorman sells a magnetic remake of the OEM plug.

 

[Kestas]

In my opinion I think the best design drain plug would be what the OP pictured, but with a replaceable o-ring, with the intention that the o-ring would last for many uses.

 

[JohnnyG]

The ideal (custom) solution would be to use epoxy to glue a neodynium magnet to the tip of a new OEM Buick/GM drain plug. Then a person could have it all.

I always make my own magnetic drain plugs just as you suggest. Epoxy (fully coating the magnet too) works very well and doesn't deteriorate over time.

 

[D60]

I reuse the Al washer provided w the Gold Plugs numerous times. They're very thick and difficult to substantially compress without also risking pan thread damage. I haven't experienced any leaks.

 

[BrendanC]

hard to beat something like this. integrated rubber seal and magnetic for $8

 

[Carlostrece]

It is a crush washer, always, every time, on a drain plug.

Buy crush washers in bulk on Amazon for 10* cents each, and stop worrying about this. How many threads have you started obsessing about a drain plug on this car?

Pick one - go magnetic, go OEM - but make a decision.

By the way, not one of my Gold Plugs have ever leaked. Not one. Perhaps because I put a new crush washer on them every time. IF a new crush washer is going to break you, financially, with its cost, by adding a few cents to your oil change, you have much bigger problems than which drain plug you chose.

Maybe skip that Starbucks just once, and you’ll have enough to cover the crush washers for your next dozen oil changes.

* Looks like my memory is off, last buy of bulk crush washers was closer to 20 cents each. Gasp! What am I to do?

3 cars actually. Buick, Honda, and Hyundai. My point was the Buick OEM plug is (apparently) made to be reused with no crush washer needed, which is a great design.

Flames are rarely posted or seen at BITOG. I've only ever seen 3 flames posted in my 8 years at BITOG. That's a great track record. However the 2 flames I've seen here were posted by you.

I'm not flaming you, but I am pointing out that you just flamed me (again). I say that with all due respect.

 

[xmanjeff]

my 03 silverado 5.3 came oem with a magnetic plug , and you cam still get them on rock auto

 

[BrendanC]

my 03 silverado 5.3 came oem with a magnetic plug , and you cam still get them on rock auto

are you positive it was OEM? the factory plug in mine nor the 100’s of these trucks i’ve seen were magnetic. the dorman replacement looks identical to the OE but with a magnet.

 

[xmanjeff]

are you positive it was OEM? the factory plug in mine nor the 100’s of these trucks i’ve seen were magnetic. the dorman replacement looks identical to the OE but with a magnet.

100 %,
just checked , and magnetic oem not available now

 

[BrendanC]

100 %, just checked , and magnetic oem not available now

interesting, learn something new every day

 

[benjamming]

Can you really get OEM drain plug at NAPA or is it an OE style drain plug? Not meaning to split hairs...

 

[BrendanC]

Can you really get OEM drain plug at NAPA or is it an OE style drain plug? Not meaning to split hairs...

dorman plug. been in my truck from 60k to 240k

 

[Stimp]

dorman sells a magnetic remake of the OEM plug.

hard to beat something like this. integrated rubber seal and magnetic for $8

View attachment 282414

Had this in my Buick for 17k miles and it's been fine. Same quality as the original plug with the addition of the magnet.

 

[Carlostrece]

Can you really get OEM drain plug at NAPA or is it an OE style drain plug? Not meaning to split hairs...

A NAPA webpage said GM/Buick OEM oilpan drainplug for $6 on sale. $8 or $9 regular price. I didn't try to verify the factuality of their product listing.

There's several other places online offering GM/Buick OEM drain plugs for $8 or $9. Several of those places are GM OEM Parts websites. So it seems plausible NAPA could legitimately be doing the same for same price, minus 20% discount due to NAPA's current sale.

 

[Carlostrece]

For my 97 Buick I'll use my Goldplug since I already bought it. I've gained a lot of respect for GM stock/OEM drain plugs with their built-in seal, which apparently is resusuable many times. My OEM plug is 28 years old and still doesn't leak, but I think it's time for a new drainplug.

If I had a do over, I might have bought a new OEM for less money than Goldplug.

For my neighbors' cars (Honda CR-V and Hyundai Elantra) I purchased a bag of aluminum crush washers. Same size crush washer fits both those cars.

I learned a lot from you guys. Thanks!

 

[Carlostrece]

dorman sells a magnetic remake of the OEM plug.

Magnetic you say? Is it a good drain plug? How good is the magnet and built-in seal/gasket?