I have noted increased enthusiasm for changing oil drain crush washers at every oil change. I have never landed on a solid opinion here and wonder what is true. Are crush washers deformed, and forever changed after one crush? Is there any actual design that goes into crush washers? Is there a difference between the golden ones and the silver ones? If they are not to be reused, can we account for people who never change them and never have failures? On the same note, has anyone ever heard of a crush washer failure?
Crush washer truth
- Thread starter TomYoung
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A friend asked me to service her Kia sedan after her husband passed away. The crusher warsher was pretty beat, twisted and mal-formed. It leaked. I keep Honda crusher warshers on hand; fitment was perfect. Cleaned up oily area; leak fixed.
I imagine any material warsher can be damaged... Over-tightening is probably the killer.
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On my Honda I use the OEM crush washer...Get them for 0.51 each... They are made to be crushed and at 51 cents I change it every oil change... By the way the crush washer on a honda goes on a certain way.. If you look at one close you will see a flat side and a slightly rounded side ... The flat side goes against the head of the oil drain bolt and the rounded end goes to the oil pan...and done overtighen them...
I had a copper sump plug washer on my 190e, It got annealed a couple of times but the same crush washer lasted 21 years and never leaked.
On my bike they are alloy. Only 18 years so far on the original washer. If I had a local source of the correct washers I'd buy them but I don't.
I suppose a real crush washer actually crushes because it's designed to like spark plug washer. Soft metal washers just conform to the surface they are tightened on. Biggest mistake is overtightening sump plugs.
On my bike they are alloy. Only 18 years so far on the original washer. If I had a local source of the correct washers I'd buy them but I don't.
I suppose a real crush washer actually crushes because it's designed to like spark plug washer. Soft metal washers just conform to the surface they are tightened on. Biggest mistake is overtightening sump plugs.
I watch a guy on TikTok who is a Honda service tech and he frequently comments on how reused washers get crushed, thin out, and
and then they are a PITA to get off the oil drain plug. He ends up having to cut them off with a pair of sharp pliers. I change them every time because...why not?
and then they are a PITA to get off the oil drain plug. He ends up having to cut them off with a pair of sharp pliers. I change them every time because...why not?
One YouTube mechanic said he reuses them 4 to 6 times. And one concern is they may crack and leak at the crack.
I have reused the CVT crush washers for a total of 3 uses per washer on my Honda CRV CVT drain and overflow. I orient them the same as they were when reusing, and set the torque-wrench to a slight bit more torque when reusing one.
Inspect them well before reusing, and don't reuse if questionable weather it will last another use. So, you gots to have new available.
I have reused the CVT crush washers for a total of 3 uses per washer on my Honda CRV CVT drain and overflow. I orient them the same as they were when reusing, and set the torque-wrench to a slight bit more torque when reusing one.
Inspect them well before reusing, and don't reuse if questionable weather it will last another use. So, you gots to have new available.
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We call all kind of soft metal or resilient washers “crush” - whilst only a few actually crush …
I rarely changed them out. However, last weekend did my sons Santa Fe oil change and the drain plug area had some drips. Took plug out and drained oil. Crush washer was "raised" against the threads. Took quite a bit to get it off. Put on a new one and all is well. I'm definitely changing them all out going forward.
My Foci never had one? Doesn't leak, good enough for me.
The Outback does, and it went about 5 changes before it started to leak. They seem to promote overtightening? I like how the Focus is just tight in a small rotation and its done with no question if the washer is compressed enough.
The Outback does, and it went about 5 changes before it started to leak. They seem to promote overtightening? I like how the Focus is just tight in a small rotation and its done with no question if the washer is compressed enough.
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I replace the copper drain plug washers that I use every time as it’s super cheap, bulk from amazon. I have re used copper, plastic, and felt washers before and it worked, no leaks.
On the Kia in my sig, I can get away with one reuse, the second reuse will leave drips all over my driveway. So I change every time. No need to remember when I last replaced it!
I've always replace it on the Volvo, and the prior Volvo.
I bought the kid a box of Dorman washers for the Ranger, but haven't reached the first OCI yet.
I've always replace it on the Volvo, and the prior Volvo.
I bought the kid a box of Dorman washers for the Ranger, but haven't reached the first OCI yet.
Here's some heresy:
I think crush washers are there to maintain a good surface for the drain bolt to seal against. If that surface got damaged in some way you'd have to replace the oil pan. So the manufacturer recommend a crushable washer because it can be replaced easily.
I re-use mine many times.
I think crush washers are there to maintain a good surface for the drain bolt to seal against. If that surface got damaged in some way you'd have to replace the oil pan. So the manufacturer recommend a crushable washer because it can be replaced easily.
I re-use mine many times.
Mitsubishi uses the same kind, those definitely get exchanged. The Hyundai/Kia ones are solid aluminium, like a washer. They come with the filter so get exchanged but if not overtightened they can be reused, and I noticed that if pattern parts were used the washer looked reused aswell.
My alfa uses a copper coloured washer with rubber inner diameter, didn't change that in 120k miles.
The MG has a silicone insert in the bolt had, didn't change that either (1 oil change so far).
If I ever owned a vehicle that had the multi-layer sheet metal type (like on spark plugs) I might be tempted to replace them every time or at least every other time:
On my ag equipment that have solid copper gaskets, I reuse them for many years (annual oil change).
My vehicles have always had drain bolts with built in/attached rubber o rings and I reuse them for many years.
I dislike and do not use plastic or fiber drain plug gaskets.
On my ag equipment that have solid copper gaskets, I reuse them for many years (annual oil change).
My vehicles have always had drain bolts with built in/attached rubber o rings and I reuse them for many years.
I dislike and do not use plastic or fiber drain plug gaskets.
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I too have several boxes including actual crush washers …
Only buy OEM for the Lexus composite …
Mostly replace them but sometimes will reuse them. Never had an issue either way. The Toyota parts dept provides the new washer with the filter so that is a no brainer.
