do you have to always change oil drain washers

[1maniac]

Every oil filter element for my 540i comes with a new "O" ring for the oil filter canister and a new copper crush washer for the drain plug. Doesn't matter who makes it they all come with a seperate bag in the box with these items.

I have alot of them as I use a Fumoto drain valve.

 

[brianl703]

quote:

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Originally posted by thrace:
Why is Honda ask for fussy maintenance procedures that other vehicles do not need.

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...a metal/rubber washer works fine on a Honda. I don't see any reason to keep using the (stupid, IMHO) crush washer.

You could even spend a couple of bucks extra and get a 14MM-1.5 thread drain plug with an attached gasket like 1078 on this page:

http://www.cgenterprises.com/drain_plugs_metric.htm#1078

 

[sxg6]

quote:

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Originally posted by thrace:
All dealers locally have quoted $.75 or higher for one washer. Not cheap. Greedy dealers.

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.75 cents every 3-6 months, or whenever you change your oil isnt that much in my opinion. save bottles or soda cans after you drink them.. unless you can afford it, but just refuse to pay so much for a washer.

 

[Tones]

You have to be careful when reusing the crush washers that they don't become so flattened and deformed from repeated use that you can't get them off. They can actually extrude into the threaded portion of the drain plug/hole. You don't want to be prying them off against your sealing surfaces.

 

[tblazed]

Both my Chevys - '88 S10 and my 2002 Trailblazer - have oil drain plugs with a molded-in silicone rubber gasket-washer. No replacement necessary. No leaks either.

 

[blupupher]

The dealer I get my filter from includes the crush washer with the filter, no charge. I have several extra since I have a Fumoto valve on my Elantra, but I use them on my Tucson.

 

[Buick92]

I've changed the nylon ones every oil change, the metal ones I don't bother.

 

[surfstar]

i noticed that my drain pan would have a slight oil coating before i replaced my washer at every OC. for the money its worth doing. they recommend it in other cars besides hondas, FYI.

if you were changing your tranny (auto or manual) fluid, would you re-use the washer?

 

[Intrepid]

I switched to a magnetic oil drain plug that uses a plastic washer. I asked the salesman if I ever need to replace the washer and I was told the plastic washer will never need replacing.

Just to be on the safe side, I'm wondering where can I find some more plastic washers?

 

[sxg6]

hes right, a used washer will not seal as good as a new washer. it still might protect against leaks, but that doesnt mean its in good shape. i could say i never, ever change the oil in my car, but it still runs. why the heck should i ever change my oil, the car still runs fine. you see what im getting at? just because everything seems ok, doesnt mean that it is. i could come up with countless examples for this, but ill refrain from doing so. because in the case of drain plugs leaking, its obvious when something is ok, and when something is wrong.

 

[Intrepid]

I don't know sxg6, maybe it's because my mind is absorbed in these tricky LSAT questions I'm studying for, but I find your example outside the scope or flawed in a sense.

A oil filter & oil serve a fuctional purpose only through so many miles & months, hence is why you change your filter and oil.

But a washer is not an end to itself. It doesn't matter how many miles or months pass by, that used washer can be used over and over.

Just because your car runs ok now doesn't mean its ok to run the car to death without changing any fluids or filters. Just because your car runs ok does mean your washer any bothering anything.......no leaks.

My girlfriend's 02 Civic has been using the same washer, not by choice, but because the darn sucker will not come off. I'm not worried about it, but I can watch out for any drips that might occur.

What I'm trying to say is, oil and fluid has to be changed every so often, a washer does not. So wheres the similarity?

 

[surfstar]

quote:

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So wheres the similarity? [/QB]

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an oil and filter are changed when they no longer are useful to accomplish their job, the washer should be changed when it no longer accomplishes its job.

there is your similarity.

 

[Intrepid]

Your repeating my last statement. The way the subject was put into an example does not justify the matter at hand.

One thing being replaced because it is obsolete and another being replaced because it is obsolete will always be similar because of the action given to correct it...........we're past that stage.

 

[HerkyJim]

No

 

[Winston]

quote:

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they do more than protect against leaks. and a used washer will not seal as good as a brand new one.

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I have never changed one. No leaks.

 

[MNgopher]

I replace mine when I notice a leak at an oil change. Generally seems to be about 3-4 oil changes before the nylon/plastic washers I use are deformed enough to leak.