Do you replace oil drain plug washer...

[Carlostrece]

...at each oil change? I never heard the advice to replace washer when I was young. It wasn't until I was older that I read that advice. I don't think my oil drain plug washer has ever been replaced on any car I've ever owned. It's never been a problem for me.

Why does that advice exist? Is it really a good idea?

Do mechanics replace the flat washer at each oil change? If so, why? Do flat washers wear out?

Is it an ordinary flat washer or some special type washer?

 

[thastinger]

No, have 3 cars that have them, all with 150K+ miles one them, owned all since new and all 3 have the factory washer still.

 

[JavierH19]

On one vehicle I re use it but my gm's have it built into the plug so it's not needed.

 

[Carlostrece]

No, have 3 cars that have them, all with 150K+ miles one them, owned all since new and all 3 have the factory washer still.

I wonder where and why the advice to replace washer comes from?

 

[thastinger]

I wonder where and why the advice to replace washer comes from?

Most likely to be a safety measure for the mass oil change places that don't use Tq wrenches on pan bolts.

 

[wings&wheels]

Crush type washers deform to effect a seal. Additionally, the deformation may work harden the (metal) washer which along with the initial deformation, may affect the washer's ability to seal again. Most of what I own use aluminum or copper crush washers and I generally replace them each time, but I have smoothed and re-annealed a few in a pinch. At ~$1 a seal tops, cannot see a reason to not replace them.

 

[mva]

This is a classic BITOG topic!

Here’s a great 8 page discussion which I found very entertaining!

T

Thread 'Crush washer truth'

Oct 18, 2024

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?

• TomYoung
• Replies: 159
• Forum: Mechanical/Maintenance Forum

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[fsdork]

I expect it depends on how the pan and plug were designed to interface to make the seal. I was always told by the parts counter at Honda that their oil plug crush washers were designed to be a one-time use item. The attached image is a page from the '92-'95 Civic service manual - it indicates the washer is to be replaced.

In comparison, if a washer were not designed to crush (ie. made of a harder metal) it may not need to be replaced. Softer metal - like any gasket - will deform to match the imperfections of the plug and pan mating surfaces.

 

[mva]

And my favourite response from that 2024 thread (thx to mccandish for posting)

 

[cammyfive79]

I'm of the camp that since they are literally 50 cents or so when ordered from an online dealer it's one of those "why would you not?" things for me.

 

[Chris142]

I do on every customers car. I don't on mine

 

[rijndael]

I have a stack of them in the maintenance drawer. If it's copper crush washer, I tend to do it each time but I'm not 100% consistent. If it's an aluminum type, I do it now and then.

I haven't had any leaks with my current methodology, I'm not going to sweat it.

 

[Zee09]

Top extract....never touch the plug

 

[dubber09]

While I have washers on hand I only inspect them on removal and flip them to the other side after cleaning and when installing it back.
I don't think those washers need to be crush washers, flat alum or copper ones work.

 

[Chris142]

I do on every customers car. I don't on mine

The filters usually come with a new washer

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I never have until recently. After the last oil change on the Mercury, it started leaking.

I decided the best course of action was to replace the drain plug with the drain plug from the original engine. Good thing I kept that around.

 

[The Critic]

Every time.

 

[Pablo]

This is a classic BITOG topic!

Here’s a great 8 page discussion which I found very entertaining!

T

Thread 'Crush washer truth'

Oct 18, 2024

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?

• TomYoung
• Replies: 159
• Forum: Mechanical/Maintenance Forum

• 
• 

Came here to say this. Usually one thread still running.

 

[PF52]

Came here to say this. Usually one thread still running.

It's good to start a new poll each year. People may have changed their vote!

 

[Pablo]

It's good to start a new poll each year. People may have changed their vote!

Depends on the Amazon kit price!

See I changed my vote.