fiber washer vs metal crush washer

[bonjo]

My rav 4 2003 sump plug washer is made of blue fiber with aluminium in between.
At some point between the oil changes, I think the washer thickness is reduced (like the glue seeping out) resulting on the bolt being barely tight and resulting is a tiny weeping.

Is it worth trying a crush washer either aluminium or copper???

 

[rszappa1]

Well this should be good for about 5 pages.....

 

[CharBaby]

Is is worth it?
Yes! There are many options for a washer. Aluminum, Copper, Nylon.
If you prefer to replace the washer with each oil change, you can buy a whole bag of them for CHEAP!
They sell the washers in single/one piece or as many as 30 pc...You choose!

 

[bonjo]

thank you for getting back.
By worth it, I did not mean cost wise but is terms of causing problems with sealing, coming loose etc

 

[Zee09]

With top extraction you don't have to worry about any of this. That aside don't OEM Toyota filters give you a crush washer too ??

 

[bonjo]

here is the washer fiber+aluminium + fiber

I don't know if you define as crush washer or not

 

[CharBaby]

thank you for getting back.
By worth it, I did not mean cost wise but is terms of causing problems with sealing, coming loose etc

Yes, I meant that too! Stop the oil weeping/dripping.

 

[Ride_Red]

here is the washer fiber+aluminium + fiber
View attachment 286601
I don't know if you define as crush washer or not

I like these washers. Never had a problem with them. I'm actually using the Toyota fiber coated washer on my Honda motorcycle.

Are you sure you are using the proper torque on the bolt? I haven't had one of these come loose yet in over 100K miles on my Toyotas.
Also, make sure the oil pan and the oil plug surfaces are clean and no fiber is stuck on them before putting it back together.

 

[dbias]

If you’re not replacing it every time then I think the fiber is getting oil soaked during removal and leading to the seeping once it’s torqued back down. But I may be wrong as I’ve never seen this type of washer before.

 

[Astro14]

here is the washer fiber+aluminium + fiber
View attachment 286601
I don't know if you define as crush washer or not

Are you reusing that!?

My Toyota dealer throws in a new one when I get a filter…

 

[Kira]

As has been noted, this isn't the first time ODP washers has come up.

There are aluminum, copper, fiber, the topic Toyota ones, the 'rubber insert in a metal washer' style (GM?), the large flange with the recessed, built in plastic section (Ford?), the 'folded' Subaru style and those seemingly worthless ones which can't possibly work but are included with assortments.

That's eight styles.
So.....Where's the chart which shows which one goes with which type of pan + bolt?

 

[SC Maintenance]

I have a number of these washers and they have changed over the years which might be part of the recent debates.

The one on the left is from Brunswick Automotive, years ago

The one on the right is from the local Toyota dealer - but I did order online and had shipped last time they had the 20% off sale, whenever that was. I have not tried those yet but they are thinner. They look black in my pic, but they are a dark blue.

I prefer my Nissan ones that are an actual crush washer. I am tempted to try one of those instead.

washer1.webp

• SC Maintenance
• Jun 26, 2025

washer2.webp

• SC Maintenance
• Jun 26, 2025

 

[ATex7239]

If you buy OEM filters from the dealership they will typically supply new gaskets. I don’t reuse these. I always install new ones. I’m not interested in potentially dealing with a catastrophic issue in order to save pocket change.

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Toyo...ba01294b385e3&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

 

[GSCJR]

Get yourself some 12mm copper crush washers, it's all I use on Nissans and Toyotas. Hondas get the 14mm aluminum one; I get them from NAPA.

 

[Pablo]

Steel-steel copper OK
Steel-Aluminum use aluminum

That said I have used the blue fiber warshers.

I never ever once had a drain plug leak.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Get yourself some 12mm copper crush washers, it's all I use on Nissans and Toyotas. Hondas get the 14mm aluminum one; I get them from NAPA.

You using this type - or the flat copper ones?

 

[GSCJR]

@SC Maintenance, neither, they are a rolled copper type which are hollow; I get them at NAPA.

 

[Arch Stanton]

Just use a proper sized flat copper washer. I've used the same one (never replaced) on my 2010 Tundra for 15 years and 200,000 miles. Never had a drop of oil leak out. Clean the washer, bolt and pan each time and tighten to proper spec.

 

[f355spider]

My Toyota Tundra uses those blue sandwich oil plug washers. I hate them...at every oil change I have to pry or scrape that thing off. I bought a bag of 50 aluminum crush washers from Amazon for like $9 and never looked back.

 

[JeffKeryk]

My Toyota Tundra uses those blue sandwich oil plug washers. I hate them...at every oil change I have to pry or scrape that thing off. I bought a bag of 50 aluminum crush washers from Amazon for like $9 and never looked back.

Yeah, but your Tundra is no longer original, right? Just kidding... I pop those stuck on warshers with a screwdriver or whatever.