How often do you change your drain bolt washer?

[Bird's_Garage]

If it's a separate crush washer or plastic washer, every time or every other time.

My current fleet have a rubber o-ring built into their drain plugs. They're on the "never" schedule.

 

[kebabaluba]

You are so cheap if you don`t replace it every time...

 

[Leo99]

Now, every time with the Toyota crush washers. I reused them for multiple oil changes on my older Toyotas. I don't notice any difference.

 

[Malo83]

Never had to on any of my cars.

 

[Owen Lucas]

every 5-7 years whether it needs one or not.

Same here, went years without changing the cardboard washer on the Toyota 2Z-AFE. Not one drop of oil ever seeped out. Hondas use a crush washer that doesn’t really seem to crush IMO but I change it out every time since the car is new and under warranty.

 

[RitcheyRch]

Every oil change to be safe

 

[Astro14]

All of my cars have a crush washer.

Every time.

 

[ecotourist]

I believe my BMW's OEM filters came with a new washer. So I changed the washer whenever I changed the filter. It never leaked.

To my knowledge the washer on my Honda Accord V6 has never been changed. But it got a "free" oil change early on and the dealer might have changed it then. I've done all the other changes. I would change it once in a while if I had one handy but I don't, so I don't. It has never leaked either.

 

[ATex7239]

If it’s not a reusable washer then I get a reusable washer for it. One less hassle to deal with in life.

 

[Badgerstate]

I have heard you should do it everytime but I only do it if I see it leaking.

How about you?

Every time. Its cheap insurance and that way I dont have to deal with my car dripping oil on my garage floor for 6 months.

 

[Starman2112]

Every oil change.

 

[LowMilesLesabre]

Some cars have a crush washer which I would replace every time. But some cars (such as GMs) with an integrated hard rubber or plastic washer/gasket usually never need replacing. I've gone 300K+ miles on them without replacement or leaking.

+1

 

[RazorsEdge]

I’m pretty sure I’ve never replaced one…

Same here, I've never needed to replace any oil plugs for any of my vehicles

Simple clean and reinstall.

 

[Dyusik]

If it leaks, and I never see it leak.

Same. Went over 110k on my IS250, din' fix what wandt broke.

 

[The Critic]

 

[clinebarger]

On Toyota's....When the elastomer coating starts looking weird.
On Honda's....When the aluminum starts galling or it looks distorted from over torqueing.

Domestics don't normally use crush type washers for engine oil.

 

[billt460]

Never. I have Fumoto valves on all my cars.

Same here, except I've gone with the Valvomax System. No more leaky drain plugs and washers.

 

[FCD]

Never, both my cars have the reusable rubber / nylon / whatever reusable type washer.

 

[zzyzzx]

I do it some of the time. If it looks like it needs to be replaced, I change it. Having written that, I just bought a bunch of new washers.

 

[DwightFrye]

What does your owners manual say ? Isn't that better than asking strangers on a website that could have scores of different makes and model vehicles ?

My Nissan 370Z had a copper crush washer that needed to be changed each time. My Mazda CX 5 has a flat aluminum washer that the manual says should be changed each time as well. The nice thing is that Mazda factory oil filters come with a new washer taped to the box. Pretty good indication that they suggest the washer be replaced.