Have the EXACT same problem on my 2 Toyota 2AZ-FE / 4cyl engines. Used OEM crush washers. It is the crush washer, no doubt. Something with that felt or whatever Toyota puts on the washers. So, what I do now is take a wire wheel on a drill, remove all that " stuff" Toyota smears on the washers, and tighten the snot out of them. Problem solved. Toyota does some stupid things. Need tranny pan bolts because all of mine were rusted beyond repairing/ cleaning. The new OEM bolts came with THREAD-LOCKER on them !!!!! Why in the world would you do that ??? The next time you want to replace tranny filter, you will remove all the threads from the tranny case !!!! Took the same wire wheel, and removed all the thread-locker. STUPID stuff like that just makes my head spin. The 16 tranny bolts are not going to back out. I mean, really ?????
Is my Drain Plug Loosening?
- Thread starter JerryBob
- Start date
Nissan crushed it with their crush washer design. If your drain plug can fit one switch to the Nissan copper.
Thanks Northstar, I have a spare drain plug floating around somewhere, ( just seen it 2 weeks ago, can't remember where. LOL ). Once I find it, I will take it to a local Nissan dealer, and match it to a crush washer at the Parts Dept. Great info 
Thank you. I really don't like over tightening the bolt. It's short with limited threads. Once I screw the pan threads up, the party's over. Thanks again. BTW,,,,you make a funny " Nissan crushed it with their crush washer design " LOL
Thank you. I really don't like over tightening the bolt. It's short with limited threads. Once I screw the pan threads up, the party's over. Thanks again. BTW,,,,you make a funny " Nissan crushed it with their crush washer design " LOLBoth Nissan and Toyota uses the M12 X 1.25 Fumoto valve.
Amazon copper crushable washer
Amazon copper crushable washer
Those look weird. Which way do they go on? Does the plug rest in the recessed portion or does the thin edge go against the pan until it is torqued?
I forget what side is the best. No longer have a Nissan. My guess is the thinner flat side towards the oil pan. I remember the washer gets caught up on the plug threads during install and not easily removed.
Nissan
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Why not re-use the washer and see if you still have the issue? I suspect the washer may be compressing even more during the OCI and that will leave the bolt feeling like it loosened up.
Generally speaking a fastener should take more torque to remove than the installation torque. So something is definitely happening.
Generally speaking a fastener should take more torque to remove than the installation torque. So something is definitely happening.
The Toyota washers are very thin and I'm not sure they'd be considered "crush washers", but more like gaskets. They just appear to be flat washers with a felt-like material on one side. Very different than a Honda or Nissan crush washer.
Good point. They are paper thin, unlike a true crush washer. Maybe they are just gaskets ? Next OC, gonna inspect the alleged " crush washer", and if still good, going to re-use and see if it loosens up again. I did wire wheel off all the felt last OC, and no leaks. Why does Toyota gotta be so quirky with little things like this ? So annoying !
There's a quick video. I like that the crush completely and obviously everytime and act somewhat like a lock washer since its newly crushed.
The "right way" is not really important. I've never had one leak either way. I sometimes look it up because I forgot which is the intended direction
NOW THAT"S A CRUSH WASHER !!!! I'm taking a spare pan bolt to Nissan Parts Dept and see if I can match one up !!!!!
It would be good if OP posted a pic of his crush washers.
I googled Tacoma crush washers and got these, they definitely look like they can compress.
The exact same one I have. Do you see the difference though ? It says gasket, not crush washer, and they do loosen up, for some strange reason......
Supposedly there is a correct orientation but I can't remember it when I'm working on mine and don't bother looking it up. It's never made a difference in my limited experience either. Checked and my notes say "notch (rounded/curved side) against drain bolt".
Nissan only has one size, if I'm not mistaken. I've used them on other cars if it fits. I've also used my Honda crush washers on different cars.NOW THAT"S A CRUSH WASHER !!!! I'm taking a spare pan bolt to Nissan Parts Dept and see if I can match one up !!!!!
I still think they're considered gaskets (the ones you show are the same p/n I have - Toyota is really standardized on them, I guess). I'm not sure they're even metal. Google says it's fiber and aluminum.
Yes, you're correct about the orientation. It just seems backwards of what you would expect which is why I second guess myself or just install it "wrong" sometimes.
Round/ Curved side against drain bolt. Good thing I'm near sighted. I would never be able to notice that if I wasn't. Noted Thank you
Thank you
If these washers/gaskets are so finicky to use why not ditch them and use a normal aluminum crush washer?
Yeah, I tried a few small diameter Honda crush washer's, they leaked. Gotta find the perfect diameter. Next OC gonna try Nortstar's orientation that he has written down, now I have it written down too ..Apparently, it's a one way only washer.
..Apparently, it's a one way only washer.Similar threads
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