I was talking shop with an older guy who maintains his business vehicles and got on the topic of reusing drain plug washers. He recommends the copper type over the aluminum ones, as the former can be reused more times than the softer aluminum type. And if you're in a pinch for a washer, he says, make one out of the plastic jug the oil came in! Use a thick flat section and don't double gasket. I ask, but won't the engine heat make the plastic melt or soften? He replies not so. He says he's even reused the same plastic gasket he's made 2 or 3 times on successive oil changes, no problem. And he's been doing this for years, he claims. And no, I don't think he's pulling my leg.
Need a drain plug washer pronto? No sweat!
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Nice! I don't like reusing washers since my cars have aluminium (fragile and worn out...) pans, so I know I haven't tighten them too much.
When I'll run out of my copper washer stash I bought on sale last summer (like 20 washers), I'll think about it.
Or when I'm doing OC for friends and they forgot to buy a new washer, and my own washers don't fit.
Also I'm pretty sure it won't melt, even with the exhaust pipe passing in/under the pan I noticed it isn't that hot on my cars.
When I'll run out of my copper washer stash I bought on sale last summer (like 20 washers), I'll think about it.
Or when I'm doing OC for friends and they forgot to buy a new washer, and my own washers don't fit.
Also I'm pretty sure it won't melt, even with the exhaust pipe passing in/under the pan I noticed it isn't that hot on my cars.
With copper washers if you heat them with a propane torch they expand and can be reused several times. On aluminum simply flip them over and re-use once.
I could see where the homemade washer would work - nice tip.
That said, I never have understood this thing about replacing the washer every OCI. We have had our Liberty since '08, our T&C since '11, heck, I bought my ZRX new in '01...never replaced the washer on any of them, and no leaks. Even the FSM for the KJ says to "Replace drain plug and gasket if damaged."
That said, I never have understood this thing about replacing the washer every OCI. We have had our Liberty since '08, our T&C since '11, heck, I bought my ZRX new in '01...never replaced the washer on any of them, and no leaks. Even the FSM for the KJ says to "Replace drain plug and gasket if damaged."
A friend in a machine shop bored an 18mm hole in some aluminum stock rod and cut it into thick slices.
Voila'...Real thick 18mm washers for my Volvo's oil and transmission drain plugs. I rub 'em back and forth on some sintered bronze and diamond cloth I got from another operation. REAL reusable gaskets.
And yes, I'm that cheap.
Questions:
1) Why should an 10 cent washer be priced at 80 cents to $2.25?
2) Why is it so difficult for bimbo auto store people to stock a compartmentalized box of such washers?
Voila'...Real thick 18mm washers for my Volvo's oil and transmission drain plugs. I rub 'em back and forth on some sintered bronze and diamond cloth I got from another operation. REAL reusable gaskets.
And yes, I'm that cheap.
Questions:
1) Why should an 10 cent washer be priced at 80 cents to $2.25?
2) Why is it so difficult for bimbo auto store people to stock a compartmentalized box of such washers?
Originally Posted By: berniedd
I was talking shop with an older guy who maintains his business vehicles and got on the topic of reusing drain plug washers. He recommends the copper type over the aluminum ones, as the former can be reused more times than the softer aluminum type. And if you're in a pinch for a washer, he says, make one out of the plastic jug the oil came in! Use a thick flat section and don't double gasket. I ask, but won't the engine heat make the plastic melt or soften? He replies not so. He says he's even reused the same plastic gasket he's made 2 or 3 times on successive oil changes, no problem. And he's been doing this for years, he claims. And no, I don't think he's pulling my leg.
Thanks for the tip! I know Toyota uses some sore of plastic washers.
I was talking shop with an older guy who maintains his business vehicles and got on the topic of reusing drain plug washers. He recommends the copper type over the aluminum ones, as the former can be reused more times than the softer aluminum type. And if you're in a pinch for a washer, he says, make one out of the plastic jug the oil came in! Use a thick flat section and don't double gasket. I ask, but won't the engine heat make the plastic melt or soften? He replies not so. He says he's even reused the same plastic gasket he's made 2 or 3 times on successive oil changes, no problem. And he's been doing this for years, he claims. And no, I don't think he's pulling my leg.
Thanks for the tip! I know Toyota uses some sore of plastic washers.
Originally Posted By: JC1
Thanks for the tip! I know Toyota uses some sore of plastic washers.
You've seen plastic ones? All the ones I have purchased were a fiber coated aluminum.
Thanks for the tip! I know Toyota uses some sore of plastic washers.
You've seen plastic ones? All the ones I have purchased were a fiber coated aluminum.
The trick with copper is to heat with a propane torch and rapidly cool in water. It "anneals" the copper making it soft so that it conforms and seals. As an A&P mechanic, it's accepted practice to anneal copper spark plug washers for reuse after inspection and cleaning. The copper work hardens when crushed and needs to be annealed for reuse.
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I've done that. Works. Several years ago, I found nylon drain plug gaskets for 0.10 each. I bought $1.00 worth. I'll never use all of them.
Hummm...
I've been using the same aluminum washer on my escort for a decade. Got an aluminum one when I lost the OEM back in about 2003.
Didn't know they wear out...
I've been using the same aluminum washer on my escort for a decade. Got an aluminum one when I lost the OEM back in about 2003.
Didn't know they wear out...
MY 1972 Pontiac used a plastic (nylon, I think) washer that lasted the entire 18 years the family owned the car. A 1993 Escort we owned had a plastic washer and never had to be changed in the nine years we owned the car. On my 1989 Accord I replaced the metal washer with a plastic one on its first oil change in 1989 and it took until about 2000 for the thing to crack.
I'm sure there must be a good reason for using the metal washers. Maybe it's so quick lube places won't ruin them when the gorilla-torque the drain plug.
Now, I'm using a Fumoto valve on my 2012 Mazda. It came with a fiber washer that didn't require excessive torque.
I'm sure there must be a good reason for using the metal washers. Maybe it's so quick lube places won't ruin them when the gorilla-torque the drain plug.
Now, I'm using a Fumoto valve on my 2012 Mazda. It came with a fiber washer that didn't require excessive torque.
I'm not saying I never change the washers, but it's rare. I have a half dozen washers for the Corolla and a few for the Civic. Shoot, I just sold the Civic, should've given them to the guy who bought it.
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