TOYOTA OIL DRAIN PLUG GASKET

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donald53

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Jul 14, 2020
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North Augusta, SC
I have two (2) Camry's...both with the 4-cylinder engine. I change oil in both of them ~ 2x per year. I use the Toyota oil drain plug gasket pictured below and torque both drain plugs to 18 ft-lbs per Toyota spec. Over the past 2 years, I've noticed that both drain plugs are finger tight at best when I change the oil. I've noticed that the coating or whatever is on both sides of these aluminum washers disintegrates...mostly on the side of the gasket that is in touch with the oil pan. FWIW both oil pans are metal. The drain plugs are both the original and are perfect. You can hand tighten both bolts snug and then tighten with the torque wrench. FWIW I have two different torque wrenches I've used to make sure there is not a problem with the amount of torque applied. I have in the past bought packets of washers from a Toyota online parts dealer and really haven't had an issue. I went to my local dealer and bought a few washers for the most recent change to see if I would get a different result....same problem. Within a week both drain plugs have loosened to where you need to tighten the bolts another 1/4 turn or more. Thankfully neither drain plug has completely come out. Generally they seem to about one to two turns to being hand tight.

Question...has any one experienced this problem using TOYOTA drain plug gaskets? For reference here is a picture of the gasket and the Toyota p/n.

P/N 90430-12031
1750426306330.webp
 
I haven't noticed a loose drain plug on my 05 Scion and I have been using amazon gaskets along with the occasional Toyota gasket.

I don't torque them to spec with a torque wrench though, just strong arm tight, definitely more than 18'. 💪
 
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I think they're made that way on purpose to be one time use. Blue coating peels easily.
If you want multi use washer then similar size plain alum or copper one will work.
I just clean drain bolts and washers and flip washer to the other side, clean drain hole too. Never saw leaks.
 
I purchase the same type of drain plug gasket from RockAuto in bulk. I believe they are from Ultra-Power, don’t remember exactly.

I’ve never ran into this issue. I used to use a torque wrench, but now I just tighten it, let out an audible “click click,” then say “that ain’t going nowhere.” I haven’t had an issues since doing that 😂.
 
I have the same issue. I don't use a torque wrench but I go tight enough that I feel the washer crush a little. I'd bet it's over 18 ft-lb. The crush washers are always stuck to the oil pan. A long thin flat screwdriver is part of my oil change kit of tools.
 
When we started using torque wrenches on every vehicle I/we noticed the Toyota drain plugs would, over time,
seem to loosen up and in some cases weep oil. This was especially true when using a fiber gasket.
I found that re-using the gaskets and tightening a bit over the spec'd torque helped. IMO the gaskets
tend to relax over heat cycles and time.
 
18 ft*lbs. is for which Toyota vehicle? all my Toyota vehicles are 27-29 ft*lbs., I have never seen a leak with OEM drain plug gasket torqued to specifications or when I use to just tighten by "arm strength".

I always use the correct drain plug gasket once and then I have never changed it, it has NEVER leaked for me...
 
donald53 said:
I have two (2) Camry's...both with the 4-cylinder engine. I change oil in both of them ~ 2x per year. I use the Toyota oil drain plug gasket pictured below and torque both drain plugs to 18 ft-lbs per Toyota spec. Over the past 2 years, I've noticed that both drain plugs are finger tight at best when I change the oil. I've noticed that the coating or whatever is on both sides of these aluminum washers disintegrates...mostly on the side of the gasket that is in touch with the oil pan. FWIW both oil pans are metal. The drain plugs are both the original and are perfect. You can hand tighten both bolts snug and then tighten with the torque wrench. FWIW I have two different torque wrenches I've used to make sure there is not a problem with the amount of torque applied. I have in the past bought packets of washers from a Toyota online parts dealer and really haven't had an issue. I went to my local dealer and bought a few washers for the most recent change to see if I would get a different result....same problem. Within a week both drain plugs have loosened to where you need to tighten the bolts another 1/4 turn or more. Thankfully neither drain plug has completely come out. Generally they seem to about one to two turns to being hand tight.

Question...has any one experienced this problem using TOYOTA drain plug gaskets? For reference here is a picture of the gasket and the Toyota p/n.

P/N 90430-12031
View attachment 285725
Click to expand...
Yes. On my Highlander and my Scion. I happen to go down there after a week and re-snug it and I cannot believe how loose gets..
 
Highboy said:
Yes. On my Highlander and my Scion. I happen to go down there after a week and re-snug it and I cannot believe how loose gets..
Click to expand...
🤯

what in the world are you guys doing? I am so confused here, after 500 to 14k OCI (most I have ever stretched an oil change) I have never ever seen a loose oil drain plug or hand tight, I always need to use a long (breaker bar length) ratchet to loosen them when doing an oil change.

I did my first 25 oil changes using arm strength to tighten them, and my last 400+ oil changes using my Snap-On 3/8" torque wrench to original Toyota specifications, and I have never ever changed a drain plug gasket, I just use the correct one, once (if it didn't come with the vehicle which is more common now then before).

Toyota Torque specifications:
Toyota 1ZZ-FE is 27 Ft*lbs.
Toyota 2GR-FE is 29 Ft*lbs.

which Toyota vehicle is 18 ft*lbs.?
 
Maintaining my wifes previous '18 2.5l camry, the gasket would always stick and it would be a nightmare to get off. Best practice is to lube the new gasket on both sides before installation. Then when replacing, you kind of need to pop it off with a flat head or something. You don't need to use a torque wrench, just do it by hand and slowly until you feel it crush. After all they are aluminum. I think the ones I bought on ebay were not OEM but looked equivalent blue. It shouldn't leak or come loose. It might not be a bad idea to replace the plug for peace of mind.
 
I've never, ever, used a torque wrench on a drain plug. Motorcycle, car, lawn mower, never.

People with no mechanical aptitude think they are doing "the right thing" when using a torque wrench for everything. Problem is, sometimes these people pick up on the wrong spec, the threads are lubed when they shouldn't be, or the threads in the equipment have deteriorated. Before you know it, stripped threads, or something tight or loose.

Drain plugs are easy: tighten until bolt contact, then tighten a little more, while you "feel" the washer crush down just a little. Done.

Of course, some people have hands like spatulas, basically, no feel. If you are like this, find a good mechanic, and don't F*** anything up.
 
Almost all of the blue washers I've used on toyotas stick to the pan and the drain bolt loosens itself over time. I finally switched to another washer type rubber/aluminum.

Dorman AutoGrade Oil Drain Plug Gasket - 095-156CD​

Never had an issue again.
 
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