Wasted a gallon of PYB. Learned a lesson.

[filb14]

Last night I learned a valuable lesson. Never be too cheap.

So last week I did my regular OCI for my car. I filled it with Pennzoil Conventional 5w20. Started it, no leaks. For days later, I would see drops of oil in the garage before I park in. I would clean it up, then park the car again. Next morning, no new drops. I would start the car again, leave. When I come back, I will see drops of oil again. So it appears that it start to leak/drip when I warm-up the car. The cause, a bad crush washer. I'm guessing the oil gets thin enough when warmed to pass thru the crush washer. The plug is torqued properly, so I didn't want to tighten it more.

I tried to replace the washer and not wasting as much oil as possible, by holding it with my finger/thumb... while one hand trying to remove & replace the washer off the bolt. That's when disaster struck. Phone rang. It's my boss. He doesn't call at 8pm unless there is an emergency at work. So I had no choice but let the days old Pennzoil conventional go drain. Yes, I know I could have put back the bolt in, but I didn't think about it at the time.

I guess after 3-4 years, it's about time to replace the washer. The worst part is, I always keep 3-4 spares of the washer. So it's not that I don't have any choice but re-use... I just got used to that it's fine to re-use, and never leaks. Plus the attitude of "why replace it, it's still working".

So there, I wasted a gallon of perfectly good Pennzoil conventional... by trying to save few cents worth of washer. sigh.

 

[Rand]

It depends on the crush washer, the solid type can usually be reused a few times.

the crushing kind (like subaru) that actually crush down are not reusable.

 

[mcrn]

Couldn't call him back? Was someones life in danger?

 

[filb14]

Originally Posted By: Rand
It depends on the crush washer, the solid type can usually be reused a few times.

the crushing kind (like subaru) that actually crush down are not reusable.



It's aluminum. That's why I was confident in reusing it. But I guess it's just time to fail and be replaced.

 

[filb14]

Originally Posted By: mcrn
Couldn't call him back? Was someones life in danger?


When you're on call, and you don't pickup.. it doesn't bode well to the boss. especially when system goes down and the company is losing hundreds of thousand of dollars every hour.

 

[demarpaint]

It happens, chalk it up to the cost of higher education.

 

[Doog]

You could have drained it in a clean container and simply poured it back in. That said, I always use a new washer. It's part of the oil change.

 

[filb14]

Originally Posted By: Doog
You could have drained it in a clean container and simply poured it back in. That said, I always use a new washer. It's part of the oil change.


Yeah. hindsight is 20/20. I wasn't planning on draining it completely. I was perfectly fine with the thumb and one hand approach.. Plus my pan is the big enclosed type at walmart. It has different liquids inside (mower, snow blower-oil, engine oil, transmission fluid, etc).

 

[dernp]

I had same problem last year however my Tundra takes 8 qts. The washer was dripping and it had to be replaced. I did not want to lose 8 qts Synpower. So I waited for a cool morning. Had my wife put the new washer on while I kept my thumb over the drain. I saved all the oil except for a couple ounces. Now I have a supply of washers. Doh!!

 

[Gokhan]

Drain-plug gaskets are not reusable. They are meant to be replaced every time. People reuse them against the advice from OEMs.

I would worry more about the damage done on the environment by a gallon of Pennzoil Conventional and the cleanup job than the money wasted.

 

[Yah-Tah-Hey]

The 12mm aluminum washers for my Camry are getting harder to find in the parts houses. AA stopped carrying the Dorman line and now does not carry the 12mm in aluminum. The Goldbond 12mm aluminum washers' OD is too small for my drain plug. I think I am going to have to go to the dealer or find the Dorman product on the internet. No use even going to AZ. The help there isn't. Turning the washer around will usually give you a few more oil changes. I reused the one on my 96 Civic seven years before it would no longer seal.

 

[4wheeldog]

Fumoto drain valve. If it wasn't dripping before the drain, it won't be after. (I prefer the Fukushima variant.......Easier to see what you are doing, without a flashlight.)

 

[gfh77665]

To make you feel a little better, I will admit to worse. I was doing a routine change on my 2000 Silverado, 5.3. I put on a new filter and installed 6qt. NAPA Synthetic. Checked everything, cranked it up. About 30 sec. later oil spewed like crazy underneath.

After running and shutting it off, I realized the old filter gasket had stayed stuck on, resulting in a "double gasket" which DOES NOT WORK. lol.

Lost about 2-3 qts. oil on my beautiful clean concrete driveway, so, I just drained the rest and started over. 6 qts syn lost, big mess in the driveway, and to top it all off my wife was entertaining her friends, who just happened to walk out to leave just when the whole mess started.

 

[bubbatime]

I bought like 100 crush washers for my Acura on eBay or Amazon a few years ago for like $5. Never have to worry about crush washers again and have a lifetime supply of them.

 

[Gokhan]

Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
The 12mm aluminum washers for my Camry are getting harder to find in the parts houses. AA stopped carrying the Dorman line and now does not carry the 12mm in aluminum. The Goldbond 12mm aluminum washers' OD is too small for my drain plug. I think I am going to have to go to the dealer or find the Dorman product on the internet. No use even going to AZ. The help there isn't. Turning the washer around will usually give you a few more oil changes. I reused the one on my 96 Civic seven years before it would no longer seal.

They sell for $1.13 a piece at the dealer. Some dealers will even give you one for free if you buy an oil filter. Just buy several of them or a standard pack of 10 and you will never have to worry about drain-plug gaskets.

 

[BISCUT]

Originally Posted By: gfh77665
To make you feel a little better, I will admit to worse. I was doing a routine change on my 2000 Silverado, 5.3. I put on a new filter and installed 6qt. NAPA Synthetic. Checked everything, cranked it up. About 30 sec. later oil spewed like crazy underneath.

After running and shutting it off, I realized the old filter gasket had stayed stuck on, resulting in a "double gasket" which DOES NOT WORK. lol.

Lost about 2-3 qts. oil on my beautiful clean concrete driveway, so, I just drained the rest and started over. 6 qts syn lost, big mess in the driveway, and to top it all off my wife was entertaining her friends, who just happened to walk out to leave just when the whole mess started.


I did the same bonehead thing many years ago....I felt like such a tool!

 

[gfh77665]

Yep. The ladies stood around in my yard, with an aghast look on their face, watching the show.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: filb14
Originally Posted By: mcrn
Couldn't call him back? Was someones life in danger?


When you're on call, and you don't pickup.. it doesn't bode well to the boss. especially when system goes down and the company is losing hundreds of thousand of dollars every hour.


Yabut...."sorry boss my hands were covered with motor oil, what's up?" is completely reasonable.

 

[filb14]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
Originally Posted By: filb14
Originally Posted By: mcrn
Couldn't call him back? Was someones life in danger?


When you're on call, and you don't pickup.. it doesn't bode well to the boss. especially when system goes down and the company is losing hundreds of thousand of dollars every hour.


Yabut...."sorry boss my hands were covered with motor oil, what's up?" is completely reasonable.


Completely agree. Again, hindsight is 20/20. Like putting the plug back in makes a lot of sense... But I didn't do it. The whole thing happened in seconds. Brain is trying to pick whether to complete the task or prioritize my job. I guess in the end, my brain picked, waste the $15 oil, and keep my job.

 

[Corvette Owner]

I hate crush washers, they make little sense to me, since "rubber" is the best sealer material.

I replaced the crush washer on my Murano with a silicone rubber washer. Works great. GM has been using rubber seals on their drain plugs for ever without any problems.