Why are some drain plug gaskets ribbed?

[paulri]

I have been looking for nylon drain plug gaskets for my vehicles, and I have seen a couple like the pic below, with ribs. What benefit does this provide?

 

[reemoeMO]

I would say just a gimmick. It may provide slightly more resistance to keep it in place should the drain plug become loose.

 

[Wingo]

For your cars pleasure.

Sorry, had to.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

You don't need to tighten the drain bolt as much and the ribbing helps seal where drain pan imperfection exist - as the vehicle ages. They also can be used more than once without an oil seep.

The best part man...... my vehicle is blue - my drain bolt is magnetic blue and now my drain pan washer is blue.
When my 2.4 GDI Theta II finally grenades, I'm calling me a blue tow truck.

 

[paulri]

OK, if I notice any leaking (I never do), I'll look at that as a stop-gap.

You don't need to tighten the drain bolt as much and the ribbing helps seal where drain pan imperfection exist - as the vehicle ages. They also can be used more than once without an oil seep.

The best part man...... my vehicle is blue - my drain bolt is magnetic blue and now my drain pan washer is blue.
When my 2.4 GDI Theta II finally grenades, I'm calling me a blue tow truck.

 

[Torrid]

For your cars pleasure.

Sorry, had to.

Is it bad that I thought this before I even clicked the thread? Refreshing to know I'm not the only warped individual around here.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I use these on a car with a non- smooth pan surface. The ribs form a higher deformation and help stop leakage against the pan surface. Try them out. They’re dirt cheap.

 

[paulri]

Just outta curiosity--would that be from hitting a rock in the road, or have you found some drain pans are like that out of the factory?

I'll keep these in mind if my current use of nylon/composite gaskets stops working for me.

I use these on a car with a non- smooth pan surface. The ribs form a higher deformation and help stop leakage against the pan surface. Try them out. They’re dirt cheap.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Just outta curiosity--would that be from hitting a rock in the road, or have you found some drain pans are like that out of the factory?

I'll keep these in mind if my current use of nylon/composite gaskets stops working for me.

No, it’s actually a drain pan on my 1973 Ford Maverick with a 302 V-8. The pan is pitted, and dented from the 100,000 miles it accumulated over the last 50 years. A normal steel washer would not seal it, but the ribbed plastic one did without trouble. By the way, the Mustang crowd really digs the Maverick at the local car shows.

 

[Dave9]

Ribbed could be made with a few dozen % less material, shaving $0.000000001 off the cost.

 

[SHOZ]

I bought a 5 pack of them years ago for my two Hyundais. Still on my first two.