Would you use a narrow crush washer?

[y_p_w]

Yes - another crush washer post.....

I managed to find a metric M18 copper crush washer for my wife's Civic's ATF drain bolt. The Honda OEM is aluminum, but I figure there's no big deal using copper instead and it might come off easier next time. Still - this one is maybe 2mm wide while the OEM is about 3mm. I don't think it should leak if the bolt presses it down securely. It's also maybe 1mm thick, while the OEM aluminum is maybe 1.5mm thick. Still doesn't seem like an issue if tightened correctly.

Over the years I've seen some really narrow crush washers, some as narrow as a 1.5mm ring. I had a hard time finding M12 washers and got aluminum ones from a Honda dealer (they said it was for a brake line), (pverpriced) fiber ones from a Toyota dealer, and a couple of copper ones from an independent parts store (even got one free once because they didn't want to print an invoice for 50 cents). One copper one was odd too. It was less than 1 mm thick, was maybe 2.5mm wide from I.D. to O.D., and had a bevel on the inside edge on one side. It didn't leak though.

 

[berniedd]

I'd use it. But only once. I wouldn't trust it after the next oil change.

 

[KDonkey]

I have always replaced these washers on drain plugs and banjo bolts and have gotten in the habit of ordering some extra every time.

McMaster-Carr has some alu and copper washers but they seem to be a little different dimensionally than the ones I find on cars.

One parts seller I sometimes use has a wide selection of these washers. There are four different crush washers here with 18mm ID. See http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/SuperCat/2976/VOL_2976_MISCHW_pg2.htm

You might want "18x24x15AL-M131" this sounds close to your original.

 

[JHZR2]

Does the narrow one go the full width of the plug head underside?

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Does the narrow one go the full width of the plug head underside?

No. That's what I'm getting at.

 

[Win]

If the part doesn't come with a new crush washer, I heat the old one up and re use it.

Just re use the old one if you're worried about that new one, which will probably be OK.

 

[EricG]

Win is correct, copper can be annealed by heating and quenching. Its common pratice on aircraft spark plug washers, Or at least that what I was taught at A&P school.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: EricG
Win is correct, copper can be annealed by heating and quenching. Its common pratice on aircraft spark plug washers, Or at least that what I was taught at A&P school.

From my "Properties of Materials" class, annealing works best in an oxygen free environment. Annealing in the presence of oxygen will cause oxygen to diffuse into the metal and make it less ductile. Not saying it won't work to some degree, but I'm wondering how much it's worth to try that with a part that cost less than $1.

 

[Win]

Are you sending it into space, or using it on a Honda Civic?

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: Win
Are you sending it into space, or using it on a Honda Civic?



I think my wife would prefer to send her Civic into space. She wants something bigger, like an Odyssey or a Pilot. Even though we only have one kid.

Still - I've never intentionally reused a crush washer unless I had to. The first time I'd ever changed oil I didn't know about such things. I feel better using a new one each time. I paid a quarter for the Honda OEM ones, although the Subaru OEM cost more. For something like a transmission drain plug washer I've paid more. I got an ATF special twice that came with a washer each time, but I wouldn't pay $3 for it. $1 seemed pretty good.

Also - any issues using copper? I heard of issues with copper/aluminum cold welding over time, but I thought the plug and the transmission body are both steel. It's going to be there for a while. I might change it again in a year since the first change was at 65K miles. Besides that, doing something keeps my sanity. I just need to think I'm doing something good for our vehicles.

 

[gizzsdad]

Originally Posted By: Win
Are you sending it into space, or using it on a Honda Civic?


LOL! Exactly. My Nissan's use the copper crush washer, and I have re-used as many as 6-8 times with nary a leak or any other issue.

If I can find a cheap source for them (ebay), I replace every 2-3 times or so.