Found a crush washer......oops

Just got done swapping my oil and differential gear oil to synthetic yesterday. Just as I was cleaning up I found a crush washer in the drain on my oil container. I think it is from my rear axle drain. No leaks at all. Is that just to keep the bolt in or is the washer also intended to keep the seal?

 

Never heard of a crush washer on a drail plug.

Was it copper? Copper crush washers are used on brake lines.

 

Same thing happened to me when i did my oil yesterday. I keep checking and their are no leaks. Do you guys think it is necessary to put it back on?

 

I don't remember my 96 having a copper one... I've seen these on brake lines but not on drain plugs. Weird.....

 

mine has one on the oil pan drain plug - factory toyota filters have a new one in the bottom of the box. I reuse the old ones and never have leaks. They are made of some kind of black flexible material so they can stick to the pan at first then fall off in the draining stream of oil without you noticing.
If your not leaking, dont worry about it and put one back on at next change

 

Interresting, I've never seen one of those in the box....is this in the newer model truck filters?

 

I have 2 other cars that every filter I have ever purchased for those cars came with a new one. Alternatively heat it on stove til it gets hot, then let it cool slowly and reuse - not the best alternative but it works - makes the copper soft.

 

The oil pan, not differential, on my 02 has one, and I have found it in the oil drain pan before. I went through that oil change without it because it never leaked a drop. The next change I put a new one on. If there is no leak, I wouldn't worry about it.

My Subaru outback on the other hand, will drip through the whole oil cycle if you leave the crush washer off.