Leak around oil drain screw...thoughts?

I just bought a used 2007 Tacoma and while inspecting it before purchase I noticed a leak around the washer of the oil drain bolt. I got the private owner to decrease it by $100 and he signed that if the pan thread is f;d and needs replacing he is responsible for the costs. I just got a new oil plug with washer and hope that fixes it....any suggestions?

 

The washer is bad- put in the new one and it'll be fine.

 

The seller paid $100 for a $.20 item. Nice.

 

Yeah I changes the washer but kept the bolt the same. The old metal washer has some corrosion looks like. I'm hoping that solves it. Spent $2.99 for a bolt and washer....so hopefully I saved $97 with the trade off lol

 

Well the washer i got now is plastic...so i'll change that every so often....guess every 3 oil changes sounds right

 

I am constantly baffled as to how my 1998 Plymouth has its factory original oil pan bolt and integral seal, with zero leaks, but a 2009 Tacoma "needs" a new seal ever oil change or so.

Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure my '64 Plymouth oil pan bolt has its original seal too.

 

I also have a 1998 frontier and I have never had to replace the bolt/washer. Guess they don't make things like they use to lol

 

fwiw, I have never changed the crush washer on either of my vehicles. no problems thus far

 

Yeah it sounds like the washer is bad, just like others have mentioned above.
Just make sure not to tighten it too much using the new washer, you can use a torque wrench. 15-20 ft. pounds outta be good.

 

You don't even need that much, just hand tight is fine. The vacuum created by the engine will tighten it further...

Also, +1 for the crush washer leaking. I haven't changed mine yet at 30k... no issues. I've never changed them... but hey easy fix and a great way to save some bones.

 

What? Never heard of a vacuum by the engine tightening a screw before? What the hell are you talking about?

The reason why I suggested that he use a torque wrench is because people over tighten the bolt and crush the washer too much, and cause it to be harder to take off the bolt.

 

I've heard this several times on this board...questioned it...never answered.

There is no significant vacuum in the oil pan, aside from the tiny vacuum created by crankcase ventilation. And even if there was, it can't tighten a bolt.

 

lol...yeah. The oil pump will pick up oil but won't tighten up a bolt.
It seems like every tip I give to people, someone always has to have a remark on it. I can understand if I'm wrong on something, but damn.

 

I've got 245,000 miles on my echo with the same washer and no leaks. That's around 35 to 40 oil changes.

Marc M

 

They actually give you a new washer with every OEM filter.

I don't know if he was just hooking me up or what but I paid $1.00 for 5 washers last year (I don't use OEM filters).

 

Well dee_bo, did the new washer stop the leak?

 

OK, plastic washers are fine - you should change them every two oil changes, flipping the plastic washer over on the 2nd use of it. The suggested torque for oil pan #2 bolt is 30 ft/lbs.

If your oil pan #2 threads are fucked, then you need a new oil pan #2 (oil pan #1 is at the bottom of your engine, this is not what we're talking about though).

As Kyouto42 mentions above as a vacuum, it's not, it's oil pressure. The oil pressure force want's to push the bolt out, but obviously that wouldn't happen with a 20-30 ft/lbs torqued bolt.

Take care.

 

There are two oil pans?

 

Haha thanks man but you bumped my old post. I used a new plastic washer and no more oil leak...will need to replace it next oil change I think.

The bolt was pretty loose when I changed it a week ago...think a metal washer is probably the way to go

 

Why of course there is.

http://www.customtacos.com/tech/fil...6toyrm/06toypdf/06rmsrc/rm2006ta/01800310.pdf

Page LU-13


Oil pan #1 (or officially called the 'OIL PAN SUB-ASSEMBLY') is directly below your engine, it's connected to the engine block and timing cover.

Oil pan #2 (or officially called 'NO. 2 OIL PAN SUB-ASSEMBLY') is connected to the aforementioned oil pan #1. This is what everyone uses to change drain their oil.

No problem dee_bo - crush washers work well, but like the name, over time they get crushed too much, ha. Replace one/twice a year.

Take care.