Oil drain washers - I'm curious

And what qualifications do you have to assert that?

 

LOL, when it starts leaking I'll replace it, otherwise I'm not too worried about it.

Now if it were a customer vehicle I'd go ahead and replace it every time, but on my personal... nah. I'm under the thing often enough I know what's going on.

 

being around Those 2 industries will definitely guide a person to understand good preventative maintenance practices. Every 60 HRs we are changing oil, filters, drain plug seals, spark plugs and air filters. pulling the heads and cleaning them every 360 Hrs. and replacing the engine after 1080 Hrs. To put that into perspective if you average 60 MPH that equates to replacing your engine after 64,800 miles.

Im in no way saying we should be going to that extent but for chump change seal rings that you have to remove any ways its definitely worth the pennies to replace to have the peace of mind IMO.

 

The washers cost pennies, I replace them at each oil change, do what you want to do with your own rig as you will.

 

+1

The Kawasaki pan is so freaking soft that you could strip the pan with a 1/4" drive nutdriver. After nervously changing the oil "properly" three times and ending up having to put teflon tape on the plug, I moved to draining the oil at the side of the pan through the pickup screen access.
Double-positive... it drains about 4oz more, and the screen needs to be inspected regularly anyways.
17mm hex fitting, but the cap itself is about 2" diameter and o-ring sealed.

 

Stupid comments deserve stupid analogy's.

I know a guy who has run 30k on a Toyota engine (Mobil-1) without an oil change then sent it to Blackstone. Oil was OK, so once again why waste money?

It's a rhetorical question and I know the answer, it's called common sense which you choose not to use regarding crush washers. You agree that oil is important to your engine yet slack off on the one main component that could cause you to loose an engine?

Just because you're not leaking yet doesn't mean you won't strip out the threads or it won't rattle loose one day. As we all know Toyota bean counters would not install parts that are not needed in the long run. Over 60 oil changes (300k projected life of engine) you sure as hell have a better chance of having oil leak or the threads getting stripped without using it.

How's this one?

I have yet to get hit by lightning but I also don't dance around in storms with a steel pole in my hands.

 

If it leaks....I will change it. I have a Fumoto drain valve and it never comes off the oil pan and hasn't leaked yet in several years.

 

I don't see any logical reason not to change it, I get them for free and you have to take the plug out anyway to drain the oil.. How much of an Inconvience is it to slip a washer on the bolt before screwing it in... Makes no sense to me not to change it but to each their own.

 

Thanks for the kudos but ... Surface Warfare ... SUBLANT & prototypes ... tenders & shore ... but spot on with changing out simple essential software ... ps, the only hot racking I do is with my wife ...

 

Never worried about this with any trucks I have had, and I have reused them many times in the past, including with this truck, but since I got one for each Toyota factory filter I bought recently, I just change them out just because. Also, I feel better since my oil change intervals are 5000k with syn oil now. But I save the old ones that still look good?

 

Great 35 cent debate. Next topic. Do you add more oil to the factory oil filter seal? Do you use a Dab of dirty oil?

 

Iv never changed one, probably never will either.

 

I was a diesel mechanic in the US Coast Guard for 22 years. I was taught and learned from experience that crush washers, gaskets & nylon lock nuts are not reusable.
The Toyota web site has do it your self instructions in the For Owners section. Step 5 of the oil & filter change PDF states "reinstall the oil drain plug washer - use a NEW WASHER of the same size & type". 6 "Replace the oil drain plug & tighten securely but do not over tighten".
The posts by other members that change their own oil and are bragging about not installing a new oil drain plug gasket illustrates my other points.

 

My 2010 came with a felt paper oil plug gasket from the dealer who was doing the free included up to 25k miles oil changes. Ive never seen a paper oil plug gasket before. Definitely not reusable as it came apart when I removed the plug to drain oil. I got a plastic one from auto parts store. They have no listing for a metal crush washer for the taco. Any thoughts?

 

Ta-da! And thanks for you service from this Old Salt.

 

Toyota will say you need to replace it because they want to make money to sell them.

It depends on the situation/application. A Crush washer is designed to 'crush' to seal (and at a certain torque). Once they are crushed - their sealing properties are no longer usable and can't be used again. Crush washers are used in brake systems where high amounts of hydraulic forces are used. By reusing a crush washer in a brake system could cause a serious brake malfunction and at most - be life threatening.

A drain plug gasket......just prevents leaks. If you develop a leak....It's not life threatening. Hopefully, if you're on this forum, you're smart enough to notice the leak and check your oil and/or topoff the oil as needed until you can replace the defective seal.

Just sayin.....

 

That's not always true, I get them for free there not making money off of me...

 

Ta-da! And thanks for you service from this Old Salt.

 

LOL Jandy you could do the job correctly the first time and not have any leaks. I don't have a 2.7L drain plug washer/gasket to look at but I have some for my Celica. Those washers look like impregnated paper over a soft metal that crush when tightened. The drain plug washer crushes to prevent leaks AND protect the oil pan threads from over tightening.
Why are so many members against installing a new drain plug washer every oil change? Is it the cost? $1.13 each, come on.

 

Jimmy, it was a honor to serve and thank you for your service too!