'19 V6 - Oil Drain Plug Washer

So the dealer did a complimentary change about a year ago, and I just did it for MY first time yesterday. All went well, kinda messy, but easy enough. I do have a question concerning the drain plug crush washer. As best as I could tell, there was NOT a washer under the plug. There was what appeared to be a "molded" washer permanently fixed the the pan...under where the plug goes in...but it was fixed to the bottom of the pan, and not removeable. Now, I didn't spray it, clean it off, examine it with a flashlight, or try and pry it off...but I'm pretty sure it was molded/fixed/permanently attached. So I just put the plug back in, checked for leaks (none), and left it like that. What's up with this?

BTW...I completely skipped the drain the filter with the hose attachment thing. Seems dealing with the tablespoon of oil that comes out, the oily hose, etc. is more trouble than it's worth.

 

That was mostly likely the stock crush washer stuck to the pan. If it's not leaking, I wouldn't worry about it.


I usually always use the filter drain tool. But if it works for you that's cool too.

 

Another very odd thing...the filter was very difficult to unscrew. Like I had to torque the ratchet pretty good for about 5 or 6 complete turns of the filter before it loosened up. Never experienced anything like that. Hell, I thought it had a set screw in it or something!

 

Yeah the canister can be a pain some times. Make sure u don't over tighten it.

 

I’m sure you’re supposed to remove the drain plug gasket. It does get stuck on there good, I use a plastic scraper. Although, this last time I left it on, no leaks 4+ months.
I will be scraping it off next oil change.

 

Those drain plug gaskets are aluminum with a fiber material on each side. Should be one use only as they get squashed when tightened. I have had most of them get stuck to the pan and a few taps with a screwdriver or similar should win the battle.

 

You could just bypass all this nonsense and install yourself a Fumoto oil valve. Just saying...

 

On my fut oil change at 4500 miles I didn't change the gasket. It stuck to the pan like the OP said. I actually had some gaskets but couldn't find them. I went to the local Auto Zone to by one and they actually didn't have a part listing for that.

Mine is not leaking so I'm sure it's fine.

 

Yes, next oil change you'll find that gasket will pop off of there, screw driver, putty knife, someone mentioned plastic scraper, that's a good idea so as not to gouge the pan.
So here's something else, I ordered a bunch of gaskets from Amazon that apparently are knock offs possibly, the paper sticks to the pan and just irritating so beware...buy the genuine part. I never had this happen until using these cheap ones.

 

When I ordered my oil filters (Toyota OEM), the vendor (don't remember who it was), included some washers in a small bag. They were simple aluminum washers with no gasket material at all.

If you done any oil changes in your life, you know that people say "you suppose to change the washer and all rubber seals EVERY time you do a change". And while I do agree with that in principle...we all know that if you change that stuff every few times...it all works just fine. So next oil change, I will remove the stuck on washer/gasket, and replace it with one of the aluminum ones.

 

Place a small solo cup under the filter to catch oil from the can. Makes life easier.

 

I have reused them before, never took it off or anything just left it up there. Anyway I asked the parts guy about it and he said the techs always put a new one on, something mumbled if they break or something. I dont see that happening but, yeah they're cheap.

 

Over 50 vehicles here over my driving life.

On new or new-ish ones I've never replaced that gasket, never had a leak.

On the many high milers I've had, I always replaced the gasket the first change I did, just because. After that, never again, never a leak.

I take that back. I had a '67 El Camino 283 that weeped. But that was from every pore it had, so I didn't bother with the pan gasket on it either.

 

Pictured, in my hand left is genuine Toyota plug gasket, the one on right is the knock off garbage. I've never had a factory gasket come apart and stick to the pan like the other two photos.

 

I picked these up from from a Toyota dealer and they still stick to the pan. I've never had the paper material separate but always have to pry off the gasket with a scraper. Ive been shorting my OCI due to driving habits, I'd assume if I waited the full 10k miles essentially driving twice as long before an oil change the paper might seperate on removal.

 

I doubt you'll have any trouble with those gaskets pictured. I threw the last five cheap ones in the garbage because I had gotten a bag of the ones like you pictured. Yes the genuine parts although they stick to the pan, they have always popped off clean, unlike these others.
Another thing, not sure where I seen it but somewhere found that the thicker paper side of washer goes toward pan. ?? That's the way I've been putting them on. For quite a long time

 

The OEM blue fiber coated aluminum washers always stick to the pan for me. A dealer I occasionally buy filters from provides a black rubber coated aluminum washer free with the filter, it never sticks. Thinking the OEM changed for the better, I mentioned it next time I bought at that dealer. Parts guy said the shop switched to non-OEM washer for the exact reason of the OEM sticking.

 

Never paid attention to that, but I will next time!

 

Thanks! I'll ask next time I'm around a dealer. See if they carry them. I'd never had this problem with sticking in 20 years.