does your oil drain-plug GASKET come off with the plug or stick to the pan?

Mine comes off with the plug. I put Teflon tape on the drain plug every time and have never changed the washer in four years, or in seventeen years of owning my old T-100. Using Teflon tape, I've never had a problem.
I had a buddy that forgot to tighten his drain plug on a Ford Ranger years ago. It finally fell out and he lost all of his oil. Luckily, he's a pretty heads-up dude and realized the problem as soon as the engine started sounding different. He got a plug, refilled it and drove it for years after that without a problem.
Moral of the story, Teflon tape would have helped in that situation due to the added friction, or at least that's what I want to believe. I use Teflon tape on all of my drain and fill plugs, transfer case, diffs, etc. I've also never had a problem with a plug getting stuck either. I chalk that one up to my use of Teflon tape too.

 

Heard of that on T-case and diff plugs that dont get changed very often. Seems like a good idea. Not totally sure its needed on the oil pan which should be changed semi regularly, but Im sure it cant hurt!

 

Mine usually sticks. I replace it every oil change.

 

Fumoto drain valve?

 

Yep

 

My drain plug washer has been stuck on the oil pan and reused for 48 oil changes. Never leaks.

 

Sticks to the pan every time.

I’ve yet to replace it either. Just keep reusing it

That said, I’ve changed the oil every 5k miles for the 90k miles I’ve owned the truck.

It doesn’t leak and I have no intentions on replacing it either.

 

Duh, it sticks to the pan initially, then falls into the oil catch container. Isn't that how it's supposed to work?

 

The only way to go!

 

I like your idea of using the PVC pipe rather than a screwdriver to remove the gasket, as I'm always worried I might gouge the oil pan.

 

yup sticks almost every time. I probably have 3 or 4 old washers stuck on the top side of the skid plate, seems to end up there everytime i pop it off the pan.
Someone mentioned pvc pipe, thats a good idea. get one with the id slightly larger than the washer and tap it sideways and it will fall down the pipe.

 

Well over 90% of the time it's sticks to the pan. I use my fingernail and pop it off so that it comes off when I take the drain bolt out.

On a side note; I have taken it as a game in getting the bolt out with as little oil on my hand as possible. My best to date is just 2 fingers barely below the nails.

The things we do to entertain ourselves...

 

X2, my OCD cant handle that mess...

 

To the original poster, sounds like getting old, and not being able to actually see the oil drain hole has you asking the question.

As a suggestion, when the drain plug is removed, inspect it first for the sealing washer. If not there, once the oil stops draining, use your fingertip as your eye, and see if the drain plug area is smooth / flat, or you can feel the stuck sealing washer. Those methods should get you there.

If uncertain, when you dump the drain oil from the pan into the sealed container to take o recycling center, just check the bottom of the drain pan.

Just a thought and not attempting to be Mr Obvious.

 

Sometimes it sticks, sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve reused my gasket like five times.

 

No detail too small, its a good tip. I remember reading a similar thread where a guy was worried about the "flange" in the drain area, which turned out to be a stuck washer and put another gasket on top of the old. I also just reach up and feel for the lip, i cant get to it anymore.

 

Most of the time it sticks to the pan. I change the gasket every time. It really sucks to have a puddle of oil under the truck the morning after a oil change. Sucks even more to change the gasket once you realize it leaks.

 

You guys realize for $34 you can put a Fumoto valve on and never worry about this silly washer again, right?

 

Then how would silly threads like this ever get started?

 

I’m sure something will come up.