Question on crush washers- using metal ones vs rubber washers ones
I’m swapping fluids on the car (Fusion and Impreza) ie oil, differential oil, transmission fluid.
When replacing the washers on these drain and fill plugs. Do you guys always replace the washer and do you match the old material (ie rubber, metal etc etc)
The reason I ask is I plan to just buy one of those 150 piece sets of the copper ones but wanted to know if it would cause issues doing that. Thoughts?
Thanks all!
I just go to the dealer and buy a few.
Not expensive, and I know they will work right.
Motor oil washers I use twice because I’m moderate with the torque.
Crush washers are always replaced. That’s because once they’re crushed its’ hard to get them to reseal if they’re reused.
I try to replace a crush washers with same material as the original.
Tester
Thanks both of you. That gives me the clarity I needed
On the Subaru differential it is just rubber washers… assuming these aren’t really “crushed” per say like metal so is it really that bad to reuse. Just curious.
As long as they are still flexible, reuse should be acceptable. If you don’t check very often (several years), replacement is a good idea. That resets the clock on age related hardening of the rubber.
In aviation applications, (after spark plugs are cleaned and re-gapped for example), it’s not acceptable to re-use the copper crush gaskets on the spark plugs. There is a process called annealing, where you take a torch to them, but at 30 cents apiece, I just replace with new.
Why would you want 150 when it would take a thousand years to use them .
not sure about 150, but with all cars I maintain for my family the set of 30 I bought from eBay is almost gone after a couple of years
On my Acura (Honda product) I buy half a dozen or so washers at a time for about 50 cents each from the dealer and always replace them. So $25 for the synthetic, $5 for the Honda filter, and 50 cents for the washer. When I did my own trans fluid change I bought the crush washers for both the drain and fill plugs from the dealer. My Pontiac uses a metal and rubber washer which is integral to the drain plug. I don’t replace the washer but from time to time pop for a new drain plug from the dealer for $8. Do what you want but I have no idea why you’d want to buy a whole pile of washers. I change mine at 5000 miles so even at 100,000 miles, it’s only 20 washers or $10 worth.
Yeah it’s 10 bucks on amazon for a variety set of all sizes for copper crush washers. My thoughts were to cover my car, wife’s car, (new cars whenever that is) and family/friends. Basically just have them around for when we do work on any vehicle.
But since people seem to recommend matching the original material doesn’t seem to make much sense.
it’s a variety pack for 9 bucks. Figured couldn’t hurt having various sizes in a container in the garage for both our cars, friends etc. whoever’s car we work on. And that way I always have them vs trying to track one down. Last time had to go to 2 auto parts store
Here is the fallacy of doing work on other peoples cars, friends, relatives, former friends, etc. The minute something goes wrong that may or may not be your fault, guess who will get blamed? Might be just coincidence that the head gasket or hose or water pump or fan belt or clutch etc. goes, and they might not even say anything about it. But they’ll be thinking ole Jimmy boy changed my oil and then I had this problem. Read some of the posts here from real mechanics that have been stung like @ok4450 Who needs to have a former friend come knocking in the door at 10:00 to fix something you never touched? Just sayin’ is all, like having a barbecue and giving everyone food poisoning.
Aren’t you afraid the same thing can happen here if you give someone bad car advice?
Tester
Im more worried now about all the times I bbq/smoke meat for my friends and the chance I might give them food poisoning…
I knew there was a reason to come here some more because of all the nice comments from people who have never once been wrong.
I used to listen to a local radio program called “Ask the Lawyers”. Every question that was called in though was answered by the lawyer advising to have a lawyer take a look. So the question was, why have the program in the first place? Just go directly to the lawyer and by-pass the radio program.
I hope this place doesn’t get the same reputation where all anyone will say will be go see a mechanic or only listen to people here that have dirty finger nails. You get a variety of comments from people with varied experiences and at no charge. Engineers, teachers, pilots, lawyers, and even a mechanic or two. Sheesh.
With the questions you ask I suggest you acquire more skills before you work on someone’s else vehicle .
just remember the rule ( No good deed goes unpunished ).
Totally agree, wasn’t planning on it. (Worded the statement above poorly) Again it was just to have it around the garage for when people come work on their car while we bbq and enjoy some beverages. Ie buddy did his wife’s brakes at my place. I hung w/ him but didn’t touch a single part of the car. I was just thinking it was a plus of having the convenience of a supply of various sizes of crush washers for 9 dollars.
Definitely appreciate everyone’s input but trust me- I’m no mechanic and don’t want that liability on me. But I am always down to eat, drink and learn while someone else does their stuff.
Thanks all!
I would not buy the “assortment”. With my luck, there are only few of the size I need, in fact the size I need will be least amount in the collection so I get stuck with a bunch of washers/o-rings etc that I will never use.
It is far cheaper to buy the size you need, even from a dealer. When I get Subaru oil filters, they come with a washer.
With answers you provide, I suggest you acquire more people/automotive skills before you offer advice!
Tester