Usually i throw away and use a metal one. My boy’s car had been leaking from drain bolt. i asked if he replaced the washer when he changed oil. He didn’t so i told him to replace it. He ended up buying a whole mew drain bolt with a plastic washer and used that. Didnt have a metal one on hand. Are these actually able to be used or should he get a metal one, its still leaking which is why i ask. Unless he’s not tightening enough which i doubt is the issue. Thanks people
Am I the only person who’s drain bolt seals with no seal washer at all? 07 Tacoma V6. Didn’t have a seal on it when I bought it and I have never put one on. Doesn’t leak a drop.
This post is an automated archive from a submission made on /r/MechanicAdvice, powered by Fediverser software running on alien.top. Responses to this submission will not be seen by the original author until they claim ownership of their alien.top account. Please consider reaching out to them let them know about this post and help them migrate to Lemmy.
Lemmy users: you are still very much encouraged to participate in the discussion. There are still many other subscribers on !mechanic_advice@gearhead.town that can benefit from your contribution and join in the conversation.
Reddit users: you can also join the fediverse right away by getting by visiting https://portal.alien.top. If you are looking for a Reddit alternative made for and by an independent community, check out Fediverser.
Those washers either metal or plastic/nylon are meant to be single use only ! That’s why you get one with a new plug
Yes. Now is it the best choice/option? Opinions will vary. My choice is the bonded seal gaskets.
THANKYOU EVERYONE
Make sure the mating surface is nice and flat and clean before installing the drain plug and make sure its tight.
Yes it’s a nylon washer, totally legit. I have one on my vehicle right now, it is not leaking. I’ve found they can actually be tougher than metal crush washers, require a little bit more force. When tightening I like to tighten, loosen, tighten, loosen, tighten, the drain bolt to really crush and seat that washer, same with brake crush washers.
I’ve always used copper. Works fine for me.
Make sure there’s not a washer already stuck to the oil pan. Double washers will cause a leak.
……I should check my trucks drain plug
It’s a nylon washer. Yes you are supposed to use it.
It’s a gasket. It stops oil from leaking past the drain plug bolt. If it’s leaking it may not have been tightened or they double stacked the gaskets. Worse case scenario the threads are fucked in the oil pan and it needs a Helicoil.
Time-sert.
Far more likely to be an old washer stuck on the pan that looks like it’s part of it.
Nylon doesn’t leak. I use OEM toyota washers on corollas and they’re essentially cardboard with rubber and they’ve never leaked in all my years
If its designed to be a crush washer, it’ll do. Its hard to F up.
Theres reusable rubber gaskets, fomoto valves, copper washers, nylon washers, more traditional metal washers.
All of em work and leaks are usually on the installer and not the material.
Cleaning is important, even if its just a brush with a paper towel, 1 washer is important, and torque specs are important if you’re unsure.
I had this issue, new crush washer didn’t help so I just used some of that Teflon tape on the threads. 5k miles and no leaks, time to do it all again
You should use whatever style and material the OEM washer was and replace it every oil change.