How often do you replace oil pan drain bolt & washer?
How often do you replace oil pan drain bolt & washer?
11-05-2005, 01:54 PM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A little off what your talking about, but the bolt on my front diff gear oil drain plug is stripped and is not coming off anytime soon. I asked a mechanic what to do and he said "screw it" becuase his truck with over 200k miles has never had the diff oil changed. He said just keep it topped off. O well for now I guess. But if you see the bolt head getting worn down at all, I would reccomend replacing it so you dont end up in my situation. 
11-05-2005, 03:38 PM
#6
Contributing Member
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: The rolling hills of Cavan, Ontario
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by MellamoPOUND
A little off what your talking about, but the bolt on my front diff gear oil drain plug is stripped and is not coming off anytime soon. I asked a mechanic what to do and he said "screw it" becuase his truck with over 200k miles has never had the diff oil changed. He said just keep it topped off. O well for now I guess. But if you see the bolt head getting worn down at all, I would reccomend replacing it so you dont end up in my situation.
How about tack welding a nut onto the stripped nut, remove it and then replace it with a new one?
as to the original post...I've never changed the plug, and I change the washer each time. I do about 12 oil changes a year and use the package of ten washers in the year.
11-05-2005, 03:45 PM
#7
Contributing Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by MellamoPOUND
A little off what your talking about, but the bolt on my front diff gear oil drain plug is stripped and is not coming off anytime soon. I asked a mechanic what to do and he said "screw it" becuase his truck with over 200k miles has never had the diff oil changed. He said just keep it topped off. O well for now I guess. But if you see the bolt head getting worn down at all, I would reccomend replacing it so you dont end up in my situation.
I never have changed the drain plug gasket, but if it starts to leak, then it'll get replaced, aluminum washer will last a very long time.
Trending Topics
11-05-2005, 04:04 PM
#8
Registered User
Join Date: May 2004
Location: 100 miles offshore as much as possible, & Springfield Oregon USA
Posts: 3,291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
20+ plus vehicles spanning 30+ years. Never replaced a drain plug except one that I lost...
Never replaced a washer either, never had one leak.
Never replaced a washer either, never had one leak.
11-05-2005, 09:23 PM
#10
Contributing Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Taco's oil plug gasket has been reused since I got it. It is the plastic kind, so it will continue to mold each time you tighten the bolt.
Aluminum washers I personally feel aren't as great to reused because once they are crushed, they maintain that shape for the most part. Sure it won't leak if everything is in good condition, but if you have uneven surfaced (e.g. bent drain pan where the bolt goes in) then I wouldn't reuse an aluminum one. I would however, reuse a plastic one.
Since I get all the crush gaskets I want for free, I usually change them all the time on my family's cars that never had a plastic gasket.
Aluminum washers I personally feel aren't as great to reused because once they are crushed, they maintain that shape for the most part. Sure it won't leak if everything is in good condition, but if you have uneven surfaced (e.g. bent drain pan where the bolt goes in) then I wouldn't reuse an aluminum one. I would however, reuse a plastic one.
Since I get all the crush gaskets I want for free, I usually change them all the time on my family's cars that never had a plastic gasket.
11-05-2005, 09:24 PM
#11
Contributing Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Colorado
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by MellamoPOUND
A little off what your talking about, but the bolt on my front diff gear oil drain plug is stripped and is not coming off anytime soon. I asked a mechanic what to do and he said "screw it" becuase his truck with over 200k miles has never had the diff oil changed. He said just keep it topped off. O well for now I guess. But if you see the bolt head getting worn down at all, I would reccomend replacing it so you dont end up in my situation.
11-05-2005, 09:30 PM
#12
Registered User
Originally Posted by Flamedx4
20+ plus vehicles spanning 30+ years. Never replaced a drain plug except one that I lost...
Never replaced a washer either, never had one leak.
Never replaced a washer either, never had one leak.
me either. and losing them sux.some that ive worked on never had a washer to begin with.
11-07-2005, 05:58 AM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Far western Kentucky (transplanted from central PA)
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've been doing my own oil changes since I had my own cars (8 at last count) and, after over 950,000 vehicle miles and oil changes every 3-3.5k miles (that's over 300 oil changes), I remember changing the drain plug washer MAYBE 2 or 3 times. I replaced the drain plug on one vehicle once after I had stripped the head (frickin' dealership must have used an impact wrench to put the dang thing on!!!)
11-07-2005, 06:10 AM
#14
Contributing Member
My 93 truck came from the factory with a steel washer under the drain bolt and it is 12 years old and doing fine.
My BMW came with a copper washer and it gets changed everytime, in fact every BMW oil filter includes a new one.
My BMW came with a copper washer and it gets changed everytime, in fact every BMW oil filter includes a new one.
11-07-2005, 06:55 AM
#16
Contributing Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Used to never change the washer, then had one leak on me. I've been using new ones after every oil change. We're talking about a real cheap part here, so to me its just added insurance.
11-07-2005, 08:57 AM
#18
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Corkyville, USA
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some internet dealers will give you free oil pan gaskets with the purchase of a case; you just need to ask before you buy.
These free paper/cardboard type gaskets should last you several changes. The part numbers for these gaskets are 90430-12028.
These free paper/cardboard type gaskets should last you several changes. The part numbers for these gaskets are 90430-12028.
11-07-2005, 04:48 PM
#19
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Medina, Ohio
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't remove the plug or replace the washer...I got a Fumoto Valve!
They work awesome!
Check it out..... http://www.fumotovalve.com/
They work awesome!
Check it out..... http://www.fumotovalve.com/
Last edited by ohio4runner4x4; 11-07-2005 at 04:50 PM.
11-07-2005, 05:35 PM
#20
Banned
Never replaced either.
Everytime i stick my hand into a pan full of hot dirty oil to get the ones I drop I say I will "next" time.
You washer changers are weirdos. If it aint broke don't fix it.
Everytime i stick my hand into a pan full of hot dirty oil to get the ones I drop I say I will "next" time.
You washer changers are weirdos. If it aint broke don't fix it.
