YACT: re-use metal washers on oil drain plug?

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: jcovercash
I have never replaced the seal rubber/metal/or copper on any vehicle I have owned when changing the oil. Never had any of them leak either...... Some people will spend money on anything because they are paranoid.....

I have not yet replaced one either. I've only done maybe 70 or 80, though.

I didn't even know they were supposed to be replaced until reading this thread. My dad taught me to change my oil, and I don't think he's ever replaced one of those washers in his life.

 

[thehstrybean]

I've never changed the washer on my Jeep...I'm gonna have to change the oil this week, so I want to get one of those valves...I've seen the Fram ones at AutoZone and thought about it, but now I'm gonna go for it...

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: RichUK
NO!

You?re supposed to change the washer on the sump bung every time you undo it as they?re a crush fit design.

They are only made to be used once as they?re designed to create a perfect seal as they get compressed when you tighten up the bung.

It?s also best practice to change the oil filter seal as it?s prone to damage when you tighten up the oil filter.

Don't oil filters come with gaskets anyway?

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: RichUK
NO!

You?re supposed to change the washer on the sump bung every time you undo it as they?re a crush fit design.

They are only made to be used once as they?re designed to create a perfect seal as they get compressed when you tighten up the bung.

It?s also best practice to change the oil filter seal as it?s prone to damage when you tighten up the oil filter.

Don't oil filters come with gaskets anyway?

Yes but some oil filters (BMW?s for example) only come with a paper oil filter and oil o-ring seal, not a whole unit replacement (external casing etc).

When I used to work for BMW I never bothered to change the rubber o-ring, only because it was hassle to remove it and I never thought it was overly required. Not until my mentor fully explained to me the reasons why it should be replaced did I start replacing the o-ring seals on the services.

Here's a pic

Here are some more pics

This is a pic of the most common whole unit oil filter.

 

[radioouman]

Originally posted by: jcovercash
I have never replaced the seal rubber/metal/or copper on any vehicle I have owned when changing the oil. Never had any of them leak either...... Some people will spend money on anything because they are paranoid.....

Same here. Except that I had one leak. Some joker had put a plastic and a metal one together on the drain plug, and it leaked.