Posted on 9/11/2015
Oil Pan Drain Plug Washer: To Change or Not to Change, that is the question? When changing the oil in a car or truck, most always, you will pull the drain plug or bolt (unless you have installed a Fumoto Valve*). This allows the dirty oil to exit the oil pan into the recycling canister. As the oil is exchanged, we install a new filter and replace the oil drain plug. With that, there is a washer that goes between the bolt and the oil pan. The oil bolt gasket or washer is necessary because it creates a barrier that withstands the pressure and vibration that would alternately go onto the plug itself. The washer comes in many different materials: copper, rubber, metal, aluminum, nylon or a combination of these. There are even “crush gaskets” that are meant to mold to the bolt/pan connection. These are used to make it easier for mechanics to be able to hand tighten the bolt. The crush gasket becomes fitted to the bolt/pan connection so tight and conformed that there are less lik ... read more