Oil Change Plug Gasket

[David Beale]

I don't know what washer you guys are getting. The ones the dealer sold me were not "crush washers", they are phenolic washers, and don't "crush". The parts guy gave them to me free after he had already totaled my oil filter order ("too expensive to create another bill"). You only need to have a replacement if you break or loose the original. I keep one spare in the car "just in case". I used the original on the anti-Prius for seven years (14 oil changes) with no problems. When I changed Pearl's oil a few months ago I reused the original washer. It doesn't leak.

"Crush washers" can be hollow metal, such as you get on spark plugs, solid aluminum (soft), or solid copper (soft). The two solid types tend to work harden, but if you want you can reuse/recycle them when they get too hard. First soften them by heating them up with a torch and quenching them in water. Personally, I've never had them leak when they get hard even, so have never bothered to "anneal" them.

[jayman]

Whether I buy filters for my Prius or my FJ, the dealership throws in the drain plug washer. I have a couple of old ones around just in case

[ServoScanMan]

I guess this would be another advantage to the quick drain valve. You don't have to worry about the washers.

[dvancleve]

I just changed my Prius oil yesterday using filter and washer from the dealer, so I can speak on this with authority. The Toyota washer is aluminum and is blue on both surfaces. It does indeed distort a bit after one use, but I'm sure it could be used twice by flipping it over. That said, why? It is $1.50 from my dealer, but that really doesn't amount to much in a year...

Doug

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Nov 14 2007, 11:40 AM) [snapback]539470[/snapback]</div>

I don't know what washer you guys are getting. The ones the dealer sold me were not "crush washers", they are phenolic washers, and don't "crush". The parts guy gave them to me free after he had already totaled my oil filter order ("too expensive to create another bill"). You only need to have a replacement if you break or loose the original. I keep one spare in the car "just in case". I used the original on the anti-Prius for seven years (14 oil changes) with no problems. When I changed Pearl's oil a few months ago I reused the original washer. It doesn't leak.

"Crush washers" can be hollow metal, such as you get on spark plugs, solid aluminum (soft), or solid copper (soft). The two solid types tend to work harden, but if you want you can reuse/recycle them when they get too hard. First soften them by heating them up with a torch and quenching them in water. Personally, I've never had them leak when they get hard even, so have never bothered to "anneal" them.
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