When changing fluids such as oil, tranny, diff, etc..., when replacing the drain plug, do you need a washer for the plug? If yes, can you reuse the old one or should you get a new one. If you need a new one, can they be easily obtained?

 

Thanx,

Pete

Since I switched to a Fumota vave, I don't worry about it on the subie.

 

But, and my opinion differs from most on this board, I've never used a new washer on any of my cars for the oil pan, and I've never had a drop out of them.

For oil drain plug, I change out washer at 30/60/90K service. For AT, think it will get changed out at about 120K. I do this mostly as a preventive service (never had an old one leak, either), because the crush washers are about 87 cents each at my dealer. Have seen them cheaper on the internet, but wasn't ordering enough to justify shipping.

Use a copper washer. All you need to do is heat it with a propane torch (hanging from a thin wire so it can get uniformly hot) until it glows cherry red and drop it into water while still glowing. Unlike steel, this softens the copper and it'll work great for many oil changes.

 

Jack

Has anyone ever used a magnetic plug called superplug. www.superplug.com Its the strongest magnetic plug on the market. I have them on all my legacys, and man they sure work. Not cool knowing all that debris is floating around in your engine. Oh well, just my .02

Well, no it's not, but that's what the oil filter is for

 

I use new washers, copper or alumiunium rings.

Come on guys. Are you really worried about the cost of a new washer?

 

My mechanic tells me you probably don't need to, but it can't hurt!

New Washer - For me it's not the cost, but remembering to buy them. I should just stock them llike I do filters, but never seem to remember.

 

Magnetic plugs - I usually epoxy a small magnet on the drain plug, again, not because it's cheaper than buying a magnetic plug, but because I don't think about it until I have the hot plug in my hand. Having a magnetic plug is sort-of a good idea. It lets you know when you've trashed your engine because it catches ferrous metals and bearing are non-ferrous, so you won't find much on the plug, until the bearings are really shot. Having a magnetic plug in your tranny, on the other hand, is a great idea. I've been amazed at what kinds of swarf comes out on those plugs, yet the tranny seems fine and just keeps going.

 

Jack

go to the dealer, buy about 10 of them and throw them in the glove compartment. I do this with all my cars because I used to buy the things put them in the garage and never could find them when needed.

Has anyone ever used a magnetic plug called superplug. www.superplug.com Its the strongest magnetic plug on the market. I have them on all my legacys, and man they sure work. Not cool knowing all that debris is floating around in your engine. Oh well, just my .02

I've been using magnets on the oil filter for years. There are different styles. One that even goes inside.

 

My latest approach has been about 8 small Neodynium (sp?) magnets (about 1/2" dia by 1/8" thick) placed around the filter and held on by a worm gear clamp. Total cost is minimal, and much less than what they want for "purpose built" oil filter magnets.

 

It "does" work. I've cut open the filters. They trap particles that are too small for the filter. Putting the magnets on the filter is a particularly good spot because the oil is constantly circulating through it.

 

Commuter

When I bought my car used, it did not have a washer on the oil drain plug. I have never used a washer on it and there have been no leaks or ill effects since 2001, and probably 10 oil changes.

 

 

If I had known about the washer before, I probably would have used one, but since I never had one, well, I just kept on without it.

 

matt

I forget to buy this washers each time too, but I have use another trick - when you take plug out, clean it and put a little bit of silicone gasket maker round old washer, let it dry while you still draining the oil, then put it back. Worked for me many years with no leaks