So I just recently replaced my Tranny and Diff fluid...Just wondered in the future, Can i go buy washers in regular autoshops or i really have to use the OEM ones?

On that note I noticed that the Diff drain plug has copper washers, where as the rest of the tranny and even the diff fill had steel.

Can i substitute steel washers with copper in the future, does it even make a difference?

 

A crush washer is a crush washer is a crush washer as long as it's the same size and material.

You don't have to go to the dealer for it.

 

With that said. If you don't know exactly what you're looking for then your generic auto parts store might not work entirely too well.

They don't usually have parts categorized by size and material but by the vehicle said part is supposed to fit on. I spent about an hour at NAPA while the guy opened up every single box of washers he had before we found one that was pretty close.

 

Mazda dealers only carry what appears to be aluminum crush washers. I've purchase two sets (one set from one dealer) and another from another. All shiny silver. No copper ones any more. Copper and Aluminum do not mix (galvanic scale polar opposites = rust).

 

If you know the parts guys at the dealerships well enough, they sometimes just give one to you for free. They don't really care too much about crush washers.

 

Well I saved the old ones now...so i have a reference next time when i go to regular shops LOL...Its funny you said about copper...one of the plugs for the Differential has a copper washer...but its the OEM one ...so im wonder why that specific one is copper?

 

Is the diff housing aluminum or steel?

Aluminum will act as the sacrificial anode when paired with copper.

I don't know what steel will do.

Regardless, for the change interval of those fluids, I doubt galvanic corrosion will be a serious issue. Most of the washer is covered by the bolt or the housing. Galvanic corrosion won't happen without access to an oxidizer or salt bridge. The small amount of surface area exposed to either of those will probably not add significantly to the torque required to remove the bolt.

 

I never worried about a metal washer; just put it back like it was with firm grip on wrench.

Do people use torque wrench on fluid plugs?

What to do about the crush washer when checking spark plugs?

That's OCD.

 

Actually i reused all the washers at first...both tranny and diff...but after my test drive i noticed that the tranny drain plug was leaking...i know its the crush washer so i went to a regular shop but all they had was copper ones...i ended up going to the dealer for it...re did the whole dring and fill process...now everything fine!

I did reuse the washer's for the diff...seems to be fine...

 

If you have copper ones if you heat them up with a propane torch and let them cool off it softens them up again and you can re-use them


I've used the same ones on my tranny for years ad never had any leaks...but mostly because I was too lazy to go to the dealer to get new ones. I think they were about $1

 

Yes.