Crush Washers for Oil Changes
 

Where do you guys get these other than the dealership? My dealership charges $1.20 each, which seems kind of rediculous for a washer.

Any specific hardware stores you guys get them at? Also, what is the size (ID/OD)?

Thanks.

To respond to your specific question, I have not seen aluminum washers at a hardware or auto parts store, but that doesn't mean they don't have them. Try a local hardware and/or auto parts store.

Of course, you could waste a bunch of gasoline running around looking for them. You can also reuse the washers a few times before they will no longer seal completely. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if such washers cost the same or more at a hardware or parts store.

Edit: Approximate washer dimensions: OD=13/16"; ID=9/16".

Why do they use these anyway. I have never had a car that used them before, granted all of those cars were American. Is this just a Japanese thing, or do the Euro car makers do this as well.

exarkun, I would buy an extra one and then just check the hardware stores for one that matches it and buy a couple for later down the road if they are any cheaper.

that sux man, last time i bought oil filters they gave me a couple washers for free.

All the Japanese cars I have owned since the 70's have had the crush washers. The manufacturers refer to them as gaskets because they prevent leakage from the drain plug. Did your American cars leak oil at the drain plug?

No they sure didn't, which is why I always wondered about this. They all had a bolt and that was it.

Whoa- when I did this, all of my washers were 18mm ID- 9/16ths is more like 14-15mm. Are you sure about those sizes?

Buy several sets of washers and filters together from one of the online Mazda parts places (Trussville, Rosenthal). You'll have them on hand and avoid the hassle of running to the Parts department at the last minute. Or the even bigger hassle of searching for an aluminum washer with the correct inner and outer diameter and appropriate grade (malleability) of aluminum, just to save a few cents.

FWIW, I know I've seen generic crush washers at Pep Boys, in one of those "Help!" blister-packs.

Crush washers have a long history for sealing oilpan drainplugs. I know my old '67 VW bug used one -- it was fancy too -- soft copper wrapped around some type of cork or fiber.

My best advice is replace your drainplug with a Fumoto Valve. It makes oil changes easier and crush washer is no longer an issue. :D

Well, I measured the washers that came with the filters I bought from the Trussville. You're correct, the metric dimensions are about OD=20mm ID=14mm. Did your washers have a little slop in them? A little slop would not matter. The part number for the washer is 99564-1400, so a parts person could verify the size.

Now I suppose they could be the wrong size but I doubt it. I can't guarantee they will fit, however, short of taking the drain plug out and I'm not ready to do that right now. :hahano:

My car doesn't come with any washers on oil pan, tranny, diff.

they last forever, just re-use it over and over and over and over and ....

Anyone that's used washers from a hardware store?

Anyone else have any input?

I'm still using the orginals....I'm at 60K miles now. No leaking yet!

what he said...

So a whole years supply costs what, 5 bucks? :rolleyes:

Harbour Freight sells copper crush washer kits for like $5. You get tons of 'em, so that's an option if you have one nearby.

Thread resurrection:

Quick question, I ran to Pep Boys last minute tonight to get oil, a filter, and crush washers. The only washers they had were vinyl/rubber...I haven't seen it leak yet, but it's only been a few hours. Anyone ever have trouble, any experience with vinyl?

Yes, you can tighten too much and they will leak.

Like Team said use the orginal over and over and over and over and over phew I'm tired.....
and over and over and over don't you get it?

There's a reason why the crush washer is so hard to find to replace.... it never needs to be replaced.

No matter how many times people repeat this, it's still wrong. Crush washers have that name for a reason. Tightening the bolt causes the soft metal washer to "crush", which results in a good seal. It also acts as a torque indicator, as you can feel when the washer "gives".

Every time you re-use the washer, its ability to deform will be much less. Why risk leaks when new washers are so cheap?

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

why buy the washer at all when it doesnt leak after being reused over and over?



“Be studious in your profession, and you will be learned. Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy. Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy. At least you will, by such conduct, stand the be”

- Ben Franklin

We don't have a crush washer.

Just a plain one. boy... some people don't listen to Team.

You may not have a crush washer, Razz, but the rest of us do. In addition to providing a seal, the washer helps to avoid overtorquing which could strip out the oil pan. If you reuse it, the washer becomes hardened from repeated crushing and the weakest link in the drain setup becomes the threads in the oil pan rather than the aluminum crush washer.

Of course, this could all be a scam on Mazda's part to make millions selling each of us unneeded $1 crush washers several times a year. :rolleyes:

:lol: I know Honda and Toyota are part of that conspiracy too. You can get the oil drain crush washers from http://www.finishlineperformance.com/ for 89 cents each. Maybe there's a market for my one-time used crush washers :) .