Drain plug gasket (crush washer) question

invader

invader

Joined
Oct 15, 2009
Messages
28
Location
Acworth, GA
Bike
VTX1800, ST1300
Is copper OK to use as the crush washer material, or does it have to be aluminum?

I know it's an M14, but only the copper ones are available at any sort of reasonable price, and locally.
 
I ordered a few aluminium ones with a recent parts order,I seen the copper ones for use with the magnetic drain plug.
 
It's a crush washer. Is this gonna be like another oil thread?

I've heard many similar questions:
Do I have to use OEM (oil, spark plugs, air filter, oil filter, etc) to maintain my warranty?
The manual calls for Dot 4. Can I use Dot 3 or Dot 5.1 brake fluid?
The BMW sport grips aren't Honda, can I still use them?

I buy metric bolts at True Value, oil and filters at Walmart, and... I've never changed out the OEM crush washer. No leaks after accumulating 500,000 ST miles.
 
George said:
It's a crush washer. Is this gonna be like another oil thread
Click to expand...

LOl, it could be vital George, I remember always getting a new crush washer every time I changed the oil and filter on an old Izuzu Diesel I had,it came with the filter so I always changed it every 4000 miles.
 
broc11 said:
LOl, it could be vital George, I remember always getting a new crush washer every time I changed the oil and filter on an old Izuzu Diesel I had,it came with the filter so I always changed it every 4000 miles.
Click to expand...

I would maybe change it out if a fresh one came with the oil filter. And, I don't change my oil even at 8000 (suggested by Honda) mile intervals. :D
 
George said:
I don't change my oil even at 8000 (suggested by Honda) mile intervals
Click to expand...

Jes that's a lot of miles between changes,I always to the bikes at 4000, and my jeep at 7500kms even though the service book says 15000kms as far as I can remember,I think its the life of the engine,it always seems to drive better with fresh oil.I always replace the filter too every time.
 
DeanR said:
So do folks use copper washers or not?
Click to expand...

I'm with George, I'm still using the one that came from the factory 16 years ago. In fact I'd have to double check if I'm still using it at all, it may have fallen in the drain pan 10 years ago and I forgot to put it back on. After 19 oil changes any 'crush' abilities that it ever had are long since used up, so its pretty much just a 'washer' now.

Knock yourselves out, I'm curious to see how this thread progresses :popcorn:
 
I've hi-jacked this one enuff. :D

I would use a copper crush washer in place of the OEM aluminum with no hesitation.
 
invader- no problem using copper or aluminum, or just reusing what you've got. Just make sure the washer isn't thicker than stock ... if it is too thick (and is warped), it may be stronger than the aluminum threads in the pan OR it may allow the drain plug to loosen when warm.

There's lots of debate on the topic ...
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=551919
http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=10909.0;wap2
http://www.hondasuv.com/members/archive/index.php/t-17359.html
http://forum.miata.net/vb/archive/index.php/t-340903.html
 
When I bought a couple of the aluminum washers at the local Honda dealer, the guy at the sales counter looked at them and said, "What'd you do, lose the old one?" You should've seen the look on his face when I told him I change them with every oil change as recommended. :confused:
 
I've used the same crush washer on my new 82 Honda up until I sold it in 2009. Didn't know that it was supposed to be I changed often. Still using the one that came from factory on my 2005 ST.
Stick with the one you got unless it looks like a dog has been chewing on it.:D
 
I'd reuse the aluminum washer before going to a copper one. Besides potential dissimilar metal issues, aluminum is also softer.
 
There are inch equivalents for all metric washers and vice-versa. :D-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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