Drain Plug New Oil Seal

[Lord Popgun]

I think one of the benefits of a crush washer in addition to compressing slightly to provide a seal, is that it prevents any over tightening from stressing and stripping the threads of the drain hole. Once it "loses" it's ability to compress down it makes it more likely that a little extra torque now and then will eventually lead to stripped threads and an expensive fix.

That education was provided to me many moons ago courtesy of a service department that was replacing the oil pan on my car after my regular oil change shop, after a number of oil changes and a reused-overly crushed-crush washer, stripped the drain hole threads. And it never leaked - the threads just simply gave out as the drain plug was removed on the last oil change.

With all the debate about oils and filters, why risk the whole process over a .30 piece of aluminum?

Well, the good thing is that the oil filter boss can be had for $5.47. It isn't hard to remove and replace.