A while back I saw a post that said when you do an oil change make sure you remember to replace the aluminum washer on the drain plug. I'm going to do my first oil change in the next few days.

How many of you replace that washer every time? Can I just re-use the old one? Do I have to pick up a special washer at the dealer?

 

I always replace mine. I pay like 99 cents for it at the foreign parts store where I get my filters.

 

It will leak if you reuse the old one

 

I replace it every time. I got mine at PartsHeaven, but I'm sure any Porsche parts specialist will have the right ones in stock.

My Volvo uses a copper washer; it can be reused after annealing over a gas stove to a cherry red. Anyone know if this can be done with aluminum?

 

Who says it leaks? I do replace it when I do oil changes at home (just buy your oil filters from Ian Riley at 944online.com, he always sends the washers along!), but occasionally I get caught away from home without one on a long trip, and I have never had it leak on me. I used one washer a total of four times (gasp!) on my '84 a few years back and it didn't leak on me either.

Swap it out if you have it handy, but I would certainly not use not having a crush washer handy as a reason to postpone an oil change!

Regards,

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by sh944:
<strong>Swap it out if you have it handy, but I would certainly not use not having a crush washer handy as a reason to postpone an oil change! Regards,</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Or an A/C compressor belt tensioner, eh, Scott? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

 

I haven't replaced mine in over a year. Four oil changes. Just make sure you put it on the same direction it came off.

It will leak eventually but I never remember to buy one.

 

I haven't changed it either and it hasn't leaked a drop... yet.

 

I've use the same washer 5 or 6 times with no problem. Like the man said make sure you install the same side to the motor every time. There are other things to obsess over...... timing belts, balance shaft belts, cam chains, cam chain tensioners - the list goes on

 

I've used the same washer for the past couple of times, never paid attention to the direction. It doesn't "leak," it "seeps." As in, no perceivable drop on the dipstick. Try and buy a couple when you get filters (I get sets of 4 from Paragon every once in a while), but I wouldn't sweat it.

Crap, now that you mention it. I think I forgot to put mine on entirely. Dammit, that was totally the noise I heard when pouring the old oil into containers. Dammit! Did I mention I dropped my wallet in the full pan? Not a good oil change.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Tremelune:
<strong>Dammit! Did I mention I dropped my wallet in the full pan? Not a good oil change.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Uh Oh...

 

I only use copper washers and replace EVERY time, anything with oil/belts/etc I do as habitually as possible, otherwise it's just too easy to forget(or forget that you forgot, eh Tremelune?) Honestly I don't think it's the biggest deal, but in my case if I'm not a fanatic about it, then who know what'll happen.