Drain bolt washer substitute?

[fuzzy2bucks]

Can any car or mc drain bolt washer be used on Valk's as long as it fits close enough.  Really don't want to drive down to the dealer to get ripped.

[Serk]

I'm sure I'm being an idiot, and someone'll rip me for it, and not saying this is what you should do, but... My Valk hit 99,000 miles last night... I change the oil regularly, and the drain bolt washer she came with from the factory is still the one that's on there today...

[fuzzy2bucks]

That's what I did with my Honda CRV.   After about 12 oil changes I noticed that the bolt was loose as a goose.

Tx

[Thunderbolt]

They sell 14mm and 12mm versions.  I can't remember for sure which fits, but they are pretty cheap.  Just look near the oil change pieces and parts.

[big turkey]

Still using the same o-ring washer on my seventeen year old truck.

Same o-ring on my Harley.

Same one the valk came to me with.

I always re-use these but I also torque to spec on drain plugs.

This saves the threads.

Big AL

[..]

Flip it over on every oil change and don't over tighten. It will last the life of the bike.

[Robert]

How about answering the mans question yes you can use any washer made from copper or aluminum as long as it fits and most auto parts stores have them. Because they also have a bolt that will fit.

[fuzzy2bucks]

Thanks all, you've been a great help in this matter that has festered in my brain for the last few weeks.

[vanagon40]

I would see no reason why you could not make one out of gasket material.  I have done that for several or my cars and no leaks.

[hubcapsc]

I got real interested in crush washers the first time I rebuilt one of my brake calipers... they really do "crush" when you tighten
on them, and they've got tons of new ones down at the auto parts store...



Seems like the one on the drain bolt would work over and over... I never changed one on any of my dirt bikes,
and I changed the oil on them way more than necessary  ... once when I was ordering some stuff
from HDL I got pack of about ten drain plug crush washers, now I change them every so often..

-Mike

[..]

I got real interested in crush washers the first time I rebuilt one of my brake calipers... they really do "crush" when you tighten
on them, and they've got tons of new ones down at the auto parts store...



Seems like the one on the drain bolt would work over and over... I never changed one on any of my dirt bikes,
and I changed the oil on them way more than necessary  ... once when I was ordering some stuff
from HDL I got pack of about ten drain plug crush washers, now I change them every so often..

-Mike

I believe if the bolt is over tightened the washer  will start to deform like the example on the left of your photo.

[¿spoom]

Just measure the ID or bring the drain plug into your nearest Pep Boys, Auto Zone, etc. I bought a few at around $1 ea. in a blister pack. I could re-use them 1x-2x but when they get thin there is a very real possibility of the plug coming loose because a thin washer has less compression force. I can't imagine having the engine trashed by dumping it's oil, just to save a buck or two.