GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Does every DIY oil changer replace the crush washer with a new one at every oil change? With my first DIY oil change on the '09 Vibe, the washer did not come off with the plug bolt. I thought it would have a plastic washer on it, but didn't realized that it was a soft metal washer that was stuck on the hole. I thought it was part of the pan hole. It is too late now, so I hope it will not leak. I just learned about this. This crush washer is common on Toyota made cars. I used to change a old Dodge and it had a plastic washer on the drain bolt and never replace it.

Quote, originally posted by Ivibe »Does every DIY oil changer replace the crush washer with a new one at every oil change? ....Simple Answer...NO They Don't!!I change my own oil and I have never replaced the washer either. after 66K miles ZERO Leaks! (Knock on Wood!!)

Nope... never changed mine

Another no,I'm on my 3rd change.

I change it every time. Toyoda Part No. 90430-12031 is $0.83 at trdsparks.com.

i've changed mine once in 40,000 miles.SO, no it's not always changed.

I don't know if the Vibe even has one on it anymore. I just started changing oil in it last year, the previous years were all done by others. Perhaps I should check next time. It's probably permanently fused to the plug at this point. My Hyundai gets a fresh one every time though... It seems to care about having a new one, whereas it really doesn't seem to bother the Vibe.

Quote, originally posted by vibe2.1 »I change it every time. Toyoda Part No. 90430-12031 is $0.83 at trdsparks.com.My big book service manual calls the crush washer a "gasket". It never said that it was made of soft metal. It just said to replace it with a new one with every oil change. I never bought one because I thought it would come off with the plug bolt and I thought its material would of been a solid teflon or nylon plastic like my old car had. My crush washer was bonded to the oil pan hole and looked like it was part of it. So what I am saying to every DIY here is to have a few new washers on hand. If the old one came off or is scratched, I don't think it will seal as it did before. To remove it from the pan just carefully pry it off with a screwdriver. My crush washer looked very thick and had a doughnut shape to it. If it stay on without any movement and it still looks smooth and clean, then I leave it to you to make your call.

I haven't ever changed mine.

I bought a pack of 12mm nylon ones from AutoZone. I think it was 5 to the package for $2.99.I've only done oil once in our Vibe and yes, I did change it, but probably didn't have to.

Yes I change the washer. The metal you referred to that was stuck to the pan isn't the washer. I think you were looking at the insert that is installed in the pan and the plug screws into.Seems like replacing the washer is very cheap insurance to avoid problems. I believe in following the manual, specially when it is inexpensive to do do.

I've never replaced it on either mine or my wife's Vibes.I'll have to ask my dad if he replaces it on his or my sister's Vibes.

Whoa!! Now that's what I call a complete Vibe family!! LOLZ!!

It never ceases to amaze me the information we can get on this great site. I frequent several boards on the Internet and gotta say none of them beats this one for information without somebody flaming somebody.

Quote, originally posted by beemerphile1 »Yes I change the washer. The metal you referred to that was stuck to the pan isn't the washer. I think you were looking at the insert that is installed in the pan and the plug screws into.Seems like replacing the washer is very cheap insurance to avoid problems. I believe in following the manual, specially when it is inexpensive to do do.I am going to take a closer look at the plug "bump" around the drain hole. It never moved or changed its shape when I removed and replaced the plug bolt. It never looked like a normal washer to me. I learned about how it would get forced into the hole and mend to the hole and the pan from reading a Toyota forum. I thought that there was no crush washer (gasket) at all. But I was prepared to catch it if it did come off with the bolt. Perhaps the dealer never put a new one on.

I don't know if what you were seeing is the threaded bung welded to the oil pan or the washer/gasket that may have been stuck to it. I can only say that the drain plug itself has a detent behind the threads and in front of the hex that, once the washer is compressed, finds its way into it. Keep in mind, you are dealing with two different metals here and they could appear to meld together, however temporarily. But usually, you will find the gasket stuck in that ring and it can be hard to get off, to the point of having to cut it with diagonal or side cutters to remove it.Think of a crush washer on a traditional spark plug. Same kind a' thing.

Quote, originally posted by 06pvibe » Think of a crush washer on a traditional spark plug. Same kind a' thing.Yes, I thought it would be a flat shape washer stuck to the threads of the BOLT and come off with it. Like the spark plug type you mentioned. But I diid not see any washer ring thing at all stuck to the pan. I remember trying to pick what I saw with my finger nail but felt that I should not touch it. All the oil had came out fast and nothing else came off. I had the car on a wooden ramp and I was right there watching it.

Never had one stuck to the bung... I don't recall seeing a washer on the drain plug either... but I'll check next time!

About your picture.... Is that blue handle and belt a wrench on an oil filter? A cartridge oil filter? for the 1.8L engine?My 2.4L filter is installed vertically.

Quote, originally posted by Ivibe »A cartridge oil filter? for the 1.8L engine? Yup!

WOWSome do.Some don't.some have no idea.I'm gonna loose sleep over this 'till my next OC.

And a question to Mr Star Deciever... is the Cartridge can made of plastic? It just looks like it is from the picture you provided in my thread.read my comments in "Problems with oil filter on 2005 Vibe"

The '05 vibe will have a standard spin on type filter.Here's what they look like dissasembled:Yes, it's plastic.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=38351

The 1.8 does have a washer... I'll replace i next time.

Attached files

Thanks for the clear pictures. Please review my new question about oil filters in the Engine section.

98K miles - changed only once, but good idea to keep a spare or two in the glove box just in case you lose the one that's on the plug.