Where is the sump plug?
The sump plug is located on the underside of the sump pan, which is directly below the engine block. This pan collects excess oil once it has been pumped around the engine, and once all the oil has moved through, it is redistributed back into the system.
What is a drain plug?
A drain plug is a plug which is taken out to allow a fluid to be drained from a tank such as an engine oil pan or sump. Remove the drain plug under the engine with the wrench, and let the oil flow into the pan.
How do I find my oil pan?
Lie down on a creepy crawler and get underneath your car. You will need to get almost halfway across your car to locate the oil pan. Once you have located the oil pan, you should be able to find the drain plug.
How often should you replace oil drain plug?
If you torque your drain plug properly every time during oil change, your drain plug should last the life of your engine (or oil pan), period. I have yet to strip one single drain plug in over 20yrs of servicing. Q. Same here, 35 years of changing my own oil & never replaced a drain plug!
Do I need a new oil drain plug?
You definitely do NOT need anew drain plug at every oil change. Depending on the vehicle , you MAY need a new crush washer at every change ( gasket). If you have been told that you need to replace both at every change by a dealer, quick change place or other, you have been being ripped off.
Do oil drain plugs wear out?
The drain plug is cheap, but if you aren’t cross-threading it when you install it or overtorqueing it, it should NEVER fail. And if you cross-thread or over-torque the new one, you are just as likely (maybe MORE likely) to strip out the pan.
What is the best oil drain plug gasket?
What is the best oil plug gasket material?
- Nylon. 4 vote(s) 14.8%
- Rubber. 2 vote(s) 7.4%
- Copper. 3 vote(s) 11.1%
- Crushable aluminum or copper. 6 vote(s) 22.2%
- Metal/Rubber. 3 vote(s) 11.1%
- Fiber. 9 vote(s) 33.3%
Can you reuse oil plug washer?
Most factory plugs come with either an o-ring seal or a copper washer, both can be reused for a long time without issue. Yes, except a few cars that have a rubber o-ring that sits inside the drain plug.
What is a crush washer oil change?
They’re commonly found any time a threaded fastener has to seal in a liquid; the most common example is the crush washer under the oil drain plug of most cars. Tighten the plug, the soft copper washer deforms to fill any gaps, making a liquid-tight seal.
What happens if you don’t replace crush washer?
yes because it crushes to make a tight seal with the drain plug bolt. If you don’t replace it you might not have a tight seal and end up leaking a little oil.
Can I reuse a crush washer?
If ya take a look at a used crush washer, you can see how they work: they plastic deform into the imperfections of the sealing surfaces. When you reuse them, they will never end up in the same place and the now unflat surfaces will not seal.