Sump nut washer, standard part?

dnme

Hi folks

If you change your own oil, is the sump nut washer easy to replace? Is it a standard size across makes? Would the likes of Halfords have one?

andyseadog

yeah, its just a washer on the sump plug.

no offense but if your asking that, maybe you should be asking yourself if your up to doing the oil?

i woudnt bother changing it, i never do... its not that big a deal

dnme

Am I mad or do I remember them coming with the Oil Filter?

VinnyTGM

I was giving a handful of them from a main dealers, there not expensive anyway.

O.A.P

dnme wrote: »

Am I mad or do I remember them coming with the Oil Filter?

Your not mad, I have got them with the oil filter at the main dealers.

andyseadog

some places give them with the filter.

its all a bit over cautious though.

sump nut gasket is all a bit over the top, its just a washer.

when was the last time you heard of a car dying because it lost its oil through a faulty or worn sump bung washer? never?

just re-use the old one

dnme

andyseadog wrote: »

yeah, its just a washer on the sump plug.

no offense but if your asking that, maybe you should be asking yourself if your up to doing the oil?

i woudnt bother changing it, i never do... its not that big a deal

andy
fair point but look at it this way. I am at least doing my homework properly right down to the washer before I start. I believe everyone should be able to change their own oil and filters. I used to do it years ago on my old 504 estate and am a bit rusty is all. I have me trolly jack and axle stands and have gone to great lengths to get the correct oil (much to the annoyance of many's a member here).

I'm gonna do it myself, and I wanna do it right. Gotta (re)start somewhere. Best done from a position of some knowledge wouldn't you say?

andyseadog

dnme wrote: »

andy
fair point but look at it this way. I am at least doing my homework properly right down to the washer before I start. I believe everyone should be able to change their own oil and filters. I used to do it years ago on my old 504 estate and am a bit rusty is all. I have me trolly jack and axle stands and have gone to great lengths to get the correct oil (much to the annoyance of many's a member here).

I'm gonna do it myself, and I wanna do it right. Gotta (re)start somewhere. Best done from a position of some knowledge wouldn't you say?

thats why i put in the whole no offense thing.

great to see someone having a bash at it themselves, if your confident then go for it but if your not best to drop it.

either way, dont worry about the sump nut washer

O.A.P

dnme wrote: »

andy
fair point but look at it this way. I am at least doing my homework properly right down to the washer before I start. I believe everyone should be able to change their own oil and filters. I used to do it years ago on my old 504 estate and am a bit rusty is all. I have me trolly jack and axle stands and have gone to great lengths to get the correct oil (much to the annoyance of many's a member here).

I'm gonna do it myself, and I wanna do it right. Gotta (re)start somewhere. Best done from a position of some knowledge wouldn't you say?

Well make sure not to over tighten that nut when you but it back, the threads in the sump are very easy to strip.

dnme

andyseadog

dnme wrote: »

typical bmw owner?

Midnight_EG

andyseadog wrote: »

typical bmw owner?

There's a BMW in that pic

MagicMarker

She don't need any axle stands that's for sure.

dnme

dnme wrote: »

and have gone to great lengths to get the correct oil (much to the annoyance of many's a member here).

Did you go with the manufacturer's recommendation after all these great lengths you speak of. If I recall correctly you were the only member that got annoyed / offended in that thread :pac:

CJhaughey

I replace the fibre washers regularly sometimes they split, copper washers can be reused if you re-anneal them every so often.
To anneal copper that has hardened you heat it red hot and drop it into cold water, this softens the copper and allows it to seal again.
It's not critical as they aren't that expensive but if you are stuck it can be done.

shamwari

A new copper washer is about 70cent, and you can buy them in various sizes in packs of either 5 or 10 from the motor factors.

Also some cars use and O-ring instead of a copper washer, and some cars don't even use a washer at all.....;)

kazul

andyseadog wrote: »

either way, dont worry about the sump nut washer

Why do the car manufacturers use them then? I always change mine as the motor factor gives one free with oil and filter. It's no extra effort or cost so why not change it?

andyseadog

kazul wrote: »

Why do the car manufacturers use them then? I always change mine as the motor factor gives one free with oil and filter. It's no extra effort or cost so why not change it?

because if its an awful lot of bother to get one i really woldn't upset myself with it. just re-use the old one.

like i said, when was the last time your heard an engine was written off because of sump bung washer failure?

my last car i put 50k miles on and i changed the oil every 5k, i never once changed the nut, and it probably hadnt been changed for a few services before the car came into my ownership, the car never lost a drip of oil through the sump plug, so they are clearly good for more than 1 use.

kazul

andyseadog wrote: »

because if its an awful lot of bother to get one i really woldn't upset myself with it. just re-use the old one.

like i said, when was the last time your heard an engine was written off because of sump bung washer failure?

my last car i put 50k miles on and i changed the oil every 5k, i never once changed the nut, and it probably hadnt been changed for a few services before the car came into my ownership, the car never lost a drip of oil through the sump plug, so they are clearly good for more than 1 use.

It's not a lot of bother, they are also referred to as "sump crush washers" (the clue is in the name) and are really only effective for a single use.
I never change "the nut" when I'm changing my oil.
You never answered questions, why do manufacturer's use them in the first place? and why not change it?
The sooner you and the bmw535 guy are back in school after the holidays, the better.
Some people come on here for motoring advice and end up getting replies from numpties like you.
For the sake of 70c or no money, you're better off taking care of details.
Just because you don't bother yourself doing a proper job, doesn't mean others should follow your (lazy) lead.

shamwari

kazul wrote: »

Why do the car manufacturers use them then? I always change mine as the motor factor gives one free with oil and filter. It's no extra effort or cost so why not change it?

I agree, it's a false economy not to. Imagine changing your oil and re-using the same old washer, and then the sump bung leaks and drips oil all over your lovely cobblelock driveway, your gonna have to redo the whole shaggin' job again

andyseadog

kazul wrote: »

It's not a lot of bother, they are also referred to as "sump crush washers" (the clue is in the name) and are really only effective for a single use.
I never change "the nut" when I'm changing my oil.
You never answered questions, why do manufacturer's use them in the first place? and why not change it?
The sooner you and the bmw535 guy are back in school after the holidays, the better.
Some people come on here for motoring advice and end up getting replies from numpties like you.
For the sake of 70c or no money, you're better off taking care of details.
Just because you don't bother yourself doing a proper job, doesn't mean others should follow your (lazy) lead.

do you need a kleenex after that? :rolleyes:

kazul

andyseadog wrote: »

do you need a kleenex after that? :rolleyes:

No thanks, noticing that you are talking through your hat didn't make me sneeze

andyseadog

kazul wrote: »

No thanks, noticing that you are talking through your hat didn't make me sneeze

perfect alls well that ends well

Del2005

andyseadog wrote: »

because if its an awful lot of bother to get one

I always ask for one when I buy the filter, never been charged or refused.

There are 2 types of washer, the copper one can't be reused as it crushes to seal and there's a dark one that can be if you're cheap or forget to ask for a replacement.

nogoodnamesleft

kazul wrote: »

It's not a lot of bother, they are also referred to as "sump crush washers" (the clue is in the name) and are really only effective for a single use.
I never change "the nut" when I'm changing my oil.
You never answered questions, why do manufacturer's use them in the first place? and why not change it?
The sooner you and the bmw535 guy are back in school after the holidays, the better.
Some people come on here for motoring advice and end up getting replies from numpties like you.
For the sake of 70c or no money, you're better off taking care of details.
Just because you don't bother yourself doing a proper job, doesn't mean others should follow your (lazy) lead.

+1

For the sake of a few cent its seems madness not to get one and to do the job correctly as opposed to saying "sure it will be grand" as stated some sealing washers are one use only and some are part of the nut itself i.e. before the thread on the sump nut neccessating replacing the whole nut e.g. certain vag cars. It was 80c from the dealer and from personal experience they throw it in for free when ordering parts!

5 liters of Shell Helix 5w30 oil (VW507.00) is about 75quid seems extremely stupid for it to be on the driveway for the sake of a few cent!

2 stroke

On my own cars I rarely change a sump washer however I would not neglect it on a customers car. The way I look at it, it is standard part of an oil change, but unecessary most of the time. I've never had a problem with a leak from a sump stud that I tightened myself.

johndaman66

A few people mentioning that motor factors seem to automatically give washers with an oil filter but I've bought filters for a fair few different marques at this stage and in quite a number of motor factors and never once recall being given a sump washer.

Del2005

johndaman66 wrote: »

A few people mentioning that motor factors seem to automatically give washers with an oil filter but I've bought filters for a fair few different marques at this stage and in quite a number of motor factors and never once recall being given a sump washer.

They rarely volunteer it, but if you ask nicely they'll give you one:D

buckshotbrolan

If your into changing your oil yourself then I recomend changing the sump plug for an oil drain valve. Makes life so much easyer. www.QuickOilDrainValve.com. Cheers.

gk5000

Reused one of these copper crush washers on an old renault megane and the damn thing leaked. Had to drain the oil and install a new washer.

CJhaughey

gk5000 wrote: »

Reused one of these copper crush washers on an old renault megane and the damn thing leaked. Had to drain the oil and install a new washer.

Thats because you didn't anneal it.
Very few sump washers are actually crush washers they are just soft copper or alloy or fibre.

dnme

Well job done, it was so easy and very satisfying.

The previous oil change had been done by my old garage at my old address, and they had used (or reused) a rubber washer as a sump washer. It was cracked and perished. My local motor factors was open and he gave me a copper sump washer. Mind you he charged me 2 quid for it. Still when you're stuck...

johndaman66

dnme wrote: »

Mind you he charged me 2 quid for it. Still when you're stuck...

I do find this quite a lot, when people say you'll only pay a few cent for it you end up paying a few quid for it, or if they say a few quid you end up paying a good few quid etc. Same with time and distance. Lots of people would ask me do you have 2 seconds to spare but its never ends up being anything near 2 seconds. A mile up the road is more likely to be five miles up the road! Ok well rant over!...think its probably an Irish thing more than anything

DublinDilbert

I've never seen an oil filter come without one.

Just on the poster above saying about the price, expect to pay that if your buying one. If you shop around you'll get 5 or 10 for the same price. The likes of eBay is very handy. Also keep an eye out for when lidl/aldi do the o-ring, washer or jublie clip kits. They are dirt cheap, no garage should be without.

Places will charge stupid prices if people pay them. Halfords wanted to charge 5 euro for two White plastic covers for the number plate bolts. Went to a local hardware and got them for 10 cent each! €5 -> €0.2

DublinDilbert

DublinDilbert wrote: »

I've never seen an oil filter come without one.

Unless you buy your filters in the main dealer I reckon you'll rarely see a filter with one.

kazul

Consort motor factors always throw in a free one.
They recently gave me a lift home with my new battery, lent me a spanner to fit it and drove back to swap it out with the correct one (at a lower price/discount) when I realised they had given me the wrong one. Really above and beyond, I can't recommend them highly enough.

Andrew Campbell

In my experience a main dealer automatically gives you one. in the motor factors they very often come in the oil filter box especially for german cars. Most french cars have a crushable copper washer that does need to be changed every time. BMW's have an alluminium one that gets flat after a few uses and is ineffective however in every case its good engineering practice to change it each time. I've never seen an engine fail because of it but they can cause an annoying drip which will leave a small pool of oil/stain on your drive...... perhaps you dont care about that. Its just not worth the risk of having to replace the oil again just to repair a small annoying leak, thats why most people do change it every time.

Technoprisoner

dnme wrote: »

Well job done, it was so easy and very satisfying.

The previous oil change had been done by my old garage at my old address, and they had used (or reused) a rubber washer as a sump washer. It was cracked and perished. My local motor factors was open and he gave me a copper sump washer. Mind you he charged me 2 quid for it. Still when you're stuck...

well done mate.....now you can start saving yourself a few quid by doing it yourself by the way i didnt see anybody mention it yet but in future dont go to mad on thightening the sump nut

PaulKK

RoverJames wrote: »

Unless you buy your filters in the main dealer I reckon you'll rarely see a filter with one.

Depends on the car I find.

I got Mahle/Knecht oil filters for VWs and they came with no washer, but for my BMW the Mahle filters come with a new gasket and washer in the box.