Crush Washers - school me on them, please

HMP

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Running to the Toyota dealership today to pick up some washers for the drain / fill / and inspection bolts on the transmission, and got to thinking about these crush washers.
I see aluminum out there, as well as copper - which is best?
What do yall like to use?

Differences in them?
 
I have some aluminum ones. Got them on eBay. I don’t change them every time, it’s pointless. Every few times tho, I do.

Hell, I’ve had cars that I never changed them on, owned for 5+ years and put 100k miles on and never had leaks.

Not sure the differences, maybe copper is softer? They’ll both work the same
 
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Thank you
Im going to buy some from dealership today (Im shocked at how much they charge, over 2 bucks each!)
But then I'll have measurements and can go to the local hardware store, where, even the largest copper, were only 90c, most were around 50c
I'll buy ten or so and not have to worry about rebuying, probably, forever.
 
Thank you
Im going to buy some from dealership today (Im shocked at how much they charge, over 2 bucks each!)
But then I'll have measurements and can go to the local hardware store, where, even the largest copper, were only 90c, most were around 50c
I'll buy ten or so and not have to worry about rebuying, probably, forever.
I bought a bag of 100 for like $11 lol
 
I re-use them about 3-5 times after inspecting them...eventually they start to flatten out, get thinner and start splitting, etc.

The real issues crop up when folks over-tighten the things, you aren't torquing a lug nut or something.


This ^.

Been twisting wrenches for over 40 years. Only change them when they need it which ain't been often. Most of the ones I changed were because of over tightening.
 
Don’t use them with your suppressor, or you risk a baffle strike.
 
My experience, they'll seep at least one use prior to leaking enough to drip, change them at that point.

If you're really cheap you can anneal the copper ones. I prefer copper for no scientific reason and don't bother annealing.

Most parts houses can tell you what size you need, and they're way cheaper aftermarket than dealership.
 
The major difference is that aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, so in a situation where the fluid is getting pretty hot you have a higher risk of the bolt loosening up with an aluminum washer versus a copper one.
 
I have been an auto tech for 32 years. Buy what ever kind they have both will work just fine as long as they are the right size. I have never seen a drain plug loosen that was properly tightened in all my years. Properly tightened doesn't mean jerk or hang on the wrench, just snug about 20-25ftlbs which isnt much. Oh yea oil filters are installed by hand only!!!!!
 
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I have been an auto tech for 32 years. Buy what ever kind they have both will work just fine as long as they are the right size. I have never seen a drain plug loosen that was properly tightened in all my years. Properly tightened doesn't mean jerk or hang on the wrench, just snug about 20-25ftlbs which isnt much. Oh yea oil filters are installed by hand only!!!!!



^^^^^^ This.

I watch a guy in our shop try to remove a drain plug in a Detroit diesel engine. It was so tight he couldn't get enuff room with a pull bar to free it so he put an impact gun on it. It was so tight the gun ripped the part that the plug screwed into completely out of the oil pan. I then watch 5 gals of nasty diesel oil run in his lap. No excuse for one to be that tight.
 
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