Crush Washers - A question for those in the know...

My supply is running thin after years of regular changes. I've always used copper on the drain plug and aluminium on the strainer bolt (2.0l) but now I find I only have ali ones left...

Are they ok on the drain plug too? I presume they would be but thought it best to ask...

 

You can reuse a copper one if you anneal it. (heat up to red hot, quench it in water).
Tony

 

can still get copper ones.

 

They arent solid and designed to crush. single use only!

 

The ones I use are solid. ( VW & BMW)
Tony

 

They're not crush washers then are they Tony?

 

I suppose not
Tony

 

So, can I use Ali ones on the drain bolt? Has anyone else an experience of this?

 

didnt Crush Washers play bass on Cork Gaskits 2nd album (have we done this once)

 

i think it was ''instant gasket'' but they were the session musicians ..?

 

I thought he was in Toad The Wet Sprocket

 

You're thinking of Allen "Head" Drainplug. Crush left the Corks after their "Mating Surfaces" album.

 

I would say it's a fookin crush washer for your drain plug that doesn't get done up tight. Whether it's copper or ali doesn't matter. I regularly remove and fit either and have never given it a thought. Sometimes on the plug bolt I find a multi-layer stripey sandwhich of 3 or 4 all different.

What exactly are you concerned about? Ali/Ali? Spark plugs have ali ones on ali heads and don't weld themselves to the heads which get much hotter than the sump...

 

Like Zed I dont give it a second thought either although the aluminium ones have a tendancy to become "invisible" once crushed.

 

That's why I asked, the Ali ones always look 'hidden' after use. Whereas the copper seems to keep a bit of it's thickness.

Thanks all.