In the Bentley service manual, it says to 'replace the oil drain plug washer' during an oil change. Yet, the MINI service parts guy I talked to says that the 'washer is part of the plug' and isn't replaced separately (as confirmed by some in other threads here on NAM).

So, do you folks just put the old plug back in (as long as it doesn't leak)?

I wonder why the Bentley manual would say to replace the washer?

 

Can I ask a favor, could you look up the procedure for replacing the ball joints and see if it mentions needing an alignment?

Thank you

In the past I have reused crush washers, on a Honda car and a Honda Motorcycle. Done it about 10 times only had one leak. I have decided though to not reuse them going forward, because if it does leak, you have to pull the bolt, and that means you waste all the oil. Not worth it in my book for a 15 cent part.


I suspect its not actually part of the bolt, it looked like the one on my Honda was, until I put a little effort into pulling the washer off the bolt. What happens is when you torque the bolt down the washer deforms, that is how it seals. If you look at a bolt you will see that the treads are wider then the shaft of the bolt. As the washer deforms under load the inside diameter of the hole shrinks until it can’t any more, in other works as the washer is forces to get flatter it gets wider, think forming a hamburger patty from a ball of meat. Well this means the inside hole in the washer if smaller then they treads on the bolt hence it will not fall off the bolt, it catches on the treads. This makes it look and seem like the washer is part of the bolt.

I would just ask to see a copy of the factory shop instructions; if that says use a new washer just like your Bentley then I would ask the service guy why he is telling you the washer is part of the bolt. Follow that up with if he is wrong about something like this is he really qualified to work on your car. My money is that they don’t know what they are talking about.

 

No reference to alignment. Just torque stuff

 

The bolt and washer are sold together as one unit. 35 cents. See http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...62&hg=11&fg=30

 

That ain't the oil drain plug. I think what he is referencing is on the oil pan and is either 13 or 14mm (I forget which).

There should be an oil pan diagram on the same site.

I picked up a spare a year or so ago and it was less than $3.00.

 

Sorry, wrong bolt . Try http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...84&hg=11&fg=10

$2.45

 

You should be fine reusing the same drain plug bolt. Just check to make sure the rubber gasket part of it is still in good shape each time you change the oil.

 

I should have just bought a couple of plugs when I was at the shop. Rats. Thanks for the replies!

 

Buy yourself a Fumoto F106N. It'll make future changes much easier.

Here's the link:

http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...2&autoview=sku

 

I'm irritated by the crush washer issue as well. Not only does Bently mention replacing it, the first two or three MINI filters I bought (Can't remember where I picked them up) had a new crush washer taped to the outside of the carton, presumably by the dealer. Yet my new dealer (I moved), both the parts guys and the techs say that there is no such washer. So who knows? But the service techs said that they just put in the plug and they never saw any leaks. I'm a fan of crush washers. If anyone has a part number for this, I'd love to have it.

 

No washer on my 06 MCS drain plug. Just that rubber one that's captive to the drain plug. It might be a good idea to keep a spare on the shelf. You never know when the original will become unusable.

 

hummm... i just reused mine. no leaks. i remember the washer was
more like silicone/rubber type instead of the usual metal crush washers.