Was wondering how often you guys replace them?

 

new washer everytime...same bolt

 

I've never replaced the bolt on my '85 and just recently replaced the washer for the first time last year. As long as the washer is in good shape and does not leak, I leave it in there. But you could replace it every time if desired.

 

Roger that on both our vehicles. Learned the hard way in the past.

 

A little off what your talking about, but the bolt on my front diff gear oil drain plug is stripped and is not coming off anytime soon. I asked a mechanic what to do and he said "screw it" becuase his truck with over 200k miles has never had the diff oil changed. He said just keep it topped off. O well for now I guess. But if you see the bolt head getting worn down at all, I would reccomend replacing it so you dont end up in my situation.

 

Sounds like a great guy to take your truck to.
How about tack welding a nut onto the stripped nut, remove it and then replace it with a new one?

as to the original post...I've never changed the plug, and I change the washer each time. I do about 12 oil changes a year and use the package of ten washers in the year.

 

just weld a nut to the drain plug and you can easily remove it......


I never have changed the drain plug gasket, but if it starts to leak, then it'll get replaced, aluminum washer will last a very long time.

 

20+ plus vehicles spanning 30+ years. Never replaced a drain plug except one that I lost...
Never replaced a washer either, never had one leak.

 

never replaced either. no leaks at 142k and counting

 

My Taco's oil plug gasket has been reused since I got it. It is the plastic kind, so it will continue to mold each time you tighten the bolt.

Aluminum washers I personally feel aren't as great to reused because once they are crushed, they maintain that shape for the most part. Sure it won't leak if everything is in good condition, but if you have uneven surfaced (e.g. bent drain pan where the bolt goes in) then I wouldn't reuse an aluminum one. I would however, reuse a plastic one.

Since I get all the crush gaskets I want for free, I usually change them all the time on my family's cars that never had a plastic gasket.

 

And even if you didn't want to weld a nut onto the plug, you could get some type of pump and pump out the majority of the oil. I would never follow his recommendation.

 

me either. and losing them sux.
some that ive worked on never had a washer to begin with.

 

I've been doing my own oil changes since I had my own cars (8 at last count) and, after over 950,000 vehicle miles and oil changes every 3-3.5k miles (that's over 300 oil changes), I remember changing the drain plug washer MAYBE 2 or 3 times. I replaced the drain plug on one vehicle once after I had stripped the head (frickin' dealership must have used an impact wrench to put the dang thing on!!!)

 

My 93 truck came from the factory with a steel washer under the drain bolt and it is 12 years old and doing fine.

My BMW came with a copper washer and it gets changed everytime, in fact every BMW oil filter includes a new one.

 

I've never changed either, either. I think it's more important to make sure the washer and bolt are clean, as is the bottom of the oil pan.

 

Used to never change the washer, then had one leak on me. I've been using new ones after every oil change. We're talking about a real cheap part here, so to me its just added insurance.

 

I don't replace either the bolt or the washer. I only change the oil once a year and it never leaks, so no worries.

 

Some internet dealers will give you free oil pan gaskets with the purchase of a case; you just need to ask before you buy.

These free paper/cardboard type gaskets should last you several changes. The part numbers for these gaskets are 90430-12028.

 

I don't remove the plug or replace the washer...I got a Fumoto Valve!
They work awesome!
Check it out..... http://www.fumotovalve.com/

 

Never replaced either.

Everytime i stick my hand into a pan full of hot dirty oil to get the ones I drop I say I will "next" time.

You washer changers are weirdos. If it aint broke don't fix it.