Lesser of Two Evils - Box Drain Washer

Pug505GR · Post by **Pug505GR** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:52 am

After waiting for two months for a T70 bit to arrive I decided it was time to change the gearbox oil on my 05 2.5i Liberty Manual.

Not being sure of the washer size for the drain plug I figured I'd just take it out and go to the local shop using it as a sample.

As nothing is ever easy i found the only 25mm washer they had was fibre.

So now my options are reuse the crushable aluminium one or fit the fibre one.

It's not a perfect solution I know, but they are really the only two options I've got at the moment

Anyone with any opinion either way?

Thanks

Matt

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:01 pm

I use the pink plumbers tape or the more robust yellow gas tape on the drain plug threads, available from most good hardware joints. I do not recommend the white tape that comes with many plumbing kits as it is generally too fine for this application.

Pug505GR · Post by **Pug505GR** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:10 pm

steptoe wrote:I use the pink plumbers tape or the more robust yellow gas tape on the drain plug threads, available from most good hardware joints. I do not recommend the white tape that comes with many plumbing kits as it is generally too fine for this application.

That's an idea I hadn't thought of. I normally avoid using anything other than a new washer each change but got caught out this time. I'm not a fan of fibre washers so maybe I'll go with the old aluminium one with some tape around the thread as you suggest. That should make up for any shortcomings of reusing the washer.

Thanks

Matt

discopotato03 · Post by **discopotato03** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:18 pm

Most auto parts places carry aluminium and copper crush washers .

A .

Pug505GR · Post by **Pug505GR** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:30 pm

discopotato03 wrote:Most auto parts places carry aluminium and copper crush washers .

A .

Yeah they do. But the ones that are only open here carry them up to 24mm. The only 25mm one I could find was fibre.

FROG · Post by **FROG** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 3:56 pm

Same as your engine oil sump plug washer I THINK

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 4:31 pm

yeah, was thinking that before I toosed my old autos that I should kep their pristine plugs for the engine sump - promptly forgot in the excitement of a clean up!

I also use good O rings in place of any other washer - less tight torque required and never strip threads or plugs. This and the thread tape taught to me over a quarter of a century ago and still in practice.

Pug505GR · Post by **Pug505GR** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 6:31 pm

FROG wrote:Same as your engine oil sump plug washer I THINK

It might be the case with autos, but the manuals are 25mm, whereas the engine plugs are 16mm. Not being too familiar Libertys I'm in no way an authority on this though.

steptoe wrote:I also use good O rings in place of any other washer - less tight torque required and never strip threads or plugs. This and the thread tape taught to me over a quarter of a century ago and still in practice.

I'd never heard of that and I'll file it away for future reference. Do you do anything to the plugs like machine a groove for the o-ring, or is it just between the two flat surfaces?

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 10:47 pm

just do it up until it has the right squish on the O ring, so a tight fit O ring for starters. Do 'em up too tight and they literally go pear shaped. The thread tape also helps stop it from undoing itself.

Pug505GR · Post by **Pug505GR** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:38 pm

steptoe wrote:just do it up until it has the right squish on the O ring, so a tight fit O ring for starters. Do 'em up too tight and they literally go pear shaped. The thread tape also helps stop it from undoing itself.

Thanks steptoe,

As I said I'll file that away for future reference.

On another forum I frequent there would by now be a plethora of people posting saying you are full of it and such a method would never work. It's nice for a change.

Matt

fredsub · Post by **fredsub** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:27 am

subaru does sell them.
GSKT - 26.3X30x2.0
Part no 803926070 ('98 OBW)

looks copper to me

do all subaru gearboxes use the same ?

Pug505GR · Post by **Pug505GR** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 4:33 pm

fredsub wrote:subaru does sell them.
GSKT - 26.3X30x2.0
Part no 803926070 ('98 OBW)

looks copper to me

do all subaru gearboxes use the same ?

Thanks for that,

And you're perfectly right. I made a mistake when I first posted the thread. The gearbox is a flat copper washer. It's the engine sump which has a crushable aluminium one.

I knew I had a 50% chance of getting it right

M.S.G. · Post by **M.S.G.** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:59 pm

Many times I have drained the oil only to discover that I have not bought a new washer. Reused the old one and never had a problem