THSCC Forums

The material of the crush washer and size should be compatable with the pan construction and plug shape. A plug in an aluminum pan such as the Miata cannot be torqued as tightly as the steel pan in our Celica, so a thick plastic or soft aluminum washer would be best. on a steel pan, a copper true crush washer (like a sparkplug washer, replace after each use) a flat copper or aluminum washer would be the choice. A plastic or rubber washer could be squeezed out when tightened. Make sure the washer fits the plug, don't use an oversized one. A flat plastic or aluminum washer can be reused if it is not scored or squeezed thinner from overtightening. You DON'T need to tighten the plug with a pipe on a breaker bar! If you tighten it down with a 3/8" drive ratchet or 6" box wrench and it leaks, find out the reason, don't just crank it down with a bigger wrench.

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SPIN or WIN!
there's no glory for going slow.

What I really loved was when I went to change the oil in the Miata the first time and there was no crush washer. What's more, I had to get a breaker bar to break it free, on an aluminum oil pan! What I don't know for sure is whether the shop I had do the 60k service changed the oil or whether it was the shop the PO used to do the last change. Regardless, shoddy work. All the more reason to do as much of the work yourself as possible.

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'99 Mk IV Jetta VR6 now claimed by the better half.

'90 Miata A-package, Floats like a butterfly and buzzes like a BEE with loudspeakers.