Oil Sump Plug

[Arkan Eller]

Following a rather disastrous end result of a stripped thread on an oil sump plug / pan, I decided to replace the entire Oil Pan on my 1G B6. However, eager to not repeat the same mistake again, I double checked my Haynes manual and it says you should use a FIBRE washer on the oil drain plug, then torque it up to the recommended tightness.

So, off I went to my local dealer (Not a Suzuki dealer but, nevertheless, generally more knowledgeable than, say, a stranger in the street) and he said I should be using an aluminium washer (which he gave to me free of charge).

Which is it? Aluminium, fibre, or nothing / something else? What do you guys use when doing an oil change yourselves?

Thanks in advance.

[Vlad]

What do you guys use when doing an oil change yourselves?

I have Fumoto valve, but Fram SureDrain should be just as good:

http://forums.banditalley.net/viewtopic.php?t=3315&highlight=drain

[Red01]

I'm at 40K miles and still using the washer that Suzuki put on the plug when they built it.

[Vlad]

I'm at 40K miles and still using the washer that Suzuki put on the plug when they built it.

I'd do the same and continue to use it until it becomes very thin and/or falls apart because it's function will not be diminished before then.

People read too much into this kind of stuff, IMHO. Torque settings, replacement recommendations, etc.  are meant to cover manufacturers behind and should not be taken too literarily most of the time. I stripped my last thread 20 years ago and would use torque wrench only for critical stuff (head bolts, for example).

[txbanditrydr]

I'm still using the original aluminum crush washer too.  I tightened the first several oil changes by hand and was lucky I didn't strip anything - once it felt like I went too far.  I now use a torque wrench exclusively and have much greater peace of mind.

[Arkan Eller]

Ok thanks. I'm gonna try an aluminium crush type.