2003 Honda Accord Oil Drain Washer Replacement

The Honda manual recommends that the washer be replaced with every oil
change. As a result, I end up going to a Honda dealer and pay a
premium for a fairly commoditized service. I follow the manual's
suggestion as to when to do maintenance services.


1) Is there a significant impact if this washer is not replaced? For
example, every other time or once a year???

2) Is it possible to buy the washer myself and have it changed at a
non-Honda shop?

On Sun, 06 Feb 2005 00:00:10 GMT, pencilcup >
wrote:

>The Honda manual recommends that the washer be replaced with every oil
>change. As a result, I end up going to a Honda dealer and pay a
>premium for a fairly commoditized service. I follow the manual's
>suggestion as to when to do maintenance services.
>
>
>1) Is there a significant impact if this washer is not replaced? For
>example, every other time or once a year???
Probably not, but if there is a problem, it could be catastrophic
engine failure from losing all your new oil, so just change it. The
odds are low, but the stakes are high.
>
>2) Is it possible to buy the washer myself and have it changed at a
>non-Honda shop?

They're so inexpensive that the last time I asked for some, the
mechanic gave me five of them for free. He said it wasn't worth
ringing it up. So, yes, your dealer should be glad to give you a
supply. If they charge you anything, it's going to be nominal.
>


Ron

pencilcup wrote:
> The Honda manual recommends that the washer be replaced with every oil
> change. As a result, I end up going to a Honda dealer and pay a
> premium for a fairly commoditized service. I follow the manual's
> suggestion as to when to do maintenance services.
>
>
> 1) Is there a significant impact if this washer is not replaced? For
> example, every other time or once a year???
>
> 2) Is it possible to buy the washer myself and have it changed at a
> non-Honda shop?


---------------------------------

A used one is way better than none at all, since the Honda bolt HAS to
have a washer of some type under it or it will start cutting new threads
into the pan . . You can buy them in quantity from places like NAPA,
for cheap. BTW, if it leaks a tiny bit, it will foul your driveway, one
drip at a time. Since the sump holds 4 litres, you'd have to wait a long
time to loose much oil.

Monkey-Lube places will install some kind of washer if you ask (or if
they think), but it may not even be close to the correct size /
thickness / material.

'Curly'

Have owned a 91 Accord for 10 years now and do all my own oil changes every
5,000 kms, and have NEVER changed this washer in 180,000 kms. It has NEVER
leaked. This is a conspiracy by Honda to charge you an extra $1 for every
oil change they do!
"pencilcup" > wrote in message
...
> The Honda manual recommends that the washer be replaced with every oil
> change. As a result, I end up going to a Honda dealer and pay a
> premium for a fairly commoditized service. I follow the manual's
> suggestion as to when to do maintenance services.
>
>
> 1) Is there a significant impact if this washer is not replaced? For
> example, every other time or once a year???
>
> 2) Is it possible to buy the washer myself and have it changed at a
> non-Honda shop?
>
>

pencilcup wrote:
> The Honda manual recommends that the washer be replaced with every oil
> change. As a result, I end up going to a Honda dealer and pay a
> premium for a fairly commoditized service. I follow the manual's
> suggestion as to when to do maintenance services.
>
>
> 1) Is there a significant impact if this washer is not replaced? For
> example, every other time or once a year???

im still on my original honda washer after 6 oil changes. when i start
to get the drips, ill replace it.
>
> 2) Is it possible to buy the washer myself and have it changed at a
> non-Honda shop?

of course! cheaphondaparts, majestic honda, etc. should all carry em for
under a buck a piece. i should probably order some myself.

Grahame wrote:
> Have owned a 91 Accord for 10 years now and do all my own oil changes every
> 5,000 kms, and have NEVER changed this washer in 180,000 kms. It has NEVER
> leaked. This is a conspiracy by Honda to charge you an extra $1 for every
> oil change they do!

they wont change it on their own, will they? is that part of their
$16.95 service?

TeGGer® wrote:
> pencilcup > wrote in
> :
>
>
>>The Honda manual recommends that the washer be replaced with every oil
>>change. As a result, I end up going to a Honda dealer and pay a
>>premium for a fairly commoditized service.
>
>
>
>
> You can get assorted washers at any auto supply store. They're usually
> plastic or fiber, and you need to reduce the tightening torque to
> compensate for the different characteristics of the different material.
>
> Jelly Lube and other outfits can supply their own washer, which won't be
> aluminum, so you don't _need_ to use the dealer for oil changes.
>
> However, a non-Honda shop will also use a non-Honda oil filter, which will
> not filter as well and may have inferior drainback characteristics. They're
> also much more likely to use cheap, low-grade oils to keep their costs
> down.
>
> It might seem expensive to get the changes done at the dealer when you're
> under warranty, but there are advantages to it.
>
>
>
>
>
>> I follow the manual's
>>suggestion as to when to do maintenance services.
>
>
>
>
> Good for you. You're helping to extend the life of your expensive
> expenditure.
>
>
>
>>
>>1) Is there a significant impact if this washer is not replaced? For
>>example, every other time or once a year??
>
>
>
> Replace with EVERY change.
>
> The OEM aluminum washers compress when torqued down for the first time and
> the metal becomes more dense than it was when new.

doesn't become more dense. it becomes harder as it deforms, and that
deformation is from where it squeezes into the small surface
imperfections of the mating surfaces to form the seal. that's why they
need replacing periodically - they become too hard to deform
sufficiently & therefore seal properly.

> You CAN just flip it
> over for the second use, but then the margin of error for overtorquing
> becomes much smaller.

you can use these washers several times. i do, but i /don't/ flip
because that limits the degree of deformation it incurrs each time,
hence they can be used over. not ideal of course, but as long as they
still seal, it's not a problem.

>
> Non-aluminum washers will compress as well, and may not seal properly the
> second time, resulting in leaks.

some of the non-aluminum washers are fine. an old honda of mine had a
steel washer with a rubber lip on it. worked great & completely
reusable. others like fiber washers can be bad because they tend to
break if over torqued. and you don't know until the blue smoke's
trailing out behind you & the red light comes on. don't ask me how i
know that!

best to stick with oem.

>
>
>
>>2) Is it possible to buy the washer myself and have it changed at a
>>non-Honda shop?
>>
>>
>
>
>
> Another caveat on the above: Honda oil pan threads are notoriously easy to
> strip.
>
> If you've been getting your oil changed by an aftermarket shop and they
> strip the threads, a new pan is over $200. Honda won't even look at you and
> you'll be forced to try to get compensation from whatever shops(s) you
> used. And if you used more than one, you can forget about ever getting a
> penny, as they'll all point fingers at each other.
>
>

Honda dealership will throw in a washer when you buy a filter from them.
Usually a crush washer will last 4-5 oil changes before REALLY needing
replacement. I order about 10-20 when I order transmission parts from
www.slhonda.com when my stock get low.

TeGGer® wrote:
> jim beam > wrote in
> news:1107705880.03f2c0236505752beea7ebaf89908c8a@t eranews:
>
>
>>TeGGer® wrote:
>>
>>>pencilcup > wrote in
:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>The Honda manual recommends that the washer be replaced with every
>>>>oil change. As a result, I end up going to a Honda dealer and pay a
>>>>premium for a fairly commoditized service.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>You can get assorted washers at any auto supply store. They're
>>>usually plastic or fiber, and you need to reduce the tightening
>>>torque to compensate for the different characteristics of the
>>>different material.
>>>
>>>Jelly Lube and other outfits can supply their own washer, which won't
>>>be aluminum, so you don't _need_ to use the dealer for oil changes.
>>>
>>>However, a non-Honda shop will also use a non-Honda oil filter, which
>>>will not filter as well and may have inferior drainback
>>>characteristics. They're also much more likely to use cheap,
>>>low-grade oils to keep their costs down.
>>>
>>>It might seem expensive to get the changes done at the dealer when
>>>you're under warranty, but there are advantages to it.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I follow the manual's
>>>>suggestion as to when to do maintenance services.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Good for you. You're helping to extend the life of your expensive
>>>expenditure.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>1) Is there a significant impact if this washer is not replaced? For
>>>>example, every other time or once a year??
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Replace with EVERY change.
>>>
>>>The OEM aluminum washers compress when torqued down for the first
>>>time and the metal becomes more dense than it was when new.
>>
>>doesn't become more dense. it becomes harder as it deforms, and that
>>deformation is from where it squeezes into the small surface
>>imperfections of the mating surfaces to form the seal. that's why
>>they need replacing periodically - they become too hard to deform
>>sufficiently & therefore seal properly.
>
>
>
> So you're saying it's work-hardening that causes the problem?

yup!

>
>
>
>>>You CAN just flip it
>>>over for the second use, but then the margin of error for
>>>overtorquing becomes much smaller.
>>
>>you can use these washers several times. i do, but i /don't/ flip
>>because that limits the degree of deformation it incurrs each time,
>>hence they can be used over. not ideal of course, but as long as they
>>still seal, it's not a problem.
>
>
>
> I'm reluctant to reuse just because of the thread-stripping problem.

understood. and much more safe. that said, stripping shouldn't be a
problem unless the plug is habitually over-torqued. it only needs to be
tight enough to seal, and with an aluminum washer, that's not that
tight. if i've planned ahead, i'll always use a new washer, but when
i've ordered a package of filters & forgotten to order the washers at
the same time, i've discovered that unabused washers continue to seal
quite well.

>
>
>
>>best to stick with oem.
>>
>
>
>
> Amen!!
>

Elmo P. Shagnasty wrote:
> In article >,
> pencilcup > wrote:
>
>
>>The Honda manual recommends that the washer be replaced with every oil
>>change. As a result, I end up going to a Honda dealer and pay a
>>premium for a fairly commoditized service.
>
>
> You could simply make one trip to the dealer and buy a bunch of the
> washers. Then you could have Jiffy Lube use them as needed.
>
> Of course, you're never sure the Jiffy Lube guy actually uses it...
>
>

Or you could just do your own oil changes.


>
>>1) Is there a significant impact if this washer is not replaced? For
>>example, every other time or once a year???
>
>
> It's a one-use washer. It's a crush washer. It's designed to seal the
> bolt against the pan. Once crushed, any re-use of it won't serve the
> purpose. You might as well not use it.
>
>

Not exactly true. After a reuse it begins to loose it's effectiveness
but it wont catastrophically fail on you if you forget to swap it out
one time. Add to this you can re-anneal the all metal type, those that
are built of a metal encase fibrous material less so.

It's _supposed_ to be replaced each time, not a MUST replace each time.

Follow your own council though. This free advice over the Internet is
worth what you pay for it.


>
>>2) Is it possible to buy the washer myself and have it changed at a
>>non-Honda shop?
>
> Of course. There's no magic to it.
>

Yepper, this is the 'me too' part of the post.


TBerk