Drain Plug Gasket
 

How often should I change the gasket on the oil drain plug. Some say every time you change the oil. Is that an overkill?
Marty

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

IMO, yup, overkill. I reuse till it won't seal - many oil changes later.

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

Well, Synchro, that's kinda what I was thinking. Mine is dripping a little and I've never changed the gasket in the 28 years I've owned the car. Just got a new one from Snyder's to put in.
Marty

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

I think it also depends on which gasket you get. You can reuse the hard fiber ones but the copper ones aren't as forgiving.

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

Mine has been in for 60 years that I know of, no leaks.

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

I had one seeping a little while we were away on one of our long trips so I used a little dab of Loctite #3 (aviation gasket) on it. NEVER do that. It took so much oomph to get it undone that the boss holding the drain plug came lose in the sump. The only way I could change the oil (we were about 3,000 miles from home) was to drop the sump, tip out the old oil, refit the sump and refill. That's not the sort of thing I like doing on the run.
In future, I might use a bit of the yellow Teflon tape but no #3!

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

One has to be careful using plastic for drain plug gaskets. One time I had the modern car serviced at a "quick lube" place, a few days later I noticed a small oil leak at the plug. On closer inspection I saw that the gasket looked odd. I took the car back to the "quick lube" place and watched while the attendant removed the plug and the oil. The gasket had partially melted and deformed enough to leak. The gasket was replaced w/a copper one, fresh oil added and no more leak.
So, if using plastic for making oil drain plug gaskets, make sure it can "take the heat". Don't forget that the oil in an engine runs 20°-40° hotter than the coolant.

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

I don’t see why it is an issue. Mike’s A-Fordable has the fiber drain plug gasket for $0.25 and the copper one for $0.95. Seems like replacing them each time you do an oil change is cheap insurance to prevent the possibility of a leak.

I suppose you could take the used copper ones to the swap meet and sell them for two for a dollar.

David Serrano

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

several years ago, on a small order from a supplier I added 10 gaskets, $2.50. I change gasket every time. $.25 each change is not much to waste and I don't have to tighten the plug so tight

Re: Drain Plug Gasket
 

I re-use a copper gasket and smear some rtv on the gasket.