Here’s One of My Doofus Moments For You

[Jason in DLH]

I’ve been trying to track down a small oil leak for quite some time now.

The other day I was watching a retired mechanic give suggestions while changing his oil (been changing mine off and on for 20+ years, but why the heck not I thought). He eventually opens a bag full of new oil drain plugs, reaches in, and grabs a new one to put on and tosses the old one and says that there is a gasket on there that should be replaced each change.

I have never noticed that darn gasket in 20+ years and simply reused the same gasket/plug over and over. I’m certain that’s what’s causing my small leak and will be changing it next oil change. I don’t think I’ll change the plug each oil change though. Maybe once it starts leaking again.

 

[drakon543]

as a regular of having atleast 1 beater that i care extremely little about ive had many oil pan plug with the actual seal missing. its definitely not ideal but ive never had one leak enough to cause anything to be concerned about.

 

[Jason in DLH]

as a regular of having atleast 1 beater that i care extremely little about ive had many oil pan plug with the actual seal missing. its definitely not ideal but ive never had one leak enough to cause anything to be concerned about.

Yeah...I’m not to concerned either. Just was driving me crazy seeing the little oil drop ready to drip on the garage floor, but never does. Some nights I say to the little booger “come on...go ahead...you know you want to.” But stays clinging on the bottom of the pan.

 

[adventurenali92]

I managed to over-torque my oil pan drain bolt, and snap it in half two years ago when putting it back in to the pan. Apparently I was a lot stronger than I knew. Lol. Little bugger had to get drilled out and replaced. New gasket on it. Wonder if it needs replacing again cuz I’ve spent roughly two grand in replacing all the engine seals tracking down and oil leak and I still see little droplets of oil occasionally done there.

 

[91RS]

The drain plugs in most GM vehicles do not need the gasket replaced every oil change. It is rubber, not a crush washer. The crush washer type should definitely be replaced every oil change.

 

[Jason in DLH]

The drain plugs in most GM vehicles do not need the gasket replaced every oil change. It is rubber, not a crush washer. The crush washer type should definitely be replaced every oil change.

That’s good to know, thanks for the info!