Drain plug washer...

[Cam Penner]

You can also buy a Fumoto valve (I did and never will look back...) and
never again have to remove a drain plug and replace a plug washer. Much
neater also.

If only there was a similar feature on filters. The only
time I get any drips of oil on me are when I pull the
bloody filter off. Yeah, I've tried punching a hole in it
with a screwdriver first, but then there's oil on the
outside of the filter when I go to twist it off.

I love the fumoto though. Only disappointment is that you
don't get the benefit until the SECOND change after you buy
it. It was a bit of a letdown to shell out the bucks for a
fancy drain valve, and then STILL have to drain the oil the
old way one last time. From then on - never regretted it.

 

[Chris Phillipo]

If only there was a similar feature on filters. The only
time I get any drips of oil on me are when I pull the
bloody filter off. Yeah, I've tried punching a hole in it
with a screwdriver first, but then there's oil on the
outside of the filter when I go to twist it off.

I love the fumoto though. Only disappointment is that you
don't get the benefit until the SECOND change after you buy
it. It was a bit of a letdown to shell out the bucks for a
fancy drain valve, and then STILL have to drain the oil the
old way one last time. From then on - never regretted it.

Any idea where to get one of these online?

 

[Edward Hayes]

You don't heat treat a copper washer you anneal it to keep it soft. The
correct way to recondition or anneal a copper washer is to heat it slowly
(several minutes) to just below melting (red heat) and SLOWLY let it cool.
ed

 

[Henry Paul]

Annealing copper will soften it after it has become work hardened.

 

[Henry Paul]

My dad was a refrigeration mechanic for about 20 years. He taught me about
annealing copper to soften after it has become work hardened.

--
Henry Paul

You don't heat treat a copper washer you anneal it to keep it soft. The
correct way to recondition or anneal a copper washer is to heat it slowly
(several minutes) to just below melting (red heat) and SLOWLY let it cool.
ed

 

[meld_b]

OK... so somewhere along the line I became cheap. After re-using a
copper washer on a SAAB with a cast oil pan for years, I have a bit of
trouble with the idea of needing to change the washer EVERY time. But
the economics and the dealership being what they are (open 'til midnight
for one thing) I think I'm going to end up there more often than not.

I have to say that the small "divot" in the copper washer, showing
compressed vs. new seems way smaller than difference between new and old
crush washer, so reusing a copper washer is probably less risky than
reusing the crush washer.

Does the extra length of the valve cause any issues? Has anyone ever had
an issue with one?
-meld

 

[Peter Johnston]

Your local city dump typically has a recycling container for both the oil
and filters. Here, the price of admission is a $5 dollar minimum, so save
it up and take a bunch of trash with you at the sdame time.