Unpopular opinion: I stopped reusing crush washers on drain plugs after a $600 mistake

Sandra Nelson · 2026-10-19T10:25:03.973211+00:00

For years I was the guy who wiped off the old crush washer and put it back on, figured it was a scam to sell parts. Then last month a customer's truck came back two days after an oil change with a drip, and I ended up eating a new drain plug, a tow from the lot on Vine Street, and an hour of cleanup on their driveway. The washer had squished flat enough that it wasn't sealing right anymore, and I never noticed because it looked fine on the bench. $600 out of my pocket for a part that costs under two bucks. Now I keep a whole box on the shelf and swap it every single time, no exceptions. What I learned is that a part being cheap doesn't mean it's not doing a real job. Any of you fought this one with your boss or a customer who swears the old washer is fine?

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Unpopular opinion: I stopped reusing crush washers on drain plugs after a $600 mistake | Auto Mechanics - Rigidtalk