PSA: I cranked my oil drain plug to 80 ft-lbs for 2 years and the crush washer was the real problem

Joseph Stone · 2026-10-10T01:25:03.582436+00:00

I kept seeing a few drops on the driveway after every change on my 2012 Civic, so I just kept torquing that plug harder. Last month the bolt rounded off and I had to get it drilled out at a shop in Aurora for $90. The mechanic handed me the old plug and showed me the washer was flattened paper thin and never sealing, so all that extra force did nothing. I had been buying the same filter and drain plug combo from the parts store and never once asked for a new washer. Now I put a fresh one on every time and the pan has been dry for 6 oil changes, around 30,000 miles. Anyone else wreck a bolt because they kept tightening instead of replacing a 50 cent part?

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PSA: I cranked my oil drain plug to 80 ft-lbs for 2 years and the crush washer was the real problem | Busted But Not Broken - Rigidtalk