Rotax 912 oil tank crush washer.

[danny_galaga]

I was going to do an oil change this weekend, but realised I don't have a new crush washer for the oil tank, which it's recommended to change. I have a feeling my oil tank just has a copper washer, but I could be misremembering it. What are people's experiences here? Can a copper washer be substituted? If I need the crush washer, where are people buying them from?

[Moneybox]

As long as it hasn’t been over tightened before you’ll most likely be able to reuse it. If you can’t get you hands on one and it’s solid metal it could be annealed and reused.

My experience with purchasing Rotax parts is you could save a few bucks by buying an assortment box of sump plug washers from your local automotive part supply.

If the washer has a neoprene seal inserted then a hydraulic parts supplier should have one.

[Blueadventures]

11 hours ago, danny_galaga said:

I was going to do an oil change this weekend, but realised I don't have a new crush washer for the oil tank, which it's recommended to change. I have a feeling my oil tank just has a copper washer, but I could be misremembering it. What are people's experiences here? Can a copper washer be substituted? If I need the crush washer, where are people buying them from?

Reuse original one this time, make sure you use two spanners on drain nut. One for can hex and one on drain nut and undo between spanner forces.

Edited February 27 by Blueadventures

[skippydiesel]

11 hours ago, danny_galaga said:

"I have a feeling my oil tank just has a copper washer, but I could be misremembering it. What are people's experiences here? Can a copper washer be substituted? If I need the crush washer, where are people buying them from?"

It should be a "copper crush washer".

Yes any correctly sized sump style washer, can be substitutes  eg soft aluminium, solid copper, neoprene, etc.

The above washers can be purchase from almost any auto accessory supply store.

I purchased my "stash" from Floods at the same time that I purchased oil filters. I get x3 washers to filters, as I use the same crush washer on the magnet and I practise 50 hr oil changes, filter at 100 hrs.😈

 

[facthunter]

THAT would be a' single use' washer, so should not be reused, by rights   I'd also recommend filter and oil at the same time . Nev

[danny_galaga]

1 hour ago, facthunter said:

THAT would be a' single use' washer, so should not be reused, by rights   I'd also recommend filter and oil at the same time . Nev

Yes, there is a reason I'm doing this, as you would note from the oil filter cutter thread ☺️

 

Mind you, when I drove old clunkers, I used to change the filter every second oil change. And air filter? The engines still running , isn't it? I just didn't worry on a five hundred dollar car 😄

[facthunter]

THAT would be a' single use' washer, so should not be reused, by rights   I'd also recommend filter and oil at the same time . Particularly with an aircraft where the oil can be costly... so why not do the Job properly and cut the filter open as well? It's in an aeroplane. Nev

Edited February 28 by facthunter
expand

[facthunter]

Electrician arrived and power off for a while. 

  Old clunkers need filter changes more often. You are trying to ensure reliability. OK IF you just drive to the Pub and back. Nev

[BurnieM]

I had a few motorcycles (20-25?) and after the first one I never replaced the crush washer just keep reusing it. Never had a leak. The main thing is not to overtighten the drain plug.

 

Edited February 28 by BurnieM

[Moneybox]

2 hours ago, facthunter said:

Electrician arrived and power off for a while. 

  Old clunkers need filter changes more often. You are trying to ensure reliability. OK IF you just drive to the Pub and back. Nev

If you just drive to the pub and back you should change your oil more often.

[skippydiesel]

48 minutes ago, BurnieM said:

I had a few motorcycles (20-25?) and after the first one I never replaced the crush washer just keep reusing it. Never had a leak. The main thing is not to overtighten the drain plug.

 

There are "crush washers" and then there are other washers;

• The crush washers supplied by Rotax are really one use items (very thin formed/folded copper)- at a pinch may do a second period.
• Soft thick, aluminium, copper, washers can be used almost indefinitely, with care (as you suggest).
• Thick plastic/neoprene types, can also be used many times, with similar care but doubt you will get the X uses that the above may deliver.
• Rubber - with extreme care (very low tightening/torque) may give weep free service, once if you are lucky.

The old style thick aluminium, copper, plastic, are not see easy to find these days, in the the automotive stores😈

[Moneybox]

My brother bought a 1970 Mazda Capella new, took it back for the first free service and never removed the drain plug after that. It lived for nearly 200,000km before it was sold. He said he saved a fortune on service costs.

[danny_galaga]

3 hours ago, facthunter said:

Electrician arrived and power off for a while. 

  Old clunkers need filter changes more often. You are trying to ensure reliability. OK IF you just drive to the Pub and back. Nev

It takes a LOT to totally block an oil filter. And the oil itself, it was always pretty fresh, since I had to keep topping em up all the time. My worst was a Mustang I drove from Vancouver BC to Phoenix AZ. I could only buy 1 litre bottles of oil at the time. So I bought four and pretty much used them up in two weeks 😄

[facthunter]

Many oil filters are quite small these days. If they bypass even briefly Grunge can enter the Oilways. Old worn motors have more blowby , and therefore more oil contamination. Nev

[danny_galaga]

I ended up buying a couple of copper washers from the local mechanic. It was exactly the right size too (18 od 12 id) ☺️

 

The one that was on there was aluminium. It had just the slightest weep over the period I've run it, about 40 hours.

[facthunter]

One reason to use a single use Crush washer is to cope with a slight misalignment / damage of the Mating surfaces. An "encased" "O" ring is better and has the Bolt  Bottomed out  around the O ring so is  fail safe.  Also doesn't have to be tightened till your eyes water, or the thread strips . Nev

[Arron25]

14 hours ago, facthunter said:

One reason to use a single use Crush washer is to cope with a slight misalignment / damage of the Mating surfaces. An "encased" "O" ring is better and has the Bolt  Bottomed out  around the O ring so is  fail safe.  Also doesn't have to be tightened till your eyes water, or the thread strips . Nev

'Don't sump plugs hold the vehicles together" Seems that way after you get your car back from some service establishments .. or is 'tighten till it strips and backoff 1/2 a turn' Never quite sure😇

[facthunter]

And charge $110+ an hour for the Privilege.  Nev

[onetrack]

Chisels. Nobody mentioned a chisel. Chisels and sump plugs go together like apple pie and cream. I'd like a dollar for every sump plug I've come across that sported a heap of chisel gouges - and rounded corners.

[facthunter]

What about stillsons?  Nev

[facthunter]

Internal squares and allen key recesses rendered useless.. Check if your Mechanic wears a striped apron.. I've met about 5 good ones in my lifetime. IF you find a Good one hang on to him  but keep an eye on who he Hires.. They are only as good as their worst Mechanic..  Nev

[danny_galaga]

Well, hard to go wrong with the Rotax oil tank. Thanks to (Skippy?) for reminding me to use two spanners 🙂

[danny_galaga]

Correction - blue adventures advised two spanners. The oil tank is nowhere near as solid as a sump pan, so you risk tearing or cracking the weld 

Edited 17 hours ago by danny_galaga

[facthunter]

I's a fairly thin stainless steel tank if I recall correctly. A non-offset ring spanner would be the appropriate tool. Nev

[440032]

Plan B.

Fit a FUMOTO oil drain valve, once.