Sump plug washer

Is it just me or are these things an absolute pain the sphincter to remove? I'm talking about the genuine Suzuki collapsible aluminium ones. I've found I have to hold the washer in a pair of vice grips whilst ratchet spannering the plug. I was kinda relieved yesterday when my local shop was out of them and put me onto a Honda flat metal washer that fit. Half the price (at a whole $1!!!) and not f@#$ing around to get it off at next oil change

I lift one edge of the washer up bit with a screwdriver and then cut the washer with a good pair of side-cutters .

can I just ask?

I`m guessing your current one is leaking? other wise don`t bother to change it unless it is.

on one of my bikes, the same one is 12yrs old, and 180 000kms, and still doesn`t leak

Cardboard Tube Samurai wrote:Is it just me or are these things an absolute pain the sphincter to remove? I'm talking about the genuine Suzuki collapsible aluminium ones. I've found I have to hold the washer in a pair of vice grips whilst ratchet spannering the plug. I was kinda relieved yesterday when my local shop was out of them and put me onto a Honda flat metal washer that fit. Half the price (at a whole $1!!!) and not f@#$ing around to get it off at next oil change

It should be either aluminium or copper so that it will flex to fit tight when the bolt is tightened.  I hope you didn't get a steel washer.

+1 what Hammy said!!!!!

Ally and Copper are soft for this purpose, they act as a seal, as on all fluid couplings.

Never changed one .

I've never changed one on anything I've done an oil change on.
I did note on the last car service one is listed as replaced but I bet it's the original. Not worth tackling the local Holden service mgr over $1.75

Back in the good (bad??) old days we used to anneal copper head gaskets (and I think sump plug gaskets from memory) so they were nice and soft and sealed well.

Copper is a good choice.  I used a red fibre washer for plumbing applications until the next oil change once - it worked, but the plug had a tendency to loosen - had to keep an eye on it.  Don't use these.  I've still got the original aluminium one on the Bandit.  It's still quite good.  Steel?  No good.  They always leak and encourage to over-torque the plug to overcome this.

I change mine at the major service ( every 4th oil change ) .......................but I'm obsessive compulsive .

Damn. Force of habit has just had me changing it at every oil change, like I do with cars. If there's no need to, I guess I'll go back to the aluminium one on the next change and just reuse that from then on. Thanks all!