Mindless ramblings about crush washers

[Quickstep192]

I'm used to copper crush washers like those used on our Porsches and my VWs that you can actually "feel" crush when you tighten down on them, but wife's Honda has an aluminum washer for the drain plug. It bugs me that it doesn't crush when you tighten down on it.

Is there a benefit to the aluminum washers?

Would it be a bad idea to use the "old style" copper crush washers?

As I said,mindless ramblings, but I just don't like these aluminum jobbies.....

[911bruce]

I would use what ever was on there OEM, just my 2 cents.

[adias]

The G-series (3.2) uses a copper washer (900 123 011 20 A22x27) on the oil tank and an aluminum washer (900 123 118 30 A22x27) on the engine sump. Material differences have to do with location and materials.

[Canada Kev]

Originally Posted by adias

The G-series (3.2) uses a copper washer (900 123 011 20 A22x27) on the oil tank and an aluminum washer (900 123 118 30 A22x27) on the engine sump. Material differences have to do with location and materials.

I use the aluminum washer for both the case and tank.

Actually, after checking, the copper washer is NLA and the aluminum is recommended for the oil tank drain as well.

[manbridge 74]

Typically Porsche will use a copper washer on steel to steel interface though an aluminum washer is now the superseded part for most aircooleds.

[offroader1006]

I have used Al crush washer for years, and they do have a recognizable crush when they reach a certain torque. Can be clearly seen on used washers. I have used copper and Al interchangeably.

[chrisbalich]

as a former technician, I 100% prefer aluminum to copper for crush washers. the aluminum typically is much easier to crush and therefore requires less torque to seal better.

[Snitzler]

I like copper, when it work hardens from use, you can anneal it with a torch and bring it back to O condition.

[Kraftwerk]

Aluminum is cheaper and very plentiful, there is more al. than copper in the world, anyway.

[Biff]

An actual aluminum crush washer is typically a round semi hollow washer that when tightened down will compress and flatten. I've never come across a version similar to this in copper. The copper "crush washers" I've used are actually sealing washers.