No, but it's a solid suggestion, and therefore valid to be mentioned. It's not like he derailed the conversation with a sales pitch. Just today i pointed my Dad in this direction when he brought up VW wanting a new drain plug and washer at every oil change.
How tight are you making your drain plugs? I don’t torque mine with a torque wrench or anything, but it only takes a tiny tug after its finger tightened. I replace my first washer on my cars as the oem is usually painted onto the drain plug and or oil pan, so it’s obvious it’s the one out of the factory. After I replace that, I don’t usually need another. My Mazda goes on 5k oil changes and just did its 90k oil change, washer is still perfectly fine.
30 ft/lbs, using a torque wrench
Me too, but I quit buying those sandwich style as I have to pry them off the oil pan. I bought a bag of 100 aluminum ones for like $8 and have a lifetime supply.
If I am feeling lazy, I just tighten until the washer starts to yeild/crush and stop. Drain bolts aren't under extreme pressure or vibration, so don't need to be extremely tight. One reason I do my own oil changes, invariably when I get my cars back from the dealer they are either leaking a bit from too loose, or when I do the change I practically need a breaker bar to get them loose.
