I changed the oil on my wife’s Camry last week. No biggie, as I do this regularly. A week passes, she heads away on a 700 mile trip in her car. As I’m doing stuff in the garage today, I find what seems to be the washer-like gasket for her oil drain plug. It’s the right size (near as I can tell), is very oily, and not covered in dust or spiderwebs like the other stuff underneath that shelf. Her car is the only place this could have come from, so I’m pretty sure what it is.
Is the drain plug more likely to vibrate loose without this gasket? I torqued it pretty well, and if it leaks a drop or two it’s no big deal. I just don’t want a sudden leak while she’s on the highway. This is the first time I’ve ever lost the gasket.
Thanks for any answers on this. She’s at her destination, but will start the six hour drive home tomorrow. I’m curious if I should send her to a Jiffy lube to get it checked. (?)
Have her take it to a garage and replace the gasket, or the whole filter. Jiffy Lube or someplace like that, possibly. Not worth risking a serious loss of oil pressure on a long road trip.
The gasket is for providing an oil seal - it’s not a lockwasher. If you didn’t see any oil under the car before she left, she should be fine. Just reminder her that if the oil light comes on, to stop immediately - no driving to the nearest service station!
Have her get the oil checked before returning. It should be leaking some. Change the oil again when the car is home. You might be able to just put the seal back if you are quick with your finger and the oil is cool. You will only lose two cups all over yourself.
Thanks everybody. It is the o-ring for the drain plug, not the filter.
Now that I’ve checked, there is a small oil puddle under her spot in the garage. Less than a teaspoon, but it’s there (and this car doesn’t leak at all).
I’ll warn her of the problem before she launches for home tomorrow, and add extra cautions that Oil-light = immediate shutdown, period. I’ll do the “cover the hole with your finger and replace the gasket really fast” dance when she gets back home. I just wasn’t sure if the o-ring doubled as a lock-washer in this case.
Given that she’s already made the first leg of the trip, chances are it will be fine. It does make sense to have her check the oil before heading home. Unless it’s more than ½ qt. low, nothing more is called for than checking it at gas stops on the way back.
ETA: If it is over ½ qt. low, it will need to be topped up (add one quart) at some point before or during the return trip.
Though unlikely, it’s not impossible that the plug is working its way loose. For the peace of mind that comes from knowing the plug is tight, the thing to do is have it inspected by someone who can verify that. Unfortunately, someone who truly has the competence to make that determination along with the level-headedness not to over- or underreact to the situation is not likely to be working at a fast lube place, or for that matter any place open on Sunday. Going that route is very likely to end up with the oil being changed again in order to replace the drain plug washer, whether or not it is truly necessary.