First Oil Change

They haven’t put washers on the oil pans on these trucks in a long time. Your 2020 truck 100% never rolled off the factory line with a washer on the bolt.

 

I am just going by the dealership and what Toyota says…https://parts.conicellitoyotaofcons...0dW5kcmEmeT0yMDIwJnQ9c3I1JmU9NS03bC12OC1nYXM=

 

That’s just a general compatibility listing. My 18 tundra doesn’t have one. My wife’s 18 highlander doesn’t have one. My mother’s 19 highlander doesn’t have one. My MILs 20 Camry doesn’t have one. A friend of mines 18 Tundra doesn’t have one. His wife’s 19 4 Runner didn’t have one. I had an 08 and 16 sequoia before, neither had oil pan drain washers. Not a single vehicle leaks or leaked oil. Toyota stopped using washers a long time ago.

Can you put one? Sure. But the torque spec on the oil pan bolt is not rated for a washer to be in between the bolt and the pan.

 

For you that think yours doesn't have a plug washer, it does unless someone removed it and didn't replace it. It is just on there so tight that it seems like it is just part of the pan. My 2020 absolutely had one because I took it off when I put on the Fumoto valve and used the gasket that came with it. I did the same on my 2023 4Runner just this last weekend. Again, it looked like it was just part of the pan. I used a nylon gasket scraper and it came off after a little work. You don't need to remove it and replace it. I can go dig through the trash right now to find it and show it to you if you want.

It isn't a crush washer; I think it is just there for protecting the threads/pan from over tightening. The only reason I took mine off is to install the Fumoto, and I probably didn't even need to do that. I just wanted the Fumoto up against it with its own hardware (and none I have done that way have ever leaked). I have a whole bag of them that I'll probably never use since I use Fumotos if anyone needs one or two, LOL. Just send me a SASE and I'll send you a couple.

Here is a thread with good photos of how they can be deceiving. https://www.tundras.com/threads/oil-drain-plug-washer.68159/

 

Well I have to disagree with you. I bought my 2020 new and have personally done every oil change on it since purchase. It came with a washer and I installed new washers every time till last fall when I installed the Valvomax valve. The addition of the Valvomax was one of the best things I've done with my truck.

My wife has a 2016 Mazda CX-5 that I have also done all oil changes on. It also uses crush washer's witch I always change, except for the one time I somehow forgot about it. I realized there was a problem when sometime later there started to be some oil drips on the garage floor, that's when I found there was a slow leak from the drain bolt. I even tried to snug the bolt some, but to no avail. Since then, I've always replaced the washer and never had any leak since.

 

Found it in the box with my old filter from my 15k oil change on my 2023 4Runner just this past weekend.

 

I actually thought the washer was part of the pan on my first oil change. Then I realized it was just absolutely jammed and stuck on there, I very lightly tapped it with a soft punch and it popped right off. For years, I switched out the washers every oil change. I ended up switching to the Fumoto valve and have never looked back, one of the best upgrades ever.

I have Fumoto's on the Sequoia and Tundra.

 

im in the approaching 90k w/ original washer club. stuck to pan. not a single drip.

 

Ok. Been changing my oil since day 1. Never had a washer. lol. I’m at 90k miles now and change the oil every 5k. Never had a single drip or even a seep at the bolt.

 

It's probably stuck to your pan so you never notice it I bought my 19 brand new and the washer has been stuck to the pan since my first oil change.

 

It’s definitely not stuck to the pan or bolt. I clean the bolt and pan surface every time before I put the bolt back in. I can 100% assure there is no washer there.

 

Well put one on next time . There only. 99 cents.

 

Why? It’s unnecessary. It’s like putting nitrogen in your tires. If you’re more comfortable with it, then go for it. But it’s not needed.

 

If no problems aka leaks, then keep doing what you're doing. Nothing wrong.

 

Well someone screwed up somewhere, one of these should have been installed at the factory. I only know because I have a 19 that came with one from the factory. Its possible that it just ended up in your drain pan or something when you first changed the oil. I do understand that it doesnt prevent leaks, its only there so you dont damage the pan. Mine has been stuck to the pan for 60,000 miles but if it falls off Ill replace it, it makes more sense to snug the bolt up to a washer than right onto the pan.

 

No. I’ve never let the bolt drop into the pan when draining the oil. It was never there. Nor was there one on any of the other Toyotas I listed above.

 

I ordered some Amazon ones that claimed to be genuine and had great reviews.

I found that the material was too soft and the drain plugs did not hold torque. They worked loose and my tundra drain plug was removable with my fingers at the next oil change.

From now on, I'm only getting these from a dealer.

 

OR and I'm just saying or you let the bolt drop on each an every vehicle. It happens

 

Lol. I’ve never let the bolt drop into any pan in the past 25 years of doing my own oil changes.

 

Probably a good idea, I only put that picture for reference but I have some OEM ones ready to go if mine ever decides to come off my pan.

Well, its supposed to be there. Here is the parts diagram from toyota of our oil pan, if you see where I circled 12101B is the washer, if you google 12101B you will see the blue washer come up. Here is where that picture is from.
https://autoparts.toyota.com/products/product/plug-w-head-straight-screw-9034112012

 

Just so I'm understanding. All the rest of us have or had them on all of our Toyotas, the schematics clearly show them as an OEM installed part, and Toyota makes replacement washers and makes them plentiful and easy to get even though no one should need them, but none of all those Toyota vehicles you have owned or worked on never had one AND Toyota hasn't used them in years. Got it.


This product fits 3430 vehicle variants.
TOYOTA : 49 models, 3328 variants between 1991 and 2024
SCION : 5 models, 102 variants between 2004 and 2016

 

Yes. Why would I lie? lol. What benefit do I gain from lying about a washer that I can confirm has never been there since day 1. And 6 years and 88k miles later, there has never been a single drop or weep of oil from the oil pan bolt? I can tell you what though, I benefit from not having to worry about changing a washer every oil change because they’ve never been on any Toyota I’ve owned. And I’ve had a bunch. And I’ve changed the oil myself on every single one of them.

 

I don't think you are lying. I just think you have no idea what you are talking about and the evidence is right in front of you. It is probably right in front of you everytime you drain your oil pan too. Nobody is saying it has anything with dripping/leaking oil either. Nobody is telling you to change it every oil change. The washer is there and the fact you think it isn't is perfect for a guy like you. You do what you want with your things. We will too.

 

Ok. I’m lost. And none of my vehicles have washers but none of them leak either. And no. It’s not “right in front of me”. There is no washer stuck or hanging out or dropped onto the ground. I’m not just a yahoo trying to figure out how to change oil. I’ve been around and working on vehicles all my life. I’ve rebuilt motors. Built boosted motors. Ported heads. Installed nitrous on motors. Done all my own motor, suspension and maintenance on every vehicle I’ve ever had. I would know what a stuck washer on an oil pan would look like. Lol.

 

Well do what you like, we are not forcing you to put on a washer..just informing you.

I get my washers from the Toyota dealer parts department and also use Royal Purple Synthetic but that a whole other thread that goes for miles.

 

Well thats one hell of a coincidence considering they are supposed to be there. I've been doing oil changes on vehicles for awhile now and have never seen one without a washer. Typically its an actual crush washer that does make sense to replace but I have admittedly reused them. Toyota doesn't use crush washers so you dont necessarily have to replace it but it definitely should be there and you're on an island not having one, doesn't bother me any that you dont but you definitely are supposed to.

 

Sure. I wouldn't let you air up my tires. You should have your own YouTube channel if you don't already.

 

Not surprised you would say this. You definitely sound like the type of person who has to get somebody else to come check their tires because the light came on, on the dash. Lol.

 

All this because of an aluminum washer.

 

All this fuss about the washer.

The real question is why bothering with this at all when you can install a Fumoto and make your life so much easier and forget about the washers all together.