Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2019 01:30:43 +0000
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: copper crush washers
In-Reply-To: <1780454866.958967.1567297289390@mail.yahoo.com>
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Sidestory: I was in Tennessee, on my way back from a trip to New England back to San Diego. Needed an oil change. Went to WalMart. I've done it before with Walmart, although they were baffled at little at first at which end of the car the motor was. Figured it would be OK (with some handholding). Nope. Lady took all kinds of info about my vehicle, what I wanted to do, etc. Said it would take 1.5 hours. Plus whatever it cost. Nope.
Also...it was scary hot and humid in that area at that time of year.
Went back into Walmart. Bought a $0.97 funnel; bought a drain pan for a couple bucks. Changed oil behind Walmart. Old oil went into 5 quart container (the new oil one) via the funnel. Went next door to AutoZone where they took it for recycling. Filter and rags and newly purchased oil drain pan (minimal oil on it) went into dumpster behind AutoZone.
I always travel with a proper Oil Filter and proper hollow copper crush washer....for situations like this.
Maybe I wasn't 100% in my disposal technique, especially regarding whatever residual oil was in filter, but I really tried to get it all out into drain pan; got most of it, I am sure. At worst....a couple tablespoons.
Ended up the day with some prime Tennessee pork rib BBQ at my campsite.....hey, somehow it always works out with Vanagons.
Moral of the story: Plan ahead when on a long roadtrip.
On Saturday, August 31, 2019, 5:26:23 PM PDT, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote:
I guess my price in lot of 50 was about $0.50 each from BelRay. Not too bad for something that works; when oil drips get splayed all over underside of engine, it's a bummer, lots of effort for cleanup. Anyway, internet purchase was way easier than driving all around town to find a solution.
The overall cost when considering cost of Oil, cost of Oil filter, my time and hassle....the price of the crush washer is almost invisible.
(ALSO: I am immensely pleased and satisfied with your invention....the aluminum bracket that allows a SOLID TDI starter motor to connect with a Vanagon/Subie 2.2. Very well done my man! I drove all the way from St. Louis to San Diego, parking a little downhill each night at campsite so I could bumpstart the motor the next morning....ugh...that was not a happy time for me. All fixed with your excellent bracket and the TDI starter motor.)
Not sure of Aluminum vs. Copper. Both seem OK. Soft metals....allow sealing. For me, the hollow copper worked....the solid copper didn't.
Rich
San Diego
On Saturday, August 31, 2019, 4:09:32 PM PDT, Karl Mullendore <tdiguru@WESTYVENTURES.COM> wrote:
That's a lot of $ for a crush washer. I pay 13 cents US from my parts supplier. FWIW, back when I was still doing customer service the proper gasket was aluminium, has that changed?
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