I see this is your first forum post, so welcome to the forum from Oregon! :biggrin:

Sounds like you were given the wrong size crush washer?

We have Fumoto oil drain valves on all our vehicles. You can view my write up here in my Member Journal: Fumoto Oil Drain Valve is reinstalled! :wink:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]

 

@Scotty_B Subaru has used the same 20mm crush washer since the beginning of time - it's not unique to Foresters or any particular model or year. The part number has changed over time (haven't they all?) but the washer is the same.

I think the current part number is 11126AA000.

An older part number might have been 803916010 . . . but an older Subaru fan should confirm this.

Regardless of the Subaru part number, the actual washer should be the same. It's possible the parts clerk at the dealer picked the wrong item. Maybe there was a bad batch. Maybe the parts clerk was smoking a bad batch.

Measure the diameters of the mating surface on your oil drain plug. Then go back to the dealer and let them straighten out the problem. Carry a ruler with you ;-)

 

Subaru has used the same 20mm crush washer since the beginning of time - it's not unique to Foresters or any particular model or year. The part number has changed over time (haven't they all?) but the washer is the same.

I bought a filter and crush washer from my local dealership for my 2018 XT. I thought the crush washer looked a bit small, but whatever, it was the first oil change for this car. I changed the oil last week and no longer have the packaging for the crush washer. According to the dealer invoice, the part number for the crush washer was 803916010 "gasket oil pan."

I looked back through my parts and still have some unused crush washers for my 2007 XS (NA). The part number on the Subaru packaging for those old crush washers is 11126AA000 and the washers are much larger and wouldn't fit the 2018 XT.

 

If 20mm and that part # is correct, then I got the shaft!

Unfortunately, the closest dealership is 50 miles away.

Curious, though, if drain plugs on Subarus are the same, then what is this crush washer for?

 

If 20mm and that part # is correct, then I got the shaft!

Some days you get the elevator. Some days you get the shaft.

Curious, though, if drain plugs on Subarus are the same, then what is this crush washer for?

To keep the oil from leaking out ;-)

There are a variety of ways to seal a hole. For example, you could have a tapered pipe-thread style plug. That's what Subaru uses on their rear differentials.

Or, you could have a plug with straight threads plus a flat mating surface that mates against a flat surface on the pan - which is what Subaru uses on the front differential and the engine sump.

The washer to make this latter scheme work could be copper, fiber or plastic or a metal crush washer - the latter being a one-use device. Some vehicles use a soft copper washer (or plastic or mystery material) - which may be multi-use devices, but I've seen them break or flatten over time so as not to seal. At least with Subaru, there's no beating about the bush - you use a new crush washer every time. It may not be pretty, but it is simple.

 

Curious, though, if drain plugs on Subarus are the same, then what is this crush washer for?

Not entirely sure what you're asking, but the crush washer is a gasket... the seal. The drain plug has straight cut threads & not tapered cut like a sealing pipe thread.

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]

 

I prefer soft copper sealing washers that you can buy at your local auto parts store. The nice thing about those, is that they can be reused. :wink:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]

 

Okay. Odd. The old part # seems to match. The 16x21x2. 3 seems to match too.

This washer doesn't even come close to fitting over the threads of my drain plug threads, though.

I bought used. Is it possible the oil pan has been replaced with an aftermarket one and my drain plug is different sized from OEM??

 

Possible, but you said you bought crush washer for the ATF drain plug & they were a different size. As I recall, the plugs are the same size.

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]

 

I changed the fluid in the diffs recently, and the transmission fluid as well. I used thread sealer, as recommended by the service manual, on the diffs. And like I said, the transmission washer didn't fit either, so I used the old washer for that with a little thread sealer and torqued it a few extra lbs from spec.

So I'm not particularly worried about the oil leaking from the drain plug - like I said, I used an aluminum gasket and some thread sealer this time.

I may try a copper gasket or maybe even the Fumoto plug in the future.

I'm mostly curious if others have had this problem and why the OEM washers I purchased were so far off because the (old) part # seems right.

 

I've had several N/A EJ powered Subarus starting with a 99 RS and they all used the same crush washer.

My new 2016 Forester with the FB25 has a smaller drain plug, thus a smaller crush washer. The old ones I still had for the EJ were too big. I think all FB/FA series motors use the new smaller washer.

I don't have part numbers for the old one, but the new smaller washer is labeled 803916010 like your picture. If that's what you were given, then you were sold washers for the newer FB, not the EJ in your 2003. If that's the case, the parts guy you bought them from didn't have his head on straight.

 

Hmmm. Like I said, the dealership is 50 miles away.

Anyone use aftermarket crush washers, like Dorman? Any good? They are easy to purchase on Amazon. I suppose I could try again with OEM from a Subaru parts dealer online.

Or go with copper from a local parts dealer. Or invest in the Fumoto.

Or maybe I'm just over thinking this. Period.

This forum has been great resource for me, btw. Thanks for all the quick responses!

 

I'm sure you could find what you need at your local auto parts store.

I live on the West coast & I buy my factory/OEM parts from Jackie, @SubaruPartsGirl here on the forum. She's a forum supporting vendor & a parts wiz! Her direct number at Annapolis Subaru is (866) 509-3019.

Tell her you're a forum member, as she gives forum members a discount! :wink:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]

 

Thanks, Bobby!

I've seen Subaru Parts Girl's posts here. Gotta do my timing belt next year, probably in late spring or summer. Saw her kit, so I might be contacting her.

Funny, I've been lurking on this forum for a while. Helped me through my ac idle pulley and EVAC issues. But my first post is about a dang oil plug gasket, of all things!

Thanks all, for the replies!