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MG TD TF 1500 - Crush washer mystery - solved

After 40 years (or possibly more) I have finally stopped the leak at my cylinder head oil feed. None of the popular T-Series catalogues are clear, on just which washer should be used. In an earlier thread, we beat this subject to death including the heat-treating of solid copper washers.

In fact, no solid copper washers are part of the standard spec. All parts catalogues merely say ‘washer, banjo’ (Abingdon part 117) or Moss (part 143), and in both cases, two are required at each end of the oil feed pipe. No mention of any other kind of washer.

The B&G catalogue is the only one to call them a ‘copper/asbestos’ washer, which is a dead give-away for a crush washer. At last we know which washer is needed and how many.

You can see from the below picture, just how far off-base I was. A badly damaged solid washer between the banjo and the head, and an equally bad copper crush washer on the outside; and neither doing any good. The wrong combination and bad ones, at that.

I have just installed an ‘Earl’s 3/8" aluminium crush washer’ on each side of the banjo and voila, problem solved!

Wish I’d done that 40 years ago. Think of the oil that has gone on the ground!

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.

Gordon A Clark

I wonder if they're available in Oz?
P Hehir

This is a similar washer from McMaster Carr. Max temp is 225 deg F. I don't know what temp is at the connection point though. A bigger one might work on the sump drain plug?

Peter Dahlquist

Peter,
Cassell Marine list aluminium crush washers on their website .They are at Windsor Road, Vineyard in NSW
Max Irvine

GM went to something similar many years ago for oil pan drain plugs. Here's one example:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rnb-65274/overview/
Rob Edwards

Thanks Max
P Hehir

That Summit Racing washer looks less like a crush washer and more like what is called a Dowty washer. It's a metal ring with a center of rubberlike material which crushes down to the thickness of the metal ring. Quite effective for sealing oil leaks. They are available in various sizes including SAE, BSP, and BSF.

A crush washer is the kind of thing you'll find on spark plugs - a thin metal ring which is turned back on itself so it compresses when the corresponding bolt is tightened.
Lew Palmer

Gordon, had you ordered the washers from Abingdon Spares you would have received a crush-type of washer. Bud
Bud Krueger

>what is called a Dowty washer. It's a metal ring with a center of rubberlike material which crushes down to the thickness of the metal ring.

...which is what the Earl's washer looks like to me....
Rob Edwards

That Summit Racing washer looks less like a crush washer and more like what is called a Dowty washer. It's a metal ring with a center of rubberlike material which crushes down to the thickness of the metal ring. Quite effective for sealing oil leaks. They are available in various sizes including SAE, BSP, and BSF.
Lew Palmer

Guess I have been doing something right, because I use the thick brass washers and they seal just fine.
Bruce Cunha

Earl's calls those silver colored/rubber deals "Stat-O-Seals". Similar principle to the Dowty. George

George Butz

>That Summit Racing washer looks less like a crush washer and more like what is called a Dowty washer. It's a metal ring with a center of rubberlike material which crushes down to the thickness of the metal ring.

Exactly. And that's what the Earl's washer looks like to me.
Rob Edwards

We know that the copper/asbestos washers should be considered "one time" washers. My question is: are the Dowty and Earl's washers reusable or once crushed, a pitch item?
Jim Merz

The name Dowty washer covers a broad spectrum, a seal with a metal outer ring, such as a wheel bearing seal, is actually a Dowty washer. The Summit Racing washers are Dowty washers. Crush washers are all metal with asbestos type material inside the folds, as spark plug washers are and will take a lot of heat. I personally wouldn't re use them, there fairly cheap and not worth the chance of a leak. JMHO. PJ
Paul S Jennings

I've reused them multiple times on drain plugs but in an pressurized application I'd err on the side of safety and replace. Although the particular application here (oil pressure pipe) shouldn't have to come apart very often!
Rob Edwards

This thread was discussed between 19/09/2014 and 21/09/2014

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