Practical Automotive Maintenance: Gasket Washers Etc
Watch This Course
$99 USD
-OR-
Or
8 easy payments of only $12.38 USD
Instant access. Easy checkout. No fees.
Gasket Washers Etc
02.35
| 00:00 | A sealing or crash washer is a crucial, but often overlooked component used in a range of different systems throughout a vehicle. |
| 00:07 | Like a standard washer, it sits under a bolt head or nut to distribute load evenly. |
| 00:12 | But it also incorporates a softer sealing material, like a gasket medium bonded to a metal core or something entirely metallic like aluminium or copper. |
| 00:22 | Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages and each suits different applications. |
| 00:27 | This means that when the fastener is tightened, the washer not only spreads pressure across the surface, but also compresses to form a reliable seal, preventing fluid or gases from escaping. |
| 00:39 | In the automotive realm, sealing washers are used whenever a joint needs both strength and sealing. |
| 00:44 | We find them in places like fuel and oil lines, coolant fittings, brake banjo bolts, and very commonly on sump, transmission and differential drain plugs. |
| 00:53 | Their job is to ensure that under pressure, vibration and temperature changes, no leaks develop. |
| 00:59 | While copper and aluminium washers are generally a single use item and should be replaced any time the fastener has been removed, gasket washers that use a rubber or similar material can be reused, but they still wear out over time. |
| 01:12 | Heat cycles can harden or crack the sealing material, chemical exposure from fuel, oil or hydraulic fluid can cause deterioration, and repeated tightening can flatten the washer, so it no, longer seals properly. |
| 01:24 | Signs that a gasket washer needs replacement are usually fairly obvious. |
| 01:28 | Leaks around a fitting or plug are the most telling, but we may also notice a fastener that doesn't feel like it's tightening correctly, because the washer has lost its compressibility. |
| 01:38 | On inspection, a washer that's cracked, brittle, corroded or visibly deformed should never be reused. |
| 01:43 | And for many critical applications, like brake lines, manufacturers specify replacing the gasket washer every single time the joint is undone, irrespective of what condition it appears to be in. |
| 01:54 | The reality is that for the most part at least, gasket washers are cheap and accessible enough that it's just best practice to replace them whenever we service the component they're sealing, whether they look damaged or not. |
| 02:06 | Let's quickly summarise the key points found in this module. |
| 02:08 | In automotive applications, sealing or crush washers may be small and inexpensive, but they play a critical role in keeping fluids contained in systems safe. |
| 02:18 | Aluminium and copper crush washers should be replaced any time the fastener they're attached to is removed, whereas a gasket washer can be reused providing that there's no damage or wear. |
| 02:28 | However, it's often easier to just replace it regardless of its condition. |
