Yeah, but then you are probably fatiguing the washer a lot more. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

I tend to do like Dave, and keep them the same way around. I've never seen any tendency to leak from this practice.

One of these times I guess I'll buy some new ones, but I haven't yet.

 

FWIW:

I usually do not replace the washer when I change the engine oil. One time, when I was changing the oil on my old Civic Si, I got finished and then realized that the washer had come off the bolt and was sitting on the floor. I hadn't noticed it when I put the bolt back on! Since I already had the new oil in, I figured my choices were either leave it and see what happened; or try to get the drain bolt off, plug the hole with my finger, put the washer back on the bolt, and get the bolt back in as quickly as possible. I decided on the former.

So, about two weeks later, I was doing 90 on the interstate when the engine seized... not really. It never leaked a drop and I put the washer back on the next time I changed the oil.

 

Why not just purchase a half dozen or so to have on hand and follow the book? With all of the money spent on fluids and the potential for major damage, it just doesn't seem worth it to skimp here. What I see with people who don't change the washers on oil changes is that the bolt needs to be torqued more and more each time to get it to reseal. Often this damages the threads in the pan.

 

Not so. I put on the bolt with the old washer with the same torque each time and have never experienced any leakage or issues. As I said earlier, the only exception is the diff fill washer, which is made of a differenct material (softer) and that one can't be torqued (at least not easily) so people tend to overdo it.
I don't think anyone will fault you for "going by the book", but I'm of the belief that this is just another one of those things that Honda put in the book for legal reasons. There are quite a few things in the book "for legal reasons" and one has to use one's own past experience to know what works for them. Noone here is telling anyone what to do or what not to do. We are only recounting what "we" do.
It may only cost a 1/2 a buck for a washer (for something that costs a couple cents to manufacture by the millions), so no big deal for you or the dealer, but imagine if they could get EVERY owner to buy a new washer for EVERY fluid change, how much that would add up for Honda. Pretty slick marketing if you ask me.

ps. I actually did buy a "stockpile" of the various washers and keep them on hand. So far, I've only ever changed a washer once. In the middle of a fluid change, when messing around with oil, spillage, rags, etc, I just can't be bothered to dig out a washer.

 

[quote name='xviper' date='Feb 1 2005, 01:42 PM'] Not so.

 

Ive had my diff fluid changed about 5 times now and my copper washer is starting to leak a bit. Like xviper said change that one if use can. I havent replaced it yet, its not dripping just a little fluid around the bolt.

 

I change my tranny fluid every engine oil change (it's too simple not to) and my diff fluid every third oil change (ditto).
I change washers every time. I've owned 7 other Hondas (other than my S2000) and I reused washers on those cars. However, none of those cars cost as much (or had custom diffs ... etc).

I can replace the motor and tranny on my '03 Civic for around $600. Who can quote me a motor, tranny, and diff for my '03 S2000?

That's a rhetorical question ... I just bought an '04 engine and tranny combo (for future projects ...). Additionally, I have an '04 diff with 4.57 gears on the car right now. Why the heck (especially after having the fill plug partially back out on the transmission) would I let a $0.27 part fail out of laziness?
It's cheap to replace ... it's like - not changing out your filter on an oil change ... or changing the filter and not the oil!

 

To reiterate, it's not the money (at least not for the owner). I've got a pile of these washers in my possession. I just can't be bothered to get a new one from where I keep them when I know the old one will work. If the old one looks sad, I'll change it, but so far, only the diff fill one needed it. There's nothing "unholy" about re-using a plug washer. It's been done since the dawn of the automobile. Hondas are not that "magical".
Remember, it's the same owner's manual that says you MUST operate the top with the engine OFF.

 

I have been known to reuse o-rings as well as washers.

 

[quote name='xviper' date='Feb 1 2005, 11:35 PM'] To reiterate, it's not the money (at least not for the owner).