No, Ken SPECIFICALLY mentions the drain pan plug washer. Besides, since when does the oil filter have a "crush washer"? The oil filter has a large O ring.

 

It is flatly illegal for them to deny warranty service because you have used an aftermarket oil filter. Besides, if they are bent on denying a legitimate warranty claim, then they will not likely let the fact that you used their filter get in the way. Add to this the oil filter studies that have shown that the Honda filters sold in the US and Canada are on the inferior end of the spectrum and I have to ask why would you pay more for less?

Since the purpose of the crush washer is to prevent you from overtightening the drain plug and therefore damaging the oil pan, if you don't overtighten and it doesn't leak, why spend the money or waste your time? I generally overmaintain my cars, but replacing the crush washer every time just seems like effort for nothing.

The bottom line though, if you want to do it, it certainly isn't going to hurt anything. The fact that you are properly maintaining your car is what really counts.

 

Thanks guys. I ended up getting the old syle (15400-POH-305) filter made by Filtech Inc at a different Honda dealer that still had them. I'm heading out of state on a long trip. All I needed is to get to the middle of nowhere and have issues because a Honda dealer sold me the wrong filter.

Adding to the confusion my receipt from the dealer says I just bought a new wrong size (15400-PLM-A01) filter. But I know I got the right one.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sheister
[B]

It is flatly illegal for them to deny warranty service because you have used an aftermarket oil filter.

 

Sheister is correct. If Honda recognizes only THEIR OWN filter as meeting warranty specs then Honda must supply that filter. They can't arbitrarily demand certain parts as meeting warranty spec without supplying them during the warranty period. It's like only accepting the break-in oil as THE only oil to be used during the break-in period. Well, these engines consume oil during break-in and Honda DOES NOT make this special break-in oil available to us. I just had a lengthy discussion/debate about the break-in oil with the Honda Corporate Rep. It was like that old comedy routine "Who's On First". The only concrete answers I got were these:

Q: What oil may I use to maintain an acceptable level before the first change?
A: Any conventional oil of the specified viscosity.

Q: If I choose to change the oil before the reccomended mileage/time, will this void the warranty?
A: No.

Q: How is the recommended mileage for the first change arrived at?
A: I dunno/won't say/it's propriatary/let me ask another tech/it's propriatary.

Q: Where does your break-in oil come from? Who makes it?
A: We do.

Q: Oh really? Where is Honda's refinery?
A: I don't know.

Q: How do you know Honda makes this oil, then?
A: Uhhhh...well.....it's propriatary.

Q: It's a secret who makes this oil?
A: No.

Q: well, who makes it?
A: I don't know?

Q: Then how do you know it's a "special" oil?
A: It's propriatary.

Q: Is there any way I can get any hard data on this subject?
A: No, it's proparitary.

Q: Can you at least give me the molybdenum disulfide content of this oil?
A: I don't know.

Q: Is it possible that you could find out for me...or connect me with someone who could supply me with that info?
A: No, It's propriatary.

Q: Let me get this straight, the manual makes statements and reccomendations that I, as an owner, cannot even verify with Honda? You are a representative and will not/cannot/ supply me with even the minimum of info to backup what the manual states. Is that correct?
A: Uhmmm....well...the best I can do is to advise you to read and follow your manual. You probably know what's best for your car and you can't go wrong by keeping fresh oil in it.

Q: Who is Mutt? You or me? I prefer to be Jeff.
A: Pardon?

Me: Bye (click)


I tried very hard to be patient with this guy(Steve) and I even apologized for what seemed like a grilling by me. He even made the comment that we were going in circles. At that point I asked him why my questions were so difficult to answer and why the secrecy about such a straightforward subject such as "oil"? I got the distinct impression that he was frightened to try and dig any deeper for me. In the end, he DID say that I would be OK if I did what I thought was best. The experience just left me frustrated.

 

... time is money .....

 

... money is paper ...
... diamonds are rocks ...

 

.......Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives......

 

Considering the drain plug is the most used fastener on the car, I highly recommend replacing them. They are cheap, The cost at my shop is about 30 cents. If you go to a Honda dealer that does not have drain plug washers for oil pans, find another dealer. As far as them costing a 1$ a piece, You have a dealer that is jacking the price. In fact for every oil filter they sell over the parts counter a washer is included. I cannot count how many oil pans I have replaced from some moron screwing them up. You name it, No washer at all, The washer having been reused so many times that the aluminum was wrapping around the drain plug. Plain overtightening and stripping the threads in the pan. A crush washer becomes "crushed" when tightening the bolt, Sure you can reuse them a few times, but I would not make a habit out of it. You guys wouldn't reuse the crush washers to a brake caliper banjo bolt would you?

 

Socrates?