So I did my own oil change yesterday and everything seemed fine but this morning there was a small puddle of oil where the bolt is and sure enough I see a drop about to fall off of the drain bolt.

I used a torque wrench to tighten it to 29 ft lbs and it still leaks. The bolt looked okay and the washer looked good also.

Should I try to torque it to 30 or 31 ft lbs or will that not matter?

 

Did you use a new washer?

 

No :/ the old one looked fine still.

 

Never reuse old washers. Its a good way to strip the threads in the pan and to get leaks (as you've discovered).

Drain the oil into a clean oil jug and replace the plug with a new crush washer. 14mm aluminum is what Honda recommends/requires. Refill oil and you're good to go.

 

Well I took the old one off and went out hunting for another one that's similar to the old one.

I spent a couple hours looking but the best choice I could find was this
http://www.jnequipment.com/images/up...asher-seal.jpg

Will this hold up until I do another oil change with a new aluminum crush washer?

I replaced the old one with this and there isn't any leaking now.

 

I wouldn't use that steel one ever again, you still run the risk of stripping the pan as the washer will not crush as Honda intended. You're simply relying on that tiny rubber seal to not break down.

A simple trip to your local Honda/Acura dealer and you could've had a new factory crush washer. OR a simple trip to AutoZone or the like. They carry small assortment packs of M14 crush washers near the drain bolts and oil filters that come with 1 Aluminum style that you need.

 

Well I'm probably going to just go to the dealership later this morning to pick up an aluminum washer if you really think this thing won't hold up for 5000 miles

 

What you have in there now will be fine until next oil change.

 

Funny thing, the Honda dealership I get my parts from always sells me washers similar to the one you've linked with the rubber gasket, they claim it's better and use it on all of the cars that go in for service. So you're probably fine, just make sure to use a washer provided by the dealership next time.

 

I can see a rubber coated drain plug washer having the following advantages:

- less likely to come loose if under torqued
- less likely to leak if under torqued
- less likely for a bad mechanic to overtorque it and strip threads

I can see where all of these could be an advantage for a dealership. But for someone doing their own maintainance, on their own car, that they care enough to do it right, I would prefer the washer Honda intended.