I always buy my filter from the dealer, and they want to throw in the crush washer for $.80 which is no big deal, but at the auto parts store, I can get a bunch of them for like $2. Is there a difference between the dealer washer and the auto parts store washer?

 

I use the dealer's washers, but then again I'm paying 20 cents per washer:

http://www.handa-accessories.com/accmaint00.html

Is this washer and the one in your auto part store the same? Maybe, maybe not. On my Volvo the washer for the 4 cylinder engine is copper while the washer for the 6 cylinder & diesel engines it is aluminum, so there are different washers out there for different applications (at least with Volvo). But then again, say the auto-parts store washer isn’t as good, what’s the worst that’s going to realistically happen? You’ll have an oil leak until the next time you change your oil.

I’d just pay the 80 cents. You're only changing your oil three or four times a year, the extra cost is minimual. And the next time you pick up a case of oil filters from wherever, pick up ten washers at the same time.

I'd be more concerned about which oil and which filter to use (for what it's worth, I use Honda's filter and Castrol GTX 5w30).