Dumb question but why can't a crush washer be reused ? Reason I am asking is I bought alot of crush washers from Honda and I also bought a fuel filter and sat the fuel filter on the crush washers. Could this cause these washers to go bad, what makes a crush washer not reusuable, is it when its crushed or cause of heat ?

 

when you tighten the they change shape, once its been tightened once it will remain that shape, i doubt resting a fuel filter on one of the washers will render it useless

 

They are called lock washers. Once they ahve "crushed" they are locking. Once you unskrew it. It no longer has funcition. They are like 1.5 cents anwya at lowes/homedepot.


[Modified by Bryant, 7:08 PM 2/28/2003]

 

A crush washer is a ONE-Time use part. Dealer charges $0.25 for them and well worth it for the function of being a seal between the drain bolt and pan. Think of it like a piece of cork that once squished-it will not return to its starting shape. Also, there is no guarantee that you could get it back on exactly where it sealed in the beginning.
No problem just setting that filter on it-just make sure the washer has NO deep scratches-it is a seal. As for Home Depot, they so not sell aluminum CRUSH washers to the best of my knowledge.