2024 Subaru Crosstrek - Oil Change Questions

[Fleshbits]

I am a pitiful person and just recently was encouraged to learn to at least change my own oil, which I've done under supervision twice and once alone with success.
This last oil change was not smooth. I dropped the oil plug as usual, but this time it vanished into the spirit realm. I looked for an hour and a half, in the ramps, in the tires, up on the chassis, drained the oil slowly from the catch pan into a bottle a few times. Just gone.

I also noticed the oil smelled like gas. This worried me, so I looked around online and saw it could be because of the direct injection and the fact I only had it running a minute to get it up on the ramps. Or it could be catastrophic engine failure.

So, I ubered to the dealership, bought a new plug, ubered back home and completed the oil change. I thought to myself, we will drive around until oil gets hot and then check the dip stick for smell in morning.

Well, in the morning there is a small puddle where the oil plug is. The dipstick reads good, but the oil still smells a bit of gas. The oil level hasn't risen though, which I'd expect if gas was leaking into the oil...but then...I am noob.

My vehicle is 10,000 miles and 3 years old, garage kept, and I drive like grandma.

So, questions:
1) Could I have put the crush washer on upside down and caused leak?
2) Perhaps I didn't torque it enough? I don't want to strip it, as I've heard that's thousands. I don't own a torque wrench, but should get one! How far to turn it around the clock after you feel resistance from finger tight? I went about 1/8th around the clock with my socket wrench.
3) Is the gas smell in the oil normal for this vehicle? I know it is direct injection, but even after left over night it smelled faintly of gas. Of course, it could be that I am an idiot and don't know what oil should smell like. It all comes from the same place, right?

 

[piste]

Transform your life...Fumoto valve.

If worried about oil have Blackstone labs do an analysis.

 

[Dave in Costa Rica]

1) The crush washer that goes behind the oil plug on the drain pan must ALWAYS be replaced when the plug is reinstalled. It is a "once ever" part. There is no right side/wrong side to the crush washer.

2) Buy a quality "click type" torque wrench. Set the torque limit you are aiming for, then tighten the drain plug (with that new crush washer) until the torque wrench "clicks". Then gently tighten the drain plug until it "clicks" again.
It's easy to get a "beam" type torque wrench (cheaper) wrong especially under the limited visibility underneath a vehicle. The "click" of a torque wrench is hard to miss.

Here's a Google link to oil pan drain plugs for Subaru's:

Google Search

 

[Scott Burry]

I have never changed the crush washer in 6 oil changes with my 23 Crosstrek 6MT. I dont use a torque wrench, although I have been doing oil changes on my cars and trucks since the mid 60's, so I have a slight advantage. Also I do oil and filter changes on concrete or the roadside, so I haven't yet lost an oil drain plug. In my garage I use a nice big sheet of cardboard under the black plastic oil catch pan. I do admit dropping the oil pan drain plug into the catch pan every so often, while laying under the car. But I retrieve it when I slowly pour the used oil into an empty 5 quart oil jug. Here is my siggestion. Get more supervision and don't give up. Change the oil & filter every 3,000 miles or so if you want the motor to last longer, I use Mobile 1 (0-20W). But some guys use 0-30W, Don't quit and don't get discouraged. Do your oil changes on a hard flat surface so when you drop the oil pan drain plug you can find it. Oh ya,and replace the crush washer as directed. Sounds like you will not be able to strip out the oil pan drain plug hole (female threads), but to be safe, you may wish to get a torque wrench as suggsted by Dave in Costa Rica. The local auto supply store or amazon will have one too. Good luck Fleshbits. Oh and by the way, it is not likely you or anyone else doing an oil and filter change would make the oil smell like gas.Perhaps you have a small fuel leak somewhere in the engine compartment. Because of your experience level, I'd highly recommend your local trusted mechanic check it out for you....................................... And as for the oil smelling like gasolinr,please note the following:
Fuel does not normally get into the oil through the oil filter, oil pan, drain plug, or oil pump in a healthy engine. Those parts move oil; they are not meant to mix fuel into it.
A slight gasoline smell right after an oil change can also come from spilled fuel on the engine bay, a rag, or residue on hands/tools rather than true oil dilution.................................................................................................................................................. the places fuel can get into the oil are mostly inside the engine, not in the oiling system itself. The usual path is unburned gasoline leaking past the piston rings into the crankcase, which can happen with cold starts, short trips, rich running, misfires, or a fuel injector issue. Good luck with that.

 

[Dave in Costa Rica]

Scott, I think you have been very fortunate with your approach to fluid changes. Six oil drain plug remove/reinsert services on the same crush washer is remarkable, but at a net cost of about a dime each, I wonder if you haven't run a significant risk of an unplanned oil spill at a net savings of less than a dollar.

 

[Scott Burry]

Scott, I think you have been very fortunate with your approach to fluid changes. Six oil drain plug remove/reinsert services on the same crush washer is remarkable, but at a net cost of about a dime each, I wonder if you haven't run a significant risk of an unplanned oil spill at a net savings of less than a dollar.

Hi Dave: You make a good point. So I ordered a few of the crush washers and expect them soon. I'll change the existing one in there when I do the next oil change. Thanks for the nudge.

 

[Fleshbits]

Where are you guys getting the crush washers from? The dealer is charging me near $4 a piece and I am getting kinda tried of paying a 10000% markup

 

[piste]

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Where are you guys getting the crush washers from? The dealer is charging me near $4 a piece and I am getting kinda tried of paying a 10000% markup

Nowhere. Fumoto and never buy a washer again. They should be factory installed IMO. Drain plugs are prehistoric.

 

[Scott Burry]

Where are you guys getting the crush washers from? The dealer is charging me near $4 a piece and I am getting kinda tried of paying a 10000% markup

I think the local AutoZone has them, but also Amazon. Bring the old one with you when you go to the zone. Those folks will sell you anything even if it doesnt fit. Check the size before purchase. You can also make a template with a sheet of paper, once the oil is finish draining, by taking your finger ot thumb pressed over the paper over the drain plug hole.. Factors specs are one thing, getting the right size is another. Good luckl

 

[Alfred]

Where are you guys getting the crush washers from? The dealer is charging me near $4 a piece and I am getting kinda tried of paying a 10000% markup

This is one of many vendors on Amazon that has them.

16 Pcs Oil Drain Plug Gaskets Crush Washers Seal Replacement for Subaru 803916010
800+ bought in past month
$6.99 ($0.44 / count)
& FREE Returns

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