<** edited to add year & model which used to show up on my posts--must have screwed that up ;-) anyway it is a 1990 300D **>

My Dad was helping me change my oil and not knowing any better about the copper washer that came with it he put it on the end (lid, filter, washer) of the long rod that goes thru the filter. Needless to say it didn't stay and subsequently "vanished". We searched for hours and made numerous phone calls to various mechanic friends (didn't have access to the internet :-( who said they didn't think it would cause any damage.

We considered taking the entire oil filter canister off the engine block but couldn't figure out how to accomplish that so ended up putting it all back together.

So far I haven't encountered any unusual noises, performance, etc. and am hoping for answers to a couple of questions: where the h$%l did that washer disappear to and will/can it cause any long-term permanent damage?? Lastly, what is involved in getting that canister off??

Thanks for all your help!! Mike

Tell us which year and model of car you have.

Ken300D

itll probably settle somewhere where it wont cause any problems.. and remain there forever. If it goes into the oil pan, it wont damage anything because the oil pump screen will catch it. chances are your fine.

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Matt
2003 Jetta Wagon TDI 145,000MI
1999.5 Jetta TDI 287,000MI
2001 Suzuki SV650S 26,000MI
2008 Yamaha Vino 125 11,000MI
http://www.crazymatt.org

By now you have probably figured out that the copper washer is the sealing washer for the oilpan drain plug; but if not, now you'll know for the next time. Good luck.

Hello Ricali
I live out on the Lower Cape in South Wellfleet. lLived here now for 11+ years I do some aquaculture and some commercial diving for the sushi market. I see that there are at least a couple more from Mass. and I think seafood54 lives down in Harwich. I really don't need to get off Cape much but I've got inlaws in Bennington VT. so my western Mass experience is limited to the Pike!

car54 is right forget it, the copper will probably fall to the bottom of the pan. I would never take the cannister apart you'd just be asking for trouble. Maybe if you had an oil extractor you could fish around for it otherwise don't lose sleep it might show up on the garge floor some day.

billylbob
what part of the cape? Ihave some business in that area

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Ricali

03 C240 4matic wagon
95 300E 234,000
7 prior 240;s 5 still going
81 300sd gone
65 230sl gone
49 Studebaker Champion
90BMW convert.167,000
60 Dodge D-100

I think on the later diesels, the center shaft is unbolted from the oil filter cover first and removed. That is where a copper washer goes. This procedure is followed because there is a very close fit between the firewall and the oil filter cover. Not enough room to lift up the cover/shaft assembly unless you do some disassembly to the firewall cowl.

On my 87 300D, I do the cowl disassembly rather than take out the bolt because I can't get it loose. It's so tight it will never leak.

So there would be two washers, one for the oil drain plug and one for that filter cover assembly shaft bolt.

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At first I thought there would not be an oil passageway large enough to let the dropped washer fall from the filter housing into the oil pan. But after looking at some drawings it does appear likely.

I think you can consider the washer gone, but safely in the bottom of the oil pan. Try not to take the car airborne over hilltops and ramps! That way the washer will not fly up into the crankshaft.

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Ever with helpful advice,
Ken300D

Couldn't hurt to replace that oil pan gasket on the next oil change. It's pretty simple to do and finding that washer in the pan would probably give you a little peace-of-mind.

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Dave
1995 C280
1999 Triumph Daytona 955I - my speed fix.
1982 300TD - Gone, but not forgotten.