Diff drain and fill plugs

[digger]

The new diff fill and drain plugs 33117525064 have an o-ring that fits into a recess in the plug so there is a controlled amount of compression of the o-ring.

REALOEM says they still need a crush washer. Surely thats not actually how it is supposed to be i.e. sitting on the fence?

whats wrong with the old method....

[mjweimer]

Nothing wrong with the old method. I much prefer replacing a simple/cheap crush washer rather than the entire plug when servicing the diff....but it is one extra part so I'm sure they switched for new car manufacturing reasons.

Could always go the belt and suspenders method and run a crush washer with the new o-ringed plugs...

[digger]

Yeah I’m gonna go old school

[TobyB]

The new ones are pretty much infinitely reusable on the E46s and such.
No crush washer- that's gotta be an OEMFail.
I keep a spare just in case I wreck the o- ring, but that doesn't seem to happen often.
I suppose rust would be a problem in nastier climates than ours.

Now, the transmission plugs, THOSE were really in need of a better answer.
But, alas, the new plug doesn't do much for them...

t