Parts for your 2016 Ford Falcon-Sump plug washers

2016 Ford Falcon sump plug washers — are they actually used?

Short answer: a separate sump-plug washer isn’t used on the 2016 Ford Falcon (FG X). Ford specifies an oil drain plug that carries a captive, bonded seal on the plug itself, so there’s no loose copper or alloy crush washer to replace. This design is shown in the Ford FG X Falcon Workshop Manual (Engine — Lubrication, Section 303-01, “Engine Oil and Filter — Drain and Refill”) which calls up refitting with a drain plug that has an integral seal, and in the Ford Australia/Microcat parts listings that supply the oil drain plug as an assembly (seal included, no separate washer line item). Local aftermarket catalogues in AU/NZ (e.g., Tridon application data for FG/FG X) also list replacement sump plugs with a captive gasket rather than a stand-alone washer.

Why Ford does it this way is pretty straightforward. The alloy sump uses a flat sealing face and a specific plug depth, so the bonded seal on the plug gives a consistent crush and reliable seal without relying on a separate washer that can get lost, mismatched, or over-crushed. It keeps services quick and reduces the odds of a weep after an oil change.

For anyone servicing a 2016 Falcon — whether it’s the 4.0 Barra I6 (including LPG/EcoLPi and turbo variants) or the XR8 5.0 — the routine is simple: inspect the plug’s bonded seal each oil change. If the rubber/nylon seal looks flattened, nicked, hard, or it’s weeping, replace the drain plug assembly. Clean the sump face, refit the new plug, and tighten to the specified torque (around 30 Nm is commonly quoted in Ford service info for FG/FG X). Don’t stack a separate copper washer on there, and don’t use thread tape or sealant — the captive gasket is the seal. Over-tightening can distort the seat and cause leaks later, so a torque wrench is worth it.

• No separate washer used — plug has a captive bonded seal.
• Replace the whole plug if the seal is damaged or leaking.
• Tighten to the specified torque (about 30 Nm) — no sealant required.

Does a 2016 Ford Falcon need a sump plug washer?

No. It uses an oil drain plug with an integral, captive seal. Ford’s FG X Workshop Manual and AU/NZ parts catalogues show the plug supplied as an assembly with the seal bonded on, so there’s no separate crush washer to buy or fit.

Can a copper washer be used instead on a Falcon FG X?

Not recommended. The sump seat and plug are designed for the bonded gasket on the plug. Adding a loose washer can mess with plug depth and sealing, which can lead to drips or damage to the sump face.

How often should the drain plug/seal be replaced on a 2016 Falcon?

There’s no hard interval. Inspect it at each oil change. If the bonded seal is perished, flattened, nicked, or there’s any weeping, replace the drain plug assembly. Otherwise, refit and torque correctly (about 30 Nm) and it’ll be sweet.