i'd agree that you could anneal to regain softness of washer but disagree, Ed, in your annealing method for aluminum and copper. Both those metals anneal by quenching, not slow cool. 

alistair

On 2012-10-02, at 2:46 PM, Ed wrote:

> The sealing washers are probably work hardened and are no longer soft enough
> to make a good seal.  Replace them as they are ideally one use items.
> That's why you get a new one for the oil plug when you buy an oil filter.
> In an emergency you can remove the sealing washers and heat them with a
> propane torch, allowing them to cool without quenching.  This will restore
> the softness of both aluminum and copper sealing washers and allow them to
> seal without excessive force.
> 
> Ed
> 
> 
>  On Tue, 2 Oct 2012 16:02:38 -0500, JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
>> PS pump is leaking at the washer where the hollow bolt passes through
>> the banjo fitting on the pressure side. I made sure the bolt IS NOT
>> loose. So I need to do something. Any suggestions?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> John