[davway]

Have an annoying oil leak which i have tracked down to be the oil filter.
There was oil and crap all through the engine bay (pretty thick too) when i got the GQ and assumed that the sump needed tensioning.
Anyway, did an oil and filter change and cleaned it all up only to find that it is the oil filter that is leaking and not the sump.
Going by the massive amount of oil in the bay previous, im going to assume the old filter was leaking as well as the new one.
Now, the filter is on properly and tight - ive done filters many times before and this one was no different - so why is it leaking?
Is there something missing from the block like a filter extension or something?
The seal on the filter is good so i can only assume that there is something missing.
You can see a bolt hole for something under the filter, however, im not sure if there is or isnt one above it.
The engine is a TB42 carby/auto.
Any ideas?

 

[gudc98]

You probably over tightened it a long time ago, which I don't think is repairable.

 

[Neesmo31]

Rip it off, make sure you wipe the mounting surface on the engine shmick clean. Then a light smear of oil on the new filter gasket and remount a new filter. Also spin till it seats and then just a half turn and your done.

Over time gaskets, orings etc get hard and perish, which in turn leads to leaking in some cases.

 

[davway]

Rip it off, make sure you wipe the mounting surface on the engine shmick clean. Then a light smear of oil on the new filter gasket and remount a new filter. Also spin till it seats and then just a half turn and your done.

Over time gaskets, orings etc get hard and perish, which in turn leads to leaking in some cases.

Like i said, i know how to install an oil filter - done it plenty of times before.
Gave it as best a clean as i could (kinda hard to reach in there), oiled the o ring and did the filter up properly.
The car has since done a whopping 35kms so i seriously doubt things have dried out and hardened in that time.
In that short amount of time, the leak has been enough to cover the sump again.

 

[ReefMagnet]

Could the sump be getting pressurised?

 

[davway]

Could the sump be getting pressurised?

Good question.
How would i test that and why would it do it?

 

[GUtsy ute]

Oil leak

Hi,
It's hard to tell from the pic's but it almost looks as if the outer rim of the filter is touching on the raised section with the thread in it.
This would cause the filter to not tighten properly onto it's seat.
Otherwise check the seal seat on the engine for little bits of rubber from previous filter seals that sometimes leave bits behind when removed.
This seat needs to be nice and flat for the new filter to seal on.
Also you could clean out that thread and loc-tite a grub screw in it to eliminate that possibility.
Any chance of a pic. with the filter off?
I know you've probably thought of these things as you say you have done lots of filter changes before.
Let us know how you get on.
Cheers

 

[davway]

I reckon you might be right about the filter touching the raised bolt hole section.
Hard to tell but i enlarged a picture and it does appear to be touching.
Why would it be doing this?
Is there something missing or even the wrong filter - the book said the filter was correct.
What could i do to fix it?

 

[ITS A FORD NOT A NISSAN]

the only thing i can think of is either the sealing surface is not flat ie: a groove or dent in there or as said a bit of rubber from a previous filter , or the threaded bit which the oil filter screws onto is slightly bent, or maybe has been cross threaded previously a few times, but i would think you would have noticed it

 

[ITS A FORD NOT A NISSAN]

I reckon you might be right about the filter touching the raised bolt hole section.
Hard to tell but i enlarged a picture and it does appear to be touching.
Why would it be doing this?
Is there something missing or even the wrong filter - the book said the filter was correct.
What could i do to fix it?

i couldnt see it touching , it looks as though the surface should be machined to the same height as the sealing surface for the oil filter

 

[MQ MAD]

Z170 is the correct filter
(Although some use the Z9,i dont and never will)
They are a pain to do where they are

If its something that has happened on the last few changes ,sounds like the surface area is not flat or somethings making it not seat up properly
If its just on this one,maybe something (dirt, grit,ect)has got on the seating seal while trying to get it fitted

If the thread is cross threaded,surely it woud be noticeable

 

[ReefMagnet]

I had a not so old valiant once that developed an unusual habit of blowing up the oil filter like a balloon, breaking the seal and pumping all the oil out on about every third start or so. Had to carry spare filters and oil and start the car with the bonnet up to make sure the oil filter stayed intact. As it was a company car, this went on for a few weeks until it was traded on a new one. To this day I still have absolutely no idea what was wrong with the motor to cause that.

 

[Tongie]

I thought you had the later engine with the oil cooler assembly, this is a common leaking point..

Have a detailed inspection with a torch at the sealing face.. you must have a crack in there..

 

[davway]

Couldnt say if its leaked the last few changes - all i know is that it must have been leaking when i got it and it leaks now.
I doubt the thread is crossed as it would be noticeable.
Guess ill just haev to remove it and have a look - might be a crack there somewhere.

Tongie, what do you mean when you say that you thought i had the later engine with the oil cooler?
Were the EFI filters different somehow - maybe this one is an EFI block and it needs the Z9?
The engine does look rebuilt (or possibly exchange) so maybe its a later block?

 

[sutto]

when you remove please take some pics of both surfaces filter and block.

 

[rseydler]

It's a Ryco... you probably got one of the old batch that leak. I had one on the 2.8. Next filter change and it was good as gold.

 

[MQ MAD]

davway,
I mention the Z9 as some have resorted to this as a cheaper alternative to the Z170
Z9 under $10,Z170 Mid to high $20

I looked into this a while ago,but for the sake of a few $$$ i wasnt riskin the TB42
(These are the same filter as the L28,MQ/MK engines)

Before undoin it (and replacing it)id give it all a good clean down,grab the oil filter remover and nip it up a bit tighter (dont crush the filter)

 

[davway]

OK - pic time:
Seems that there was a bit of orange silicon hanging down from above the filter which has caught the gasket.
This was the piece of silicon:

This is the dent in the gasket it has made - turned the gasket over so hopefully it should seal:

This is before a wipe with a rag - you can see the orange silicon which has been used on the plate above - must have been hanging down from there.

This is after a wipe down.

So, while i did clean the area up properly before i installed a new filter, i didnt see the piece of silicon hanging down from above.
Considering this is a PITA area to get to, let alone see, and a wipe down with a rag wouldnt have got the piece of silicon anyway as it was just hanging from above, im lucky that that is all the trouble was.
Thankfully there are no cracks or damage to anything on the block.
Thanks for all the assistance and suggestions - appreciate it.


BTW, my 92 GQ TB42E uses the Z9 filter where as the TB42s uses the Z170 which was around $25 or so.
The Z9 is bigger so should offer more filtration surface at the very least.

 

[Tongie]

Sorted!! i was talking about the EFI engines having the oil filter housing cast with the oil cooler assembly, there is an o'ring behind the bolt on assembly that could have been your problem, then i saw you did'nt have that engine. Glad you're back on the road without leaks!