Torque setting for oil filter

[francis]

Hi,
My automatic SPI has developed a nasty oil leak at the oil filter (cartridge type). My guess is that the filter housing is not bolted tight enough, however I can't find the torque setting anywhere, and I don't want to tighten it beyond the safe range. Does anybody have this number, please?

Best regards,

Francis

[Admin/Founder 2]

Hi francis
welcome to the automatic mini register If you read this thread
autominiregister.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=oils&action=display&thread=106
You will see that i had this very same problem
I suspect one of two things either its allready been over tightened and damage has allready occured
Or and hopefully its just this one,you "O" ring has come to the end of its life.
If its the later its simple jusat replace that O ring and it should cure the problem.

Without seeing you filter canister i can say for sure wether or not it has been damaged

Huggz
Jodie

[francis]

Thank you for your reply!
The filter housing seemed perfectly fine at the last oil change last spring. Perhaps the O ring is indeed too old. I will do another oil change tomorow, so hopefuly this will solve the problem.

I'll try to take a couple pictures of the parts to send you in case the problem isn't solved.

I'll keep you informed. Thanks again!

[Admin/Founder 2]

If you can get some nice clear piccys of the end of the filter canister where the bolt goes though we should be able to tell if its distorted or not?

Just get the bowl sitting tight in its mount but finger tight using bolt then only tighten it up a further turn using the spanner,certainly no more than two turns

if its still leaking after oil change just remove it and get a new O ring for the bolt end,there normally a new O rind for the big end of the bowl included in the filters box

never be tempted to use the old one replace that every time.
You can remove you Oil filter after the oil change if needed just put a bowl under the filter to catch the oil lost from filter though you wont loose much and the new oil in your engine wont be lost as it cannot enter the filter unless its pumped in when your engines running,you will only loose about a quarter of a cups worth that all we lost

i never asked did i which end is it leaking from?
Bolt end
its either the canister has been destorted or a new O ring needed
Other end
Replace that O ring

Hope that all makes sence?

Huggz
Jodie

[kalkat]

If anyone knows about this problem - (unfortunately) it's Jodie

Seriously though - the bolt should never be tightened up more than you can EASILY and GENTLY achieve via a spanner! As mentioned, a leak is down to one or other rubber seals being at fault.

Emma

[francis]

Hi,
I did an oil change on sunday, but the problem still isn't cured. I think the filter housing is indeed distorded at the bolt end, as I'm loosing a few drops of oil over there. I will try to post a picture of this soon, but for now I don't see any of that "nipple" shape that has been mentioned in another thread. Also, the small O-ring doesn't seem to make contact with the filter canister anymore. Since it is not possible to buy a new canister, I was thinking that perhaps I could fit a larger O-ring that would cover the entire area between the canister and the large washer outside. Also, I am open to any suggestion as how to fix this.

While this small leak is unpleasant, it is really the least of my concerns right now, because I,ve got a much bigger leak at the other end of the filter. I've changed the oil, the filter and the large O-ring. The O-ring was sitted carefuly into the recess, and the filter is bolted tight (I figured it couldn't do much more damage than what has already been done...). At every startup, I lose a few drops of oil at the base of the canister. A bit nasty, but I can live with that... When I engage in reverse, however, the oil just flows right out of the filter as its base! A few minutes like that, and the engine would be completely out of oil! When I engage on D, or on P, everything seems fine. The leak only happens on reverse. Also, it does not happen every time. I haven't had the time to really look through this, but it happens only either when I'm in R with my foot on the brake, or when I'm on R when the engine is cold. I still haven't had the occasion to check for real which one it is.

What is your opinion on this? What could be wrong? I'm not an expert mechanic (yet!) but to me it looks like the oil pressure is really too high on reverse only, and so the oil escapes at the filter.

Please help me!

Many thanks,

Francis

[jockduck]

The valve body boosts the oil pressure in reverse to cope with the torque demands of the top/reverse clutch and reverse band. hence greater leakage when going astern. Two suggesions both contradictory. Is there any chance there was a second "O" ring left (the big one) in the filter head, its easy to do by previous owners and "mechanics", the down side is its a real ______ to get them out some times and to even see properly, The other suggesion it sounds almost if the bolt is not pulling the bowl up fully into the head, is the bolt the correct length? thread not damaged ? not enough thread?

[francis]

Hi,
I'm pretty sure there is only one O-ring, as I removed the old one, and the recess was deep enough to accept the full thickness of the new one. As for the bolt, I inspected it and it is in great shape. You raise a good point, hoewver, about the bolt length. Could it be that the bolt is a bit too long, and what I feel as "tightening the filter" is actually the bolt bottoming out in its hole?

I've always assumed the bolt was the original, but perhaps it is a replacement and not of the correct length?

I'm waiting for your thoughts again.

Thank you!

[kalkat]

If the cannister has been distorted, it is quite feasible that there is insufficient pressure being exerted to form a decent seal. The end of the cannister where the small O ring seals should be flat. Using a larger diameter O ring won't work as it won't seal against the bolt shaft

Emma