Auto Oil Filter Housing Leak

[luke]

Hello,

So I'm just after some advice - I've got an Austin Morris Mini HL Auto from '81, which developed a bit of an oil leak (surprise surprise). I couldn't see an obvious point of a leak (I do need to clean the area a bit!), so tried the filter housing - the cork ends of the filter had become detached.

Suspecting a dodgy filter, I replaced it with a new one, but after screwing the bolt back in (for the housing) and turning the car on, it starting spewing oil out of the end of the filter housing (around the bolt-head end).

Tried taking it off and checking around to see if I forgot a washer or something, but nope, nothing. Interestingly, after looking more at oil filter diagrams, it appears that there's no pressure plate in there, so that's a little worrying, and probably nothing was really being filtered...the filter must've been been loose. I'm not so familiar with Minis so it didn't occur to me sooner! 

I keep learning more about this Mini (the usual, trying to fix one thing and discovering bunch of other things) - this one has me stumped though, it has never spewed out oil like that. 

Would be grateful for any suggestions! Have been using it as my daily car since April - has been overall very reliable, but I'm not so sure I'll be driving anywhere just yet...

A guess would be that I need to replace (and actually fit) all components which need to be in and around the housing, but if anything's up with the actual housing itself, I can't seem to find any for sale. 

Thanks!

[limby2000]

These filter casings are common leak points, not tigtened enough, tightened too much, did you remember the rubber o ring under the bolt head. I always put a little rtv sealant on both the filter seals.

[clifford]

There was a complete housing assembly on ebay last week for £19.95. I was watching it because my engine came with no housing. Seller removed the listing yesterday so presume sold, then I heard from my car's previous owner that he's uncovered some more parts in his shed and fortunately there appears to be the missing filter housing amongst them.
Regarding the pressure plate missing, I remember having the same issue on a Scamp I had back in the eighties. I imagine a previous owner had thrown it away with the old filter when doing a filter change. I found a large repair washer the right size and used that, along with an electricians grommet under the bolt head, all worked fine for me until I could source the correct parts.
Good luck!

[mra-minis]

Jan 5, 2020 12:24:44 GMT luke said:

Hello,

So I'm just after some advice - I've got an Austin Morris Mini HL Auto from '81, which developed a bit of an oil leak (surprise surprise). I couldn't see an obvious point of a leak (I do need to clean the area a bit!), so tried the filter housing - the cork ends of the filter had become detached.

Suspecting a dodgy filter, I replaced it with a new one, but after screwing the bolt back in (for the housing) and turning the car on, it starting spewing oil out of the end of the filter housing (around the bolt-head end).

Tried taking it off and checking around to see if I forgot a washer or something, but nope, nothing. Interestingly, after looking more at oil filter diagrams, it appears that there's no pressure plate in there, so that's a little worrying, and probably nothing was really being filtered...the filter must've been been loose. I'm not so familiar with Minis so it didn't occur to me sooner! 

I keep learning more about this Mini (the usual, trying to fix one thing and discovering bunch of other things) - this one has me stumped though, it has never spewed out oil like that. 

Would be grateful for any suggestions! Have been using it as my daily car since April - has been overall very reliable, but I'm not so sure I'll be driving anywhere just yet...

A guess would be that I need to replace (and actually fit) all components which need to be in and around the housing, but if anything's up with the actual housing itself, I can't seem to find any for sale. 

Thanks!

I have some canisters...