Oil Leak

MrNuts · Postby **MrNuts** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 4:50 pm

Hey guys

So I changed the engine oil a while ago, about 500ish kms ago?
Anyways, a few weeks after changing the oil and the oil filter, oil started leaking. Not a huge leak, just a small, maybe 2-3cm diameter oil patch would develop under the car over night.
Initially I thought the bolt might be lose, which it kinda was so I tightened it, which stopped the leak.
After a while the oil started leaking again, but I didnt pay much attention to it until today when I had a look under the car.

The oil is every where haha, as you can see in the pictures attached.

Did I royally ƒü¢k sh*t up? Or is just the dried oil dripping down after getting reheated again?
Im gonna have the car checked out anyway, just in case.

The pictures are kinda big, sorry about that.

SaM · Postby **SaM** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 5:06 pm

Replace/instal the crush washer?

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 5:27 pm

Tighten the oil filter. You did wet the seal with oil?

:mrgreen:

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Fri Apr 03, 2015 8:34 pm

the bolt doesn't look original and you are missing copper crush washer.

MrNuts · Postby **MrNuts** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:55 pm

@GreenMachine: Yea I did wet the seal before putting it in. The oil filter is as tight as I can get it with my hand.

@Project and SaM: I should be able to grab a replacement washer from repco. Also, I think the car came with that bolt, so it could be that the previous owner fudged it up? Is it possible to get a replacement bolt?

The current bolt it 17mm. I read somewhere that the oil drain bolt is supposed to be 19mm but I didnt really pay attention to that when I originally started changing oil.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 2:18 pm

many on ebay or even forum sponsors have them.

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 10:08 pm

There is too much oil, in the wrong place (front crossmember), for it to be the bolt/washer (only).

Have a look under the filter, I'll bet it is oily. You need a proper wrench to get it off/on.

:mrgreen:

Postby **NitroDann** » Sat Apr 04, 2015 10:24 pm

If you are using more than a thumb and 2 fingers to put a filter ON you are doing it wrong.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Sun Apr 05, 2015 8:54 am

greenMachine wrote:There is too much oil, in the wrong place (front crossmember), for it to be the bolt/washer (only).

Have a look under the filter, I'll bet it is oily. You need a proper wrench to get it off/on.

Don't need a wrench to put it on.

MrNuts · Postby **MrNuts** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 10:39 pm

Had a look around the oil filter. I think it might have been the filter. Welp, my bad.
I tightened it a tiny bit more, this time from under the car so I had a better grip on the filter. Its harder to loosen it now.

Time to clean up the whole mess. WD40 or simple green should do the trick yea?

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 5:15 am

The easiest way to remove oil grease etc is a degreaser. You can buy spray cans and one will be enough. You can also remove oil with a number of traditional solvents.

ralt · Postby **ralt** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:36 am

Hi.
I suppose you know that if you overtighten the oil filter the rubber ring crushes below the metal ring many filters around the seal which means you have metal on metal contact and a leaking oil filter. Dann is correct (as usual) and gosh when you go to remove it you only have to use your hand(s).

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 9:52 am

Mr Morlock wrote:The easiest way to remove oil grease etc is a degreaser. You can buy spray cans and one will be enough. You can also remove oil with a number of traditional solvents.

Correct.

Masters sell a degreaser in an aerosol can for about $2.50, the brand is "5 STar" from memory, it's a black and red can.

I've found it to be one of the best degreasers I've used, it cuts through even thick grease with shocking ease.
Wear eye protection and don't breathe it in though, it's nasty stuff.

MLR · Postby **MLR** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 12:15 pm

Most filters are between 2/3 or 3/4 turns from when it first contacts the seal, the filter will have specs on it, over tighting will result in a Giant PITA when you next try and remove it, I had to hammer a Phillips head into mine to get some added leverage when I first got it because it was done up too tight.

As s stated before, it can be done with with one hand, unless you have the grip strength of a baby of course.

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Tue Apr 07, 2015 10:02 pm

Glad to hear the leak has been found.

When you go to put the crush washer on, first recheck the oil level - that dipstick shows it's overfilled but it might just be the angle it is being held for the photo that is causing the oil to run 'up' the dipstick.

The oil filter wrench is to assist in getting the right rotation when installing the new one - I find it helps to track how far the filter has turned. Dann (and others) are correct, it is not a 'reef it on as hard as it will go' exercise.

:mrgreen: