Oil Leak

MLR · Postby **MLR** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 2:21 pm

I seat the filter and then put a text mark on for reference.

I also write the date and klm on the top for the next change, old habits from work.

speed · Postby **speed** » Wed Apr 08, 2015 7:38 pm

I write the date on the filter. Have only ever done up by hand and I have no trouble doing it from the top. Benefit of having long skinny arms ;)

ledgehammer · Postby **ledgehammer** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 8:14 pm

Would it be possible to use locktite on the drain bolt to make sure it doesnt leak?>

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:17 pm

ledgehammer wrote:Would it be possible to use locktite on the drain bolt to make sure it doesnt leak?>

that is what the copper crush washer is for.

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Thu Apr 09, 2015 10:01 pm

project.r.racing wrote:
ledgehammer wrote:Would it be possible to use locktite on the drain bolt to make sure it doesnt leak?>
that is what the copper crush washer is for.

I inadvertently left this off once, and had not the slightest leak. Not recommended, but you too might get away with it if you are lucky. Clean the engine, warm it up (so you can't-hold-your-hand-on-the-bottom-of-the-sump warm), and check for a leak. Buy a washer (hey, buy half a dozen and you will always have one on hand) so you have one on hand, just in case.

:mrgreen:

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 9:48 am

ledgehammer wrote:Would it be possible to use locktite on the drain bolt to make sure it doesnt leak?>

Possible yes, smart no.

Would be the same as saying "doctor, i've got diarrhea. would it be possible to superglue my anus closed to stop it leaking?"

MLR · Postby **MLR** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 10:15 am

hks_kansei wrote:
ledgehammer wrote:Would it be possible to use locktite on the drain bolt to make sure it doesnt leak?>

Possible yes, smart no.

Would be the same as saying "doctor, i've got diarrhea. would it be possible to superglue my anus closed to stop it leaking?"

Comedy gold

speed · Postby **speed** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 2:11 pm

Actually that's why super glue was invented. Not specifically for the anus but to patch up soldiers on the field.

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 8:21 pm

If it is (still) leaking, the bolt would have to come out, it and the thread on the drain would have to be degreased, araldite/Loctite/whatever applied ... may as well put a crush washer on while you have the bolt/plug out. Quicker, easier and cheaper, and the right solution to boot!

:mrgreen:

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Apr 10, 2015 11:20 pm

Loctite is essentially a brand name. Thread lockers are commonly used in engineering to assist amongst others things nuts or bolts from loosening due to vibration. We don't see fasteners secured as a general rule using wire. A thread locker is not supposed to totally lock a fastener so a thread lock can be safely used for a variety of situations including sealing. You can buy fasteners already treated. . A suspect thread may very well be assisted with a thread lock. A so called super glue ie a cyanoacrylate of which there are a variety is essentially designed for a fast bond. But it has limitations on what substrates that it will bond. In manufacturing it's very useful for gluing items where time is money. Araldite is not suitable for a fastener/ screwed plug etc where it is intended at some stage to be removed and refitted. a damaged thread on either a sump plug or the sump itself can be an issue esp - many people re use sump plugs when a new one should be installed.

MrNuts · Postby **MrNuts** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 5:16 pm

So its been a few days since Ive tightened the oil filter and I haven't had any major oil leak since then. I do sometimes find tiny oil stain under the car which I am gonna assume is the old oil dripping down as I haven't cleaned the area yet.

@greenMachine: Yes it is overfilled, will fix it when I replace the bolt and washer.

@Morlock and Kansei: Thanks for the suggestion, I found the 5Star degreaser in bigw.

Thanks for all the help guys!
<3

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 5:37 pm

If it's overfilled by a lot it won't do the engine very good, i'd suggest emptying it and refilling if that's the case.

If you only changed the oil recently you can just drain the sump into a CLEAN container, put the plug back in (good opportunity to replace it and the washer) and then pour the correct amount of oil back in the engine.

Oil is only like $25-$30 a bottle, so if it's older than say 5,000km i'd just do an early service. If you only put it in a few weeks ago, then just reuse it.

MrNuts · Postby **MrNuts** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 1:02 am

Yup that's the plan. I think oil is about 800kms old now, still brown-ish. I still have some leftover oil from when I changed it so Ill just use that instead.
Its not overfilled by much so I wasn't really worried about it that much. The oil leak helped a bit with the overfill as well.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 9:36 am

If the oil went in brown. Then I guess you are using mineral oil, which in that case I'd change it at 5000km intervals. Not long now if you have done 800km.

Just check the leak and oil levels between now and then. Once you do the oil change and replace the crush washer. you won't need to be so vigorous with your checks.

MrNuts · Postby **MrNuts** » Wed Jun 10, 2015 2:32 am

Quick update.
The oil leak is still there. Its leaking from the drain plug, not the oil filter.
I noticed that it only leaks if I take the car for a drive, which is almost every day.
Gonna order a new plug and new washers, then replace them after my exams. So in about 2-3 weeks.
The oil level is still around full, so hopefully the engine wont get damaged.