Cole

I've had a slow oil leak for a couple of months now, but it was less than a quart a month. Over the past couple of days I've noticed it has gotten a lot worse. It's coming from around the oil filter. I'm going to check the oil filter itself, but I'm afraid the idiots at the quick lube place may have crossthreaded my filter or something. Can the part that your filter screws into be removed easily? It's not part of the block is it? Any details on this would be greatly appreciated (how many bolts, etc.) If it matters the engine is an '86 LG4. Thanks,
Cole

84 Z-28 350

the part that the oil filter attaches to is held on by one easy to access bolt. You could probly go to a junkyard and get a new one for almost nothing.

Vader

Cole,

If the filter was threaded on incorrectly, you may or may not have damaged the threads of the mounting nipple. The nipple is hardened a bit more than the stamped steel end cap of most oil filters.

It's also possible that the filter was threaded to the mounting nipple correctly and the oil filter base was not thoroughly cleaned before installing the new filter, or the new filter has a damaged or defective gasket or end cap.

Get a new AC filter and change your oil (or get your oil changed again). Since it's been almost three months, it's time to do it anyway (3 months/3,000 miles - whichever comes first).

While the filter is off and the car is on the rack, inspect the oil filter base, old filter, and the threaded mounting nipple. While there, take a close look at the oil pressure sensor that is mounted near the filter base. If the mounting nipple is damaged, you can get a replacement. If the sensor is showing signs of a leak, plan on replacing it. If everything is O.K. and the filter gasket is at fault, you're lucky and teh new AC filter should solve the problem. Make sure you follow the directions and tighten the filter 3/4 turn after it contacts the filter base.

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Later,
Vader
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"Let the bodies hit the floor!"
Adobe Acrobat Reader

Cole

Well, I need to keep an eye on it to be sure, but I think that I've fixed the problem. I decided to go ahead and change the filter (and oil) to see if it was the gasket or if the filter was threaded on improperly. When I went to remove the filter, it came off very easily. I checked out the gasket and didn't see any damage to it or the threads on either the filter or nipple. Put the new filter on and haven't seen a drip yet. I'm pretty sure that whoever did the job just didn't tighten the filter as well as they should have. You would hope that someone that changes oil all day would be able to handle a simple oil change. I tried to save a couple of minutes by having my oil changed and it could have cost me my engine. Needless to say I'm pissed. Thanks for the help, guys.
Cole