So...does anyone's oil filter just love to "come loose"?
About every couple months, the oil filter on my 5.0 tbi 92 loves to come loose and start dripping oil. lol

It scares me everytime, because I start thinking I have a rear oil seal leak, but it turns out to be a loose oil filter. FFS.

The car:

 

Odd. I smear oil on the rubber seal and hand tighten. Never once experienced a problem.

JamesC

 

You could safety wire the oil filter so it doesn't come loose. Put a hose clamp on the filter and then run a piece of wire between the hose clamp and another bolt or anything really on the engine that won't move. Just make the wire tight and have the hose clamp on so if the filter tries to back itself off it'll pull the wire tighter. There's instructions on how to do it all over google..

 

So whats the exterior of the car have to do with this? :-P

No, its not normal. Sounds like maybe your oil filter threads on the engine itself might be coming loose. If you tighten an oil filter, it doesn't loosen up unless there is another problem. And I'm sorry but G-regs suggestion is not really a good idea, its more-less (leaning towards less) a band-aid to mask a real issue.

 

What brand of oil filter are you using? Have you tried a different brand filter?

 

How are you installing the filter?

 

I install all of my oil filters by hand. This car is the only one I have had a problem with. I am 6'3" and I have a really firm grip....maybe it's the filter. I've only have the car since beginning of august, and just put it away for the winter before it started snowing. It's probably time for a oil change when it comes out, so hopefully it's just a dumb oil filter. If not, can't I just unbolt and replace the oil filter snout?

And the exterior of a car says alot about the owner. LoL. I am very maticulous and proper with the way I fix or do things with my fbody. =)

 

I understand you install them by hand, but describe the entire process for us.

 

And right there is your problem. You make no mention of using an oil filter wrench.

Install by hand, hand tighten to snug, then use an oil filter wrench to fully tighten it. When you use the correct tools, it will stay put & not loosen.

 

I wouldn't recommend tightening a spin-on oil filter with an oil filter wrench. Tightening by hand is the right way to install.

 

You are 1,000% INCORRECT. A filter wrench is the ONLY way to tighten an oil filter.

Where in the world did you ever get the idea that using a tool that is specifically designed to do that, is the incorrect way? Explain yourself please....

Or do you not even know what an Oil Filter Wrench is?

 

I have been doing oil changes for 20 plus years on all sorts of vehicles. I always hand tighten as the pretty little box says and using my filter wrench turn the filter another half turn. No harm ever done. Just like doing a spark plug, snug but not too snug! Oh ya, I also lube the rubber gasket as mentioned above to ensure a good seal.........

 

Not necessarily. Have you ever read the instructions on an oil filter? Most, if not all, instruct the installer to turn the filter 3/4 of a turn after the gasket meets metal. If that can be done by hand, so be it, if not, use a wrench. If done correctly, the oil filter wrench is needed to REMOVE the filter. Amazing thing about a wrench. It works in both directions...

Stephen, I don't know you, but I would expect a more professional response from one of the co-founders of this site.

 

First off, while I was of the original Founders, the site is owned by a company now. I'm in no way in Management or Ownership of this site. Besides.....The 5 founders are people too, just like you are.

After 23 yrs of driving & doing ALL my own changes (dad said if your gonna drive it, your gonna maintain it, here's the book) and not a single oil leak from the filter or filter coming loose? I'd say I'm gonna just fine with my method.

Just like bitchin_buick described. Tighten it hand tight, give a small turn (like 1/2-3/4) just enough to snug it down & its good. And yeah...Lube the gasket ring.

 

The old adage about 'more than one way to skin a cat' seems to apply here. If you use a wrench and have never experienced problems, fine. If you hand tighten and have never experienced problems, fine.

Here's what Chilton's (not the be and end all of manuals) says about the subject:

"When installing the oil filter, place a small amount of oil on the sealing gasket and tighten the filter only hand tight or 3/4 of a turn past gasket contact. Do not overtighten the filter."

JamesC

 

Hand tight is fine for most people's hand strength. 3/4 turn past contact is more consistent, and is what pretty much all the filter manufacturers mandate. Tighter than that is just as fine up to the point where you collapse the can trying to develop leverage on it, it just makes it harder to remove for no benefit.

 

An oil filter wrench is to take OFF the filter, not to tighten the damn thing up. Never in my life have I ever seen anyone use a filter wrench to tighten up a regular spin on oil filter; do it yourself guy or professional shop.

RyanEricW, next oil change or whenever you feel like making a little mess, have a look at your spin on adapter to see if it's still tight on the block and the thread is still good. In all my years of oil changes, 3/4 turn passed gasket contact has always been perfectly fine.

 

This is exactly right. An oil filter wrench is a fine thing to have when removing an oil filter. Some filters are made with a hex shape on the end for use with an appropriately shaped wrench and could probably be used with good success to tighten a new filter. Strap, band, chain and plier types are bad to collapse the filter housings. I've seen it done many times.

I've never seen or heard of an issue with hand tightening a filter when done in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Some years ago a friend did his own oil change and experienced a filter leak. He forgot to verify the old seal came off with the old filter and installed a new filter and seal on top of the old seal. No leak for a while, but a good one developed a few days later...

 

I've never used a filter wrench to install an oil filter. I rub a little of the drained oil onto the rubber gasket, hand tighten until snug. After being driven it takes bit more force to remove the filter.

Anyway, if you want to use a wrench, then have at it. If you don't, then that's fine too. I've never had a leak or loose oil filter and I won't get into how many years I've been maintaining cars (more than most of you have been alive)

 

The only time Ive ever had an issue is from them leaking. Some, like the mobil-1 filters, use a extra thick seal, which tends to leak with a HP pump. Ive never had one come loose. It sounds like the oil filter adapter may be coming loose, or it may be damaged. Easy fix that will cost maybe $15 tops. Next time you take it off, have a look at the thing it screws on to. That is actually a seperate piece and not part of the block. There are two bolts holding it on that should be snug. If the threads look good and the bolts are still tight, then its probably ok.

As for tightening them NEVER use anything to tighten them other than by hand. All thats needed is 3/4 to 1 turn once the seal touches down on the block, and thats it. Ive run into filters put on with wrenches and tightened to the point that the actual canister is stug against the block. Those are an absolute nightmare to take off. By the time your done, all thats left is the mangled tapping plate and a bunch of crumpled up strips of oily sheet metal.

 

Wow.I've been doing it all wrong for 23 years,yet never had any failure from doing it my way. Guess I'll just stick with doing it wrong. It has served me well in the past, so why change now?

I love it when people tell me I'm doing things like this wrong, yet my way has never caused me a single failure or problem of any kind.

 

The problem is that people cant tell how tight the filter is when you use a wrench. If you only tighten it 3/4-1 turn past contact, then technically, its OK, but the torque required to do that can be supplied by hand. When I run across one thats been put on like that with a wrench, its usually WAAAY tighter than it should be. By hand, its hard to overtighten the filter. I can see using one if your of small stature, or otherwise limited in some way that prevents you from being able to install it by hand. But otherwise, why risk having a filter get stuck on the engine?

 

Yet you jump on a guy for NOT using a filter wrench to tighten. Just because you haven't had problems going about putting a filter on the wrong way doesn't make it the right way to do it. Sure I could stick bare ends of wires into an outlet for decades to power up a lamp without getting a shock, doesn't make it the right way to do it now does it.

 

Lets see here....His way leaked, mine doesn't. I'd say that points towards 1 person doing it right and the other doing it wrong.

Maybe his threads are loose enough to need the extra tightening? I've bought brand new cars off the lot with 5 miles on them, so you can't say mine only worked on high mileage/older cars with loose threads. I've done all my cars the same way. Even on the zero mileage, rebuilt 327 that went into the 68 Camaro I had at the time.

 

or one person with an issue that is not a too tight/loose issue, and another person installing his filter incorrectly. unless you are very small/weak you do not need a wrench to correctly tighten an oil filter.

your right, you've installed oil filters way to tightly on a bunch of cars, congrats. you can over tighten plenty of things and they'll still work, they just increase the chance of problems down the road, like your oil filter being stuck on and being a PITA to remove.

OP, check to make sure you don't have an old seal stuck on the block, double seals can definitely cause leaks. also, i'd try a different brand filter on your next oil change just incase that is the problem

 

Why are you taking my action of using a filter wrench, as that I CRANKED & CRANKED & CRANKED on it, as if I was trying to crush it? No. HELL NO!

I SNUGGED the sucker down, simple as that. Quick trying to blow it out of proportion. I have NO leaks, never have. He has leaks. Simple as that!

And once again, I will say that NOT ONE SINGLE TIME, including my 220,000 mile current car, has EVER developed a leaky filter. NOT ONCE!

How is using a filter wrench different than.....
? It isn't,unless you reach a rushing level of torque.

As for me tightening too tightly, how is tightening by hand up to 1/2 turn & tightening by wrench a1/2 turn any different? The answer is, that it isn't.

 

"how is it different then?" well its not different except you first started by saying an oil filter wrench is "the ONLY way to tighten an oil filter" and now your saying its the same as hand tightening. so you start you argument by saying hand tight in not tight enough and you need to use a wrench, then when everyone says "no, hand tight is plenty tight" you get very defensive and back-pedal, then say "oh i barely use the wrench so it's basically the same as hand tight". no one is 100% correct all the time, it's just the internet homie relax

 

Hello All!!

I can't resist this, so having said that.........I hand tighten my oil filters, until gasket contact, then using a wrench, I make sure that I get the 3/4 - 1 full turn after gasket contact, of course I lube up the gasket surface with clean engine oil first, and I fill the filter with oil prior to placing it on the filter mount!!

Never had a leaking oil filter, never had a problem getting them off either!!

On the otherhand, I have had a mechanic at my local stealership hand tighten a filter only to have it leak after I got it home!!

Hello RyanEricW!!

As others have said here, check the oil filter mounting appliance for looseness, check for an oil filter seal stuck on the block mounting surface, check the block mounting surface for foreign material/debris stuck between the filter and the block, make sure to lube the gasket before installing the oil filter, use a good quality oil filter, and either hand tighten it a bit more, and/or use a filter wrench to snug it up!!!

 

OK, fine. You CAN do it only by hand, but people are getting leaks, so it is not always working, is it? Obviously people are having leaks, when only tightening it by hand, including the stealership monkey mentioned just above who's install started leaking so.....

But are you hearing any reports of filters collapsing or leaking after tightening with a wrench, are you? No. So.....It sure looks like tightening with a wrench IS the only way to do it CORRECTLY.

I was NOT back peddling. My saying using a wrench is no different was NOT meant as "you can just tighten it by hand" and you very well know what I meant, don't twist my words. It was in response to those saying using a wrench to tighten it is wrong.

I'll say this again.....Wrench users are not having leaks. Hand tighteners are. That speaks volumes on what is the right way & what is the wrong way.

 

i've never had a leak and neither have a majority of ppl in this thread who tighten by hand. if tightened properly by hand there should not be leaks, something else is wrong or the person who put the filter on has the strength of a 10 year old girl. The problem with a wrench is not leaks or crushing the filter, its later removing the filter because it makes it very easy to over tighten unless you are careful. With that said yes you can use a wrench properly but it still leaves a much larger margin for error that hand tightening.

again you say the "ONLY" way to correctly put on an oil filter is with a wrench, NO you are wrong. you just refuse to admit there is another way than your way to do something. I'm not twisting you words, you just can't admit your wrong

 

I hand tighten my oil filters but I am strong like bull and my hands are like vise grips. Either using a wrench or hand tightening is fine. I will do one or the other depending on what i'm working on and the clearance I have with the oil filter. I have never had a leak doing it either way.

 

First, let's all calm down. No one's manhood is being challenged here.

Now, back to the basics:

The proper way to to install an oil filter:
- Clean the filter mount surface, make sure there isn't an old gasket stuck to the engine sealing surface
- Lightly oil the gasket on the oil filter
- Screw on the filter until the gasket lightly contacts the sealing surface on the engine
- Tighten the filter an additional 3/4 to 1 turn. If you have to use a wrench, go ahead, but don't tighten beyond that.

Personally, I can usually get the 3/4 to 1 turn by hand. But, I'm not averse to using a wrench if I have to.

Now, to the OP - Is this a recurring problem with every oil change, or just lately? If it's been with one filter, it may be the filter. Other things to check are the threads on the adapter nipple that the filter screws onto, the threads between the nipple and the adapter, and the bolts that hold the adapter to the block.

 

I have no problem admitting I'm wrong & do it when I am.

What is annoying is this....

I see people who it by hand only & say they have leaks afterwards.
I see no people using a wrench saying they have leaks.

So that leans towards that the correct way, is to use a wrench. Show me a wrench user that has leaks.

Your taking the term ONLY tooooo literal. Will it make you happier if I say the only CORRECT way is to use a wrench? No, it won't. But show me a wrench user that does have leaks. I'm 99.9999999% certain that you can't. Double gaskets while using a wrench does not count. Single gasket ring only.

Bottom line & I am DONE HERE.....People tightening by hand are reporting having leaks. Not all, but some. No people tightening with a wrench are reporting having leaks.

 

Sooooo...whatcha think guys? Change those spark plugs with a socket or just muscle those bad boys on with your bare fingers?

 

in a vast minority, you neglect that point.

i'm done arguing with you steven.

as for spark plugs, dude you HAVE TO, 100000% use a 3/4 drive impart wrench, blue loctite, then tack weld them in. anybody who doesn't do that will for sure report leaking cylinders!

 

I agree with checking the spin-on adapter for issues. They are an easy replace if needed. See if there's a chip or crack in the mounting boss // flang.

Go from there. If it's good--- both bolts are tight & the threads for the filter are good, use a different brand filter.

As five7kid said, make sure there is no old rubber filter gasket stuck to the block, & don't use a filter with a thicker gasket.

I've heard of ppl doing the same as Stephen with no issues.

 

Your whole argument is very stupid. If you are in fact only tightening to the recommended 3/4 turn to 1 turn with a wrench then how in the world would it be different than a hand tightened one spun to the same exact spot? Your argument reminds me of the whole Mac computers don't get viruses while PC get them all the time. Macs DO get them and the reason why you don't hear about it as much is because of the much smaller user base compared to PC users. Just because that small amount of people that are using a filter wrench to put the filters on haven't spoken up about an oil filter leak doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

 

One thing I run into is some of the filters now use a real thick seal, which doesnt do a good job of sealing. I got a Mobil 1 filter as part of one of those package filter/oil specials, and tried it on my new setup with the melling select HP pump, and I REALLY had to crank that thing down to get it to the point where it would somewhat seal. Even after about 6 turns or so by hand (about as tight as it would go), it still seeped oil. I took it off, bought the usual pureone replacement for the AC 1218 filter (which is now an e-core), and gave it the customary one turn, and no problems. Some of the filters seem to have issues sealing. I would not just crank it down to solve the problem. That can lead to the seal seizing and making it almost impossible to replace the filter on the next oil change. Better bet when you run into one that has to be cranked down to seal, is to simply switch filter brands.

If theres one thing I hate, its taking a stuck (to the point where it tears apart when you try to turn it) filter off an engine. Turns a 5 minute job into an hour long exercise in frustration and swearing.

 

anybody got a link for a spinon adapter? actually been trying to find one. 15 bucks i cheaper than I've seen.

 

I am LMAO @ you guys arguing over this! five7kid said it all, what is important here is solving this guys problem. Not who is right or wrong. Buncha friggin egomaniacs......

 

Hello J91!!

Solving the OP's problem on the first reply would not be in line with all the other threads on these forums!!



Once you post a reply, your manhood has to be challenged!!!

Now was that a one handed, or a two handed spin on type of oil filter????

 

Yeah, pretty amazing stuff, have a Happy New Year!

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SES-3-60-08-900/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SME-2015/

Second paragraph of my first reply was this... "RyanEricW, next oil change or whenever you feel like making a little mess, have a look at your spin on adapter to see if it's still tight on the block and the thread is still good."

 

Hello J91!!

You have a Happy New Year also!!

 

IDK, I Always Just Hand Tighten My Filters. Never Had A Problem On The F150, Escort Or My Camaro.. But I Wish It Was A Leaky Filter On Mine. I Have To Change My Rear Seal :/ Filling The Filter With Oil And Lubing The Seal Should Always Do The Trick In A Perfect World