think i might messed up

[isaac]

so last weekend i changed my oil pan gasket got everything bolted up, put the oil filter on then i went to put the inspection cover back on i noticed there wasnt any room for the bar that connects the inspection cover to move past the oil filter. so instead of unbolting the brace i removed the new oil filter, bolted the brace back in place, then put the oil filter back on. but now my oil filter is leaking, it dosent look like its leaking from the oil filter adapter at the motor it looks like its leaking from the oil filter its self. now for my questions should i get another oil filter or just leave it till my next oil change. or can i change out the filter without draining all my new oil out? how much oil will i loose if i try to switch the filter out with out draining the pan.

thanks
isaac

 

[70jimmy]

You will only loose what is in the oil filter itself and little that is in the area above the oil filter.

Put a new oil filter on and start the motor for a couple minutes, shut it off and check the oil refill as needed.

**you can also fill the new oil filter up like 3/4 full and put it on and that will make less you have to put in later.

Dont worry if it takes a few times to get the oil level right it won't hurt anything only being 1/2 qt low

 

[isaac]

sounds like an easy fix i just cant believe how by just removing and reinstalling the new filter would mess up the gasket just enough to make it leak. thanks for the quick reply.

 

[4X4HIGH]

sounds like an easy fix i just cant believe how by just removing and reinstalling the new filter would mess up the gasket just enough to make it leak. thanks for the quick reply.

Sometimes when you remove the oil filter the rubber gasket pull out of the filter and sticks to the adapter. If you didn't happen to notice that it did that when the oil filter got re-installed the seal may not have seated properly and that's what's causing your leaking filter. Did you wipe oil on the rubber seal before installing the filter? If not it is always a good idea to do so, you don't want the seal to be dry when installing it or it could tear on you.

Also, anytime you remove an oil filter ALWAYS make sure that the seal is not stuck on the adapter. If the seal sticks on the adapter and you don't notice it and just screw another filter in place the filter will back off and eventually fall off the engine.

 

[isaac]

i always put oil on the gasket before i install the new filter. but that is a good point to make sure the old seal isnt stuck on the adapter i think i would have noticed but i was sort of buisy thinking about other things when i put the new filter on and off... i better change the filter dont want it too fall off the engine that would be a mess...

 

[4X4HIGH]

Not only a mess but costly when the engine went south.

 

[isaac]

Not only a mess but costly when the engine went south.

thats exactly what i dont need is for my engine to go out, i am trying to get my blazer ready for a 600 mile hunting trip and i dont wanna have something simple like an oil filter to screw up my whole trip...

 

[isaac]

well i went and tried to take off the oil filter off my truck this afternoon and it think it might have been a little over torqued. totaly destroyed the old filter for a minute i didnt think i was going to get it off but with some force i got it off. put the new filter on 1/4 turn past finger tight and no leaks. checked the dipstick started it up let it get to temp and toped it off. thanks for replies.

 

[dyeager535]

Just for future reference, any filter I've seen that was labeled for tightening said to lightly lube the seal with oil (of course) then install the oil filter until the seal JUST touches the sealing surface, and roughly one full turn of the filter past that point. For the filters I deal with, that seems to be about the limit for hand tightening and loosening. Never have to use an oil filter wrench to take them off either.

 

[isaac]

Just for future reference, any filter I've seen that was labeled for tightening said to lightly lube the seal with oil (of course) then install the oil filter until the seal JUST touches the sealing surface, and roughly one full turn of the filter past that point. For the filters I deal with, that seems to be about the limit for hand tightening and loosening. Never have to use an oil filter wrench to take them off either.

thanks for the advice lesson learned.