Is this just an oil filter gasket leak or is there something else that would pool oil around the oil filter?

[Dustin Jackson]

Developed a bit of an oil leak, some days I get a drop on the ground other days I do not.

To me it looks like the oil filter gasket is the source of the leak, I don’t see any wetness above or next to the area. What do you think?

 

[B-train]

I'd say so. Wipenit off cold and grab it with your hand and see if it can be tightened. Any movement will answer you question probably. Tighten as much as you can by hand, or use a filter wrench and give it another half turn would be my guess

 

[Fless]

Yes, it looks that way from here. But carefully inspect the oil cooler blockoff plate gasket that's right above the filter; the point of the arrow I drew is right on it and it's a common leak.

 

[Trey Hardy]

Lord I wish that was the only leak I had

 

[OR VietVet]

@B-train and @Fless are at it again. I agree with them and is likely a "not tight enough" filter. I have strong hands and wrists from working on vehicles for many years and I tighten as much as I can with my hands and then use a filter wrench for another, at least, 1/2 turn. Also, make sure before spinning on the filter, the seal contact on the housing is completely clean and dry. Then use fresh oil to lube the new rubber seal on the new filter and spin it on there. If you install a dry contact on a dry seal, they will not allow the tightening to be as easy and you may give up a bit when tightening and if the oil wicks across there, it can leak more easily.

 

[j91z28d1]

my first thought is that looks like a very long filter.. I'm guessing it's a cross reference to a longer filter? are you sure it's the exact specs at the sealing surface? (I run into this at work a few times)

either way, filters are pretty cheap. I'd spin that one off and put a new one on.

unlike everyone else I don't over tighten filters to seal them.. how much you should tighten a filter is on the side of it. depends on the thread pitch how far you turn it after the seal first contacts the sealing surface.

if it leaks after that, something is wrong. toss the filter and try again.


oh, if you want to find the leak first, clean it with brake clean, but you gotta blow it dry with compressed air to it perfectly clean. and then you should be able to start it, lay under and watch for a while, you'll see it get wet.

 

[B-train]

@j91z28d1 I agree with the over tightening. A clean, lubed surface should yield about 3/4 to 1 turn once the gasket mates the housing. Changed 1000's of filters on cars and generators over the years. Some manufacturers have the dash marks or letters to show where it should end once contact is made. It's an o-ring type saal, no need to squish it to death, just good compression works as intended.

As for the filter length, good call on using the PF63. It's what all the older LS motors called for until GM got cheap(er) and went to the one that is about 60% of that length. I always use the PF63 on both my LS and LT motors. More filtration is never a bad thing.

Just give her another little bit and you'll probably be fine.

 

[intheburbs]

Why didn't you try spinning it while you were there? I'd wager you could probably turn it a quarter turn tighter or so.

 

[OR VietVet]

My girl's 2002 TrailBlazer calls for the longer PF63 filter and my 2005 Z71 calls for the shorter filter. I prefer the longer filter on mine, so I just order my favorite WIX 51522XP long filters for both. Again, only in my opinion, a tight hand twist after seal contact and then 1/2 more with wrench has never caused me problems.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Sorry I should have mentioned that while I was under there I did try and tighten it with my hand but because most of the oil filter is covered by the oil pan I wasn’t able to get a good enough grip to spin it, I think you guys are right I’ll give it a quarter turn with my oil filter tool and see how it goes.

Any recommendations for a better oil filter for next time? Not quite time for an oil change yet and it’s a slow leak so not too concerned.