Oil Filter Leak

I recently changed my oil and filter using genuine Honda parts on my 05 Accord. After driving 200 miles, I noticed a burnt smell and checking under the hood discovered a large amount of oil on the undercarriage of the car. After some checking I discovered that the oil filter was leaking. The filter was tight, but dripping steadily, when the engine was running. No oil registered on the dipstick. I added 3 litres of oil and replaced the filter with a jobber, as I could not get a Honda filter. I needed a filter wrench to get the faulty filter off. Luckily, I still had oil in the engine when the problem was noticed. I have never had a filter leak before. My local service man said they have never had a problem with a faulty filter. However, this one definitely leaked even though tight. It could have cost me a new engine had I continued to drive. Has this problem occurred to anyone else out there or am I the only "lucky" one. The service rep seemed to doubt my story and said the filter could not be checked. ( I saved it for analysis.) I do plan to discuss this further with the dealership.

you might have had the wrong filter on there, or the old o ring may have been stuck on there from the previous filter

Always, Always check the old filter for the o-ring. I line up the two filters before i install the new one. This kills a bunch of birds with one stone. First, you will make sure you have the correct oil filter. Second, you will get some oil on the gasket for lubrication. Last, but definatly not least you will make sure that the old gasket has come off correctly. Do not ever tighten the oil filter with an oil filter wrench, hand tight as hard as you can but do no use a filter wrench, they are for taking the filters off. Nothing pisses me off more than a filter that some1 as tightened with a filter wrench and now it won't come off.

quote:

ORIGINAL: lightshow

or the old o ring may have been stuck on there from the previous filter

That is a big one... I've seen that happen before. I always check, like said, that the o-ring is still on the old filter and I clean the surface that the o-ring seals to....just as a precaution.

hello DEv........first off .welcome to our forum...............
I will be honest with you.. i have changed thousands upon thousands of oil filters and have yet to see a honda filter leak,,,, although there could always be a first time........
I have however seen people not remove the old gasket or leave filter loose and filter leaks , as it was mentioned by others members here ,,

well,,, here is something i would try to be sure,,, if the filter is not punctured and gasket not damaged,, reisnstall it, start the car up , and see if it leaks again ,, if it does ,, ehy it is a first ,, if it does not ....

no offense but it could have been installer's error

I changed the oil myself. The filter was the correct one. The old gasket did not stick to the block. There is only one coclussion, the filter was faulty.

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ORIGINAL: deserthonda


I will be honest with you.. i have changed thousands upon thousands of oil filters and have yet to see a honda filter leak,,,, although there could always be a first time........

I've seen one, didn't even take it out of the parts dept. It had a hole about the size of a dime in it. I've seen a couple aftermarket filters leak along the seam also.

There is one more conclusion........the filter is loose.

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ORIGINAL: davr364

I changed the oil myself. The filter was the correct one. The old gasket did not stick to the block. There is only one coclussion, the filter was faulty.

Ok.dav,,.......i just gave you an option to try to make sure filter is faulty, before as you said ( plan to discuss further with the dealership )
how would it look , if they tested the filter, installed it in a car and did not leak ??? I though that, before you might be thinking of pursuing the matter, you'd want to make absolutely sure that it is a faulty filter ..

Please keep us in touch on the outcome ..

they might put worng size of filter

I don't know if this would work or even recomended for honda oil filters so take it only as a thought. The type of oil filters I buy have a set number of turns and then they say to turn it 1/8 turn back, I think to take the twist pressure off the o-ring so it doesn't get out of shape, warp or what ever. I've done this with all filters now and haven't had a problem. Can't say if this is proper for a honda filter but take it for what it's worth. It may have had to do with the thickness of this brands gasket. Always clean the surface that the new filter rests against and only turn it the number of turns stated by the model. Do not over tighten it or under tighten it. I always use a marking pen to reference the filter after the gasket makes inital contact so I know how far I'm turning it to avoid mistakes. Use clean oil on the gasket. Was it from the gasket area do you know, some oil filters case construction can be poor and have been known to blow as well. I've heard this about one filter brand anyway though it wasn't hondas.

Finally changed my oil again. I put the filter that I believed was faulty back on the car and ran the engine for about 10 minutes. The filter did not leak! I am still at a loss as to why the filter leaked in the first case. Perhaps a piece of dirt on the gasket or more likely, I'm thinking, some dirt or a small stone between the filter casing and the engine block. The filter was tight, but not really sealed.

I have always put mine one by finger tight and then 1/4th turn. Works really well for me BTW finger tight is where you spin the filter on until it stops by using only the tips of your fingers and without using any force to turn the filter tightly. then you 1/4 turn and you are all set.