Noticed today that there seems to be a small oil eak that seems to be coming from the oil fiter seal, how tight should the oil filter be tightened, maybe there is a torque figure somewhere but I haven't got an oil filter spanner torque wrench!!

ta,
Rich.

when i fit mine i lubricate the "O" ring with clean oil and just tighten it "hand" tight, may be wrong but works for me.

Yep tight hand tight is all thats needed, put on a latex glove to do it up a bit tighter if necessary but have never had to use a spanner etc on any filter Ive fitted.

To make sure it doesnt come undone, a good way is to put a large jubilee clip over it (or two joined together). Sometimes you can find an angle close to the block where the jubilee clip head would jam up stopping the filter undoing. If not just lockwire the jubilee clip to something on the engine.

My rule is to get the filter as tight as I possibly can BY HAND. This gets it tight enough to avoid leaks, but not so tight that I can't remove it with a filter wrench. I never tighten the filter with the wrench. Otherwise you may be removing the filter with metal shears and a chisel.
Get a quality filter wrench. Channellocks work, but usually crush the filter.
I also wipe some oil on the o-ring before installing.
Also be careful the old o-ring isn't stuck to the block. I did this once. A few days later the oil pressure pushed the block-side o-ring out. There is nothing holding the block-side o-ring, only clamping force. The result was oil spray all over my exhaust manifold and a loss of oil pressure. I quickly pushed in the clutch and killed the engine. Luckily nothing was damaged and nothing caught fire. You can be sure I check for this error religiously now.

-Andy

quote:

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Originally posted by ChrisGamlin
... If not just lockwire the jubilee clip to something on the engine...

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Many a happy hour I have spent chiseling a spin on oil filter off off because some well intentioned person (!) has over tightened it.


Gentle but firm hand tight enough to prevent leaks and NO MORE. They don't slacken off, in fact they get tighter because the sealing ring swells due to the effect of oil on the rubber.


With older style paper cartridge filters the trick is not to renew or disturb the sealing ring unless it is already leaking.

I think some people buy those filter wrenches to tighten the filters on. I know I've failed to remove filters on occasions with one of those wrenches, and had to resort to hammering my BOS (Big Old Screwdriver) through the filter to use as a tommy bar.

So based on what I am hearing, it's worth me draining the oil, removing the old filter, replacing with a new one (smearing oil on sealing ring) and only doing it hand tight which should solve the leak.

Is an overtight filter likely to cause a leak?

Rich.

quote:

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Originally posted by shortie
Is an overtight filter likely to cause a leak?

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Does the oil need to be drained or is it possible to do without changing the oil?

Yes you can do it without changing the oil but it is messy due to some oil coming out when you remove the Filter.

After you have removed it clean the mating surfaces with a cloth,pore some oil(New)into the filter about half full, then smear some oil on the rubber gasket.
Replace filter and tighten "hand tight" ie your hands are clean and so is the filter surface for best grip.