Oil filter - keeps loosening

[Hitec.Redneck]

I do my own oil and filter changes and on the 2014 drw 3500 4X4 the oil filter keeps coming lose. These filters are a royal pain to change because of the limited space. I use a filter wrench that fits over the bottom of the filter and a 3/8 ratchet to tighten it. Anyone else having this issue, maybe I am just not tightening it enough. On all my other vehicles I only use my hands to tighten them and they never loosen and start leaking.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Are they actually coming loose or is there possibly a sealing surface imperfection on the filter head?

 

[AH64ID]

Could an old gasket still be in the motor?

 

[OLEJOE]

I use a cam action band type filter wrench and it works great. I tried the cup type wrench and couldn’t get it to stay on the filter when trying to turn it. The one I have has a short handle but had no trouble removing the factory filter. I also always look for the o-ring on the old filter or find it before proceeding. I don’t know if it’s the filters or the engine but they are bad about the o-ring coming off the filter when removing.

 

[Ozymandias]

Hand tight can be to less, depends on you.
I usually do hand tight and then another 90-120° with the wrench.

 

[gsbrockman]

What brand of oil filter are you using......and are you coating the o-ring with clean oil?

 

[Hitec.Redneck]

I have been changing my own oil for about 40 years now so I am not new to this but what is new to me is this truck and the terrible design of where the filter is . I use only Fleetguard filters, I always confirm the old gasket came off with the filter, and I prelube the new filter with Rotella T6 before I install them. I honestly think I am not tightening them up enough with the ratchet and the cup style filter wrench. There is barely enough room to turn the ratchet because it rubs on the metal below the filter. I think I am going to get a different type of filter wrench and start using it and see if that helps. I was curious of others were having this same issue. I appreciate all the questions and suggestions.

 

[AH64ID]

I just use my hands and have never had an issue.

I do pull the intake tube out thou.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Do your self a favor and look up my thread EASY! Cummins 6.7 2013 and up oil change

Don't listen to the peanut gallery! From the top it's easy and you can check for wear on the boost hose and give the turbo a spin while you are at it!

 

[Badunit]

I believe you are supposed to tighten until the gasket touches then 3/4 turn more. That isn't all that tight. I either pay attention to where the writing/design is on the filter or I look at where I wrote the date on it or I make a mark with a sharpie before the 3/4 turn.

If the filters are actually coming loose after being tightened correctly, it is theoretically possible that the threads on your filters or on the filter housing (or whatever you call the place you screw the filter onto) were poorly made. It is unlikely but not impossible.

 

[gsbrockman]

I have been changing my own oil for about 40 years now so I am not new to this but what is new to me is this truck and the terrible design of where the filter is . I use only Fleetguard filters, I always confirm the old gasket came off with the filter, and I prelube the new filter with Rotella T6 before I install them. I honestly think I am not tightening them up enough with the ratchet and the cup style filter wrench. There is barely enough room to turn the ratchet because it rubs on the metal below the filter. I think I am going to get a different type of filter wrench and start using it and see if that helps. I was curious of others were having this same issue. I appreciate all the questions and suggestions.

The oil filter location is not a bad design.....the frame enhancements on the 2013 and newer 3500’s and 2014 & newer 2500’s are in the way. The filter has basically been in the same place since the 5.9L’s were shoehorned into the RAM trucks in 1989...

After the filter is installed, you can always slip a band style wrench through the opening in the wheel well and tighten it enough that way. Generally hand tight has done all mine just fine.

My 2018 RAM 4500 doesn’t have the frame issue that the 2500/3500 trucks do....I can go straight in from the bottom for my filter R&R.

 

[randygk]

Always through the fender area, always as tight as I can get by hand. Never any issue. Although at 67 my torque values are decreasing.

 

[seafish]

OP, if this is something that is happening repeatedly, I am going to suspect , like some others, that it is possible, even likely, that an old filter o ring got left behind on the block or threaded shaft of the oil filter mount housing.
If so, would keep the filter from tightening properly even if you tighten it "correctly.:

Just my .02

 

[Hitec.Redneck]

I may try the top method that is how I do it on my 02. The oil is about ready to be changed and I will give it a good inspection when I take off the filter just to make sure the surface is clean and no old gaskets stuck up there. Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Be sure to read my thread!!!

 

[B.G. Smith]

If you don't already have one, get a new filter wrench, the one that has a braided strap attached to a short piece of about 3/4" square tubing, it will not slip and a 1/2" drive extension will fit into the tubing so you can get above the obstructions with the ratchet. I remove the inlet air hose and the block heater cord, only problem I have ever had was forgot to reconnect the sensor on the air intake hose and got a CEL on the dash. It reset after I drove the truck. bg

 

[Cummins2014]

Are they actually coming loose or is there possibly a sealing surface imperfection on the filter head?

I had a burr on my old Powerstroke, and it caused a leak, I filed it off, and no more leak, that could of happened.

 

[gsbrockman]

I may try the top method that is how I do it on my 02. The oil is about ready to be changed and I will give it a good inspection when I take off the filter just to make sure the surface is clean and no old gaskets stuck up there. Thanks for all the suggestions.

I was under the assumption, based on post #7.....that you’d been doing it for many years, and that cleaning the gasket mounting surface was a given.

I’ve been changing oil since 1977 or 1978 (13 or 14 years old) and Dad ALWAYS reiterated the fact of cleaning the oil filter gasket mounting surface before installing the new filter...

 

[BigPapa]

this truck and the terrible design of where the filter is

If you want to talk about a bad oil filter location, back in the '80's I had a girlfriend that had a Ford EXP. It had the 2.3L 4-cylinder mounted sideways and the filter was between the engine and the firewall below the exhaust manifold. I had to pull it on a set of ramps and reach up in there and remove and install the new one blind.

 

[OLEJOE]

If you want to talk about a bad oil filter location, back in the '80's I had a girlfriend that had a Ford EXP. It had the 2.3L 4-cylinder mounted sideways and the filter was between the engine and the firewall below the exhaust manifold. I had to pull it on a set of ramps and reach up in there and remove and install the new one blind.

Escorts were the same way. Wife had a Mazda Tribute with the V-6 and it was a nightmare also. When you loosened the filter, oil would run down on the exhaust and O2 sensor. Same with a Pontiac Sunfire my daughter had. She has a Jeep now and the filter is remote mounted. Imagine that.