Oil Change Surprise!

[Pawpaw]

While changing the oil tonight I was having some trouble getting the new oil filter on (from below). The threads just wouldn't catch. I finally pulled the filter down to look at it and make sure I hadn't bunged up anything when something fell down and nearly hit me in the face.



It only took a quick glance to see that it was... an oil filter gasket!



No, the new filter still had it's gasket, so I took a closer look at the old one. Sure enough, the gasket had pulled right out of the old filter. I've never had anything like that happen before.



I use nothing but Fleetguard Stratapore filters, always oil the gasket with new oil, and only "snug up" a new filter with a wrench... just a little beyond "hand tight".



This was the first time I've changed the oil on this truck with the engine HOT. Usually, buy the time I get to it the oil is just pleasently warm. This time there wasn't anything pleasent about the oil temp.



Bob

 

[RDyson]

I've had that happen to me twice. The first time I didn't catch it untill I tried to spin the new one on and it snugged up too quick. Second time I caught it when i pulled the old filter off.

This is the only engine that I've ever had to do that and I've changed my own oil for..... geeez 30 years! Man I just made myself feel really old. :--)

 

[rubberneck]

Yup, this has happened to me several times on my truck and has happened on the wifes acura pos. Just something I always check for anymore.

 

[CIverson]

I used to work underneath in a quick lube. Had gaskets stick every time. It's only bad if you don't catch it before they start the engine. Oil starts spraying everywhere... ... . if your lucky. . at least that way you can catch it.



There was one incident another guy didn't check for the old gasket and the truck didn't start leaking till it left the bay, guy kept driving, luckily he stopped across the street to go shopping and no damage was done.

 

[Pawpaw]

I've had that happen to me twice. The first time I didn't catch it untill I tried to spin the new one on and it snugged up too quick. Second time I caught it when i pulled the old filter off.

This is the only engine that I've ever had to do that and I've changed my own oil for..... geeez 30 years! Man I just made myself feel really old. :--)

Only 30 years? You're not old... Heck, you're just getting started!



This is the first time I've ever had it happen. You can bet I'll be checking from now on!



Bob

 

[GO 4LO]

I worked at a tire shop back in college - had that happen a few times. Fortunately, I always caught it before putting the new one on...

Never had it happen with any of my own vehicles yet, though.



Chris

 

[BHanna]

Had that happen to me once. I got about a mile down the street before it let go and pumped oil all over the place. Luckily, at least the 3rd gens (don't know about the others) have a warning bell that goes off when your oil pressure drops so I shut it down and fixed it. That was pretty scary. Now I always look for the old gasket when I pull off an oil filter.

 

[MFalkinham]

I was taught to always wipe down the oil filter mounting flange with a clean rag to remove any debris and old oil prior to installing a new filter. By doing this step you will also catch a stuck gasket. I figured this was the way that everyone does oil changes, but apparently not.

 

[rbattelle]

This has also happened to me twice. Both times with Wix filters. Once on a 1985 Ford Bronco II, the other on a 1994 Mazda B4000 (Ranger). Note that both of those trucks take the same filter (51515 or PH8A for you Fram guys).



Both times the oil sprayed out like a GARDEN HOSE immediately on startup. Since those incidents I always check to be sure the old filter still has its gasket.



-Ryan

 

[Pawpaw]

I was taught to always wipe down the oil filter mounting flange with a clean rag to remove any debris and old oil prior to installing a new filter. By doing this step you will also catch a stuck gasket. I figured this was the way that everyone does oil changes, but apparently not.

Actually, I was taught NOT to wipe that area down because there was a greater chance of introducing debris and contamination by wiping.



This could open up a whole new discussion similar to "pre-fill or don't pre-fill the oil filter" threads. FWIW, I don't pre-fill either.



I don't really think either point of view is 'wrong', they're just different takes on the same problem.



I believe you are right about one thing... If I had wiped it down, I think I would've found the stuck gasket.



Bob

 

[Pawpaw]

Both times the oil sprayed out like a GARDEN HOSE immediately on startup. Since those incidents I always check to be sure the old filter still has its gasket.

Reminds me of when I was a teenager and STP had just come out with their "double oil filter". Back in those days if it said "STP" on it, it just had to be good. If it said "double" anything, then it had to be twice as good!



I had just tuned-up and changed the oil on my '62 Falcon with the whopping 140 CID six. I started the engine and... nothing on the oil pressure gauge. I shut it down and started checking things over when my father comes over and asks what's wrong.



He immediately spots that bright purple filter and asks, "What the he** is that?" He reaches down and spins it off, then tells me to bump the starter.



I very gently (honest!) bumped the starter and the engine lit. (I was very good with tune-ups. ) A jet of oil shoots out of the filter mount, hits something on the suspension, and blows right up right in my Pop's face!



I got the engine shut down in about 3 seconds, but I think 4 quarts of oil went right up his nose.



I felt terrible about Pop's oil bath, but I think I laughed the whole time I was cleaning up the mess. At least it was new oil!



Bob

 

[rbattelle]

Can of worms?

This could open up a whole new discussion similar to "pre-fill or don't pre-fill the oil filter" threads.

Oh, we settled this issue last year. Read this thread. In particular, post #42.



-Ryan

 

[gsbrockman]

Pawpaw, RDyson, rubberneck, CIverson, JamesHanna, rbattelle... ... don't you guys ever wipe / clean the oil filter housing as part of a routine oil change ?

I guess myself & MFalkinham must be the only ones (so far) that do so. I'd rather take a chance of introducing foreign "debris & contamination" (hasn't happened in my 26 years of doing my oil changes) than to have it double gasketed and potentially lose an engine. I've never had one double gasketed, either.



Greg

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I don't think I ever had it happen.



Even If it did I would catch it in a minute.



Nobody else wipes down the oil filter head w/paper towel? (the ring and center threaded stud) . I am anal about it. I do it 3 times, everytime I change the filter.





EDIT: I didn't see MFalkinham's post before I wrote this.

 

[CIverson]

Pawpaw, RDyson, rubberneck, CIverson, JamesHanna, rbattelle... ... don't you guys ever wipe / clean the oil filter housing as part of a routine oil change ?

I guess myself & MFalkinham must be the only ones (so far) that do so. I'd rather take a chance of introducing foreign "debris & contamination" (hasn't happened in my 26 years of doing my oil changes) than to have it double gasketed and potentially lose an engine. I've never had one double gasketed, either.



Greg

I do wipe mine, normally. I always check for the gasket also. When working at the quick lube back in the day we never wiped them.

 

[BigPapa]

Mine sticks every time. I reach up there, pull it off, and lay it back on top of the old filter before I pull it out. I also always wipe it off, but I always use a shop rag, too much chance of a paper towel tearing off and sticking on there.





Scott

 

[rbattelle]

Now I usually do wipe it clean.



-Ryan

 

[CIverson]

Mine sticks every time. I reach up there, pull it off, and lay it back on top of the old filter before I pull it out. I also always wipe it off, but I always use a shop rag, too much chance of a paper towel tearing off and sticking on there.





Scott

If it sticks every time I'm guessing your not lubing the gasket.

 

[Cattletrkr]

I don't bother wiping it down. Odds are pretty good that you're gonna bump something and dump some crap into the filter on the way up anyway. These 3rd gens have about the dumbest filter placement I've ever worked on, itty bitty cars excluded.



I've never had a gasket stick but I still always look at the old filter.

 

[klenger]

I've never had a gasket stick but I still always look at the old filter.

I will from now on. :-laf