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Old 05-02-2003, 12:27 PM   #1
Porkchop-WRX
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Exclamation No matter what I do Oil filter still leaks

What am I doing wrong. I tried 2 different brand filters (Purolater and Fram) and with no result. I still continues to leak from the oil filter area. The leak is no severe or anything but it is enough to dirty the under belly of the car and annoy me. I only hand tightened it as indicated by several members on the board. The only thing I can think of is I got 2 deffective seals on both those filters. Which is damn near impossible

DO guys think If I got a OEM filter it would correct this problem?
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Old 05-02-2003, 12:33 PM   #2
GQ
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What are the part numbers of the oil filters that you are using? Are you sure that the leak isn't coming from the drain plug? Are you over tightening the filters? Just some ideas.
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Old 05-02-2003, 01:18 PM   #3
CBoldman
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Before you hand tighten the filter, are you taking a dab with your finger of new, fresh oil and gently spreading it around the black seal?
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Old 05-02-2003, 01:32 PM   #4
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did you make sure the previous filter didn't leave its seal ring attached to the threads, so you don't have seal on seal leaking?

<not a flame, just checking>
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Old 05-02-2003, 02:26 PM   #5
Mulder
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I have to agree with robmarch, the only way I can see the filter leaking is if you have it double-gasketed.
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Old 05-02-2003, 03:38 PM   #6
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Not double gasketed. I did put oil with my finger around the new seal. I have done dozens of oil changes and never had a problem. This is actually the second oil change on my wrx. The first one I had no problems. The leak is definitly not from the drain plug. Its coming right from the top of the filter. I just don't get it. I called up Subaru and they told me to use one of their filters and if it still leaks then bring it in. This is so annoying!

Any other possibilites?

Oh and I will post up the part #'s for the filters.
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Old 05-02-2003, 04:09 PM   #7
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Perhaps the leak is not from the filter but either the housing or something above, and only appears to be coming from the filter itself. If there is only one seal on there and the mating surface on the housing is clean, it is highly unlikely the filter would be leaking.
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Old 05-02-2003, 04:12 PM   #8
Porkchop-WRX
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The car has only 4500 miles on it what else could be leaking from that area? Please enlighten me. I would just like some kind of explanation on where this oil is coming from. This is driving me insane.
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Old 05-02-2003, 04:24 PM   #9
Mulder
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There could be a seal leaking from behind the timing cover where you can't see it without taking things apart, and because of gravity and air flow it is finding its way to the filter area.
Do what the dealer says, spend the $5 and put a Subaru filter on (even though it's just a Purolator and most of us buy them at the parts store), then take it in and let them fix whatever it is. With 4500 miles on the car you shouldn't have to deal with this at all.
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Old 05-02-2003, 04:45 PM   #10
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I was afraid you were going to say that. I really didn't want to bring it to the dealer unless I really had too because of my aftermarket full turbo back exhuast, intake,bov and mbc. Well that really has nothing to do with a oil leak but I'm just being precautious. I'll just have to do that then. Maybe that will solve the problem.
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Old 05-02-2003, 04:52 PM   #11
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None of those things would cause an oil leak. If you're concerned about your particular dealer there are other dealers in NJ who may be more "mod friendly", you can post in Tri-State for more info.
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Old 05-03-2003, 12:56 AM   #12
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I go about 1/4 turn past hand tight with the wrench. Maybe my hands are wimpier than most.
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Old 05-05-2003, 03:56 PM   #13
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Maybe you are over-tightening the filter and damaging the seal in the process.

Does that car have an oil cooler between the filter and the block? If so, maybe you have a bad gasket or seal relating to the oil cooler.
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Old 05-05-2003, 07:03 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally posted by dsc

Does that car have an oil cooler between the filter and the block? If so, maybe you have a bad gasket or seal relating to the oil cooler.
IIRC there is a water to oil cooler sandwich up there...
I'd have to study up on the other related posible areas that would be posible leaks...
If there is only a few dealers in your area I would loose the Intake, BOV, & MBC for sure... (thats just me)
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Old 05-06-2003, 02:29 PM   #15
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Are you filling your new filter with oil before installing it?

Reason I ask: I did this for a while on both my Legacy and my Impreza. Each time it did, I'd have a slow (really slow) leak trickling down from the gasket. It would keep leaking over the oil change period. It was so slow that I never needed to top up.

Anyway, I stopped prefilling the filter and the problem went away.

My own completely uninformed analysis was that the oil in the filter caused a pressure surge that compromised the gasket seal on first start-up. I know it's heresy around here to not prefill one's filter, but doing so was giving me grief.

Jeff
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Old 05-06-2003, 03:14 PM   #16
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"1/4 turn past hand tight with the wrench"

That might be your problem. You are never supposed to use a wrench to tighten the filter. I doubt you even need one to take it off.

I suggest wiping everything in the area down completly. It may even be a leak of the valve cover gasket causing the oil to go everywhere.
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Old 05-06-2003, 11:53 PM   #17
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You know what Frawl, I think what you say makes a lot of sense. I actually started to track down where the leak is and now I'm have confirmed that it is from the oil filter. There is oil all over the under belly but I think that from when I drained the oil. I got to wipe everything down just to confirm my analysis. I ordered up some Subaru filters along with some drain plugs. I will do another oil change when that arrives and hopefully that will solve the problem. If not then Off to the dealer I go.

I'll keep everyone updated just to let you know of my results
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Old 05-07-2003, 10:25 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally posted by Frawl
Are you filling your new filter with oil before installing it?
When you prefill the filter, try not to overfill it. If you spill oil in the crevice near the gasket, it could leak out from there. This happened with me a few times.

It's always a good idea to prefill it IMHO. You want to make sure that you have enough lubricant going to your engine.

-Dennis
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Old 05-07-2003, 04:23 PM   #19
kturner
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Quote:
Originally posted by ciper
"1/4 turn past hand tight with the wrench"

That might be your problem. You are never supposed to use a wrench to tighten the filter. I doubt you even need one to take it off.

I suggest wiping everything in the area down completly. It may even be a leak of the valve cover gasket causing the oil to go everywhere.
I'm not the one with the problem. Yet. Maybe I should have been more careful about "hand tight." I don't mean as tight as I can get it with both hands. Just snug up with one hand then finish with a quarter turn or so. With the wrench I get a nice controlled feel for the torque curve as the seal compresses. We might be getting to the same place. Probably about 5 ft lbs. This method has served me well for nearly 30 years of oil changing on many vehicles.
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