oil filter keeps coming loose.

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VR42LT

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Mar 27, 2009
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Location
Perth WA
Guys please any input on this topic greatly appreciated.

So i have always done my own oil and filter changes from hand tightning to a little wrenching just to make sure and not once have i had any dramas, leaks or loose filters.

So why is my heap of shit vr4 just starting to work filters loose!?!? With the latest set up in my car ive had like 5 oil and filter changes with only the last 3 of them starting to work loose the filter.

I got to meet point last time i took it out and noticed a little bit of oil on the groung and you can imagine my horror that i could moved the filter with a flick of my finger. I was up it too on the way there lucky i didnt smoke the motor.

Any help guys would be great.

Wade
 
Which oil filter housing are housing Wade? Easy short term fix is put a large hose clamp around the filter and wire it tight!
If you are on the stock aspec filter housing/ cooler then the centre stud that the filter screws on to can come loose.
 
Hey Tim im on the jap spec oem from meek.

Ive got a hose clamp round it and the block.

Im just not sure why is this happening and if there could be a issue with the engine.
 
Thats what i thought so im hooking up the lap top tomorrow.

Thoughts on how to get the pressure down?
 
Ryco filter.

I put a hose clamp on it and did it as tight as i thought it should be not wanting to distort the filter so it was tight but maybe not because after 2 decent squirts i got home checked the filter and it had undone about 10mm. I know this because i drew a line on the filter and the hoseclamp to see if it would move. Ill put a pic up tomorrow.

I have got ralliart rear and front roll stoppers from meek so they are solid and stock side ones, it does vibrate a bit and the dog box banging 8 to gears so maybe vibration?
 
VR42LT said:
Ryco filter.
I put a hose clamp on it and did it as tight as i thought it should be not wanting to distort the filter so it was tight but maybe not because after 2 decent squirts i got home checked the filter and it had undone about 10mm. I know this because i drew a line on the filter and the hoseclamp to see if it would move. Ill put a pic up tomorrow.
I have got ralliart rear and front roll stoppers from meek so they are solid and stock side ones, it does vibrate a bit and the dog box banging 8 to gears so maybe vibration?
I have solid mounts all round in my Evo..and never had a filter come loose?
 
Me too. Solid Prothane mounts all round and never a loose oil filter, but then again I am using an oil filter relocation kit.
I would be installing an oil pressure gauge ASAP if I were you. You don't want it to come loose and lose oil without your knowledge then seize the engine.
I would be thinking either a) the casting of the oil filter housing isn't machined dead flat; or b) the thread that the oil filter housing threads onto is stripped or damaged.
Changing the housing is a PITA because you have to get the crank pulley, belts and timing belt cover off ( here's a big fark you to Mitsubishi for a shitty design for oil filter housing and water pump locations).
It would be a big hassle to change it, so I would probably look at an oil filter relocation kit with perhaps a larger oil cooler inbuilt in that setup. My Rides thread shows how I have done mine. Plus the relocation kits usually have a spot to screw in an oil pressure gauge and oil temp gauge.
Then on the oem oil filter housing itself, Loctite the relocation kit's sandwich plate onto the bastard so it doesnt come loose off the thread.
That's the easiest way to get out of it without going through the hassle of replacing a possible defective housing.
 
Cheers guys awesome response much appreciated.

I have this housing rob



It is new unless its blocked or something is broken inside, i kinda wana take it off to check it out.

See the -8 ports on the side of the housing, thats where my oil cooler is fed from. Again pics tomorrow.
 
Next time. Tighten the crap out of it with your grip. Hard as you can. You won't distort it unless you are built like Arnold. Ensure you have lubricated the seal.

Sent from my LG-D802T using Tapatalk
 
FWIW I have a hose clamp around my filter with a wire to the block to stop it coming loose as a precaution.
My sump plug is wired as well.
 
VR42LT said:
Thats what i thought so im hooking up the lap top tomorrow.

Thoughts on how to get the pressure down?
You need no more than 60-70PSI at 7000RPM, any more your wasting power & washing your bearings, Check it. I have made my relief valve adjustable so I can adjust oil pressure on my engines (every engine is different, I do remove the balance shafts & depending on bearing clearance oil pressure is always different). So start with that.

bazeng said:
Excessive vibrations?
What brand filter?
If vibrations were the problem it would of shook your harmonic balance apart 1st before the oil filter & It would of broke more bits like water pump & pulleys.... Think vibration isn't the cause.
 
I'd try a different brand filter. Had an issue with my 93 where the filters wouldn't bite onto the thread when you tightened them, had one fly off on startup in the garage and was lucky to shut the engine off before doing any damage.
Turned out to be two different types of z411 from ryco, one with the thread deeper into the top of the filter, same part number and visually almost identical.

Might not be your problem, but for $12 for a filter it's worth investigating.
 
over the years Ive had a lot of cars come to me for servicing that have had clamps on the filters....BUT, and without bias ..as I recall they were 6 bolts and mostly in VR4s. The last was on a car I currently own. I will have a look at the filter thread to see in it has worn as the engine that was in it now isnt.
 
Not wanting to come across as asking a stupid question - but have you confirmed that the seal/part of the seal from an earlier filter isn't stuck on the housing and creating a soft joint between your new filter and housing?
 

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