Purchased 2 OEM filters from my nissan dealer down the street a few days ago. I installed it tonight and could not get it to stop leaking after I start the car... so I screw a little (tighten by hand), start the car, screw a little more, start the car... and it still would not stop. On the third try the filter was over tightened, and even so, it still leaks.

So now I'm screwed (no pun intended) and need the org's help.

Did my dealer sell me a bad oil filter? should I take my car down the street tomorrow and go complain to them?

Most importantly, what should I do to fix this problem?

 

know this sounds lame - since you did your own oil change - take a look at the old filter that came off - is there a gasket there? It may be stuck to the block!

 

The rubber gasket is there.

 

Did you apply oil to the gasket before screwing it on?

 

Yes, dipped finger in new oil and coated new filter's rubber gasket with it. Don't see the point of your question though...

 

you either dont have a gasket on it or you have 2 of them.

 

I have the old filter and it clearly has the rubber gasket on it. I also believe the new one has a gasket as well... I would have notice if there didn't. I did specifically oil it after all.

Anyways, whether or not its there is irrelevant at this point...

I just want to know how I can get it off. Should I go to a shop? Any recommendations? Or should I go to the Nissan Dealer?

 

stick a screwdriver through it to get some leverage on it

 

through where? between the filter and oil pan or punch a hole through the filter?

 

I would remove that filter and inspect the o-ring gasket to see if it has any defects on it. Also check the surface on the oil filter mount. If you have the other filter you should use it. DO NOT drive the car with a leaking filter.

 

he cant get it off to inspect it its stuck on. what i would do and have done is just stick a screwdriver actually through the oil filter. if you have no other way of getting it off that is. you should be able to get enough leverage to get it off by doing that. just make sure your screwdriver doesnt rip the filter in half when twisting it. use the other hand to twist on the bottom of the filter while using one to jerk on the screwdriver. i take no responsibility im just letting you know its worked for me before. good luck

 

I don't really think its a good idea for me to do that at this point... I think what I'll do is get some more oil (since a lot leaked out) and fill it up, then drive to the dealership tomorrow and let them do it.

The last thing I want is to make matters worse by completely shredding the filter while its still stuck or stip the threading on my oil pan. The leak during idle is a small STREAM. But my dealer is about 1 mile away tops so I think i should be able to make it with 1 gal of spare engine oil.

Ugly way of doing it but its better for me than towing it...

 

Maybe I missed where somebody said it was stuck. I'm sure it would come off with a filter wrench if he used it on the strongest part (base) of the filter. The screwdriver doesn't work all the time because it tears through the thin metal of the filter. A strap type wrench would get it off.

 

your going to drive your car leaking oil out the oil filter? good luck with that. Once your oil pressure goes up when you rev it up higher more oil is going to spill out. Just go out there, clean your hands and the filter, get a good grip and twist the filter off. you got it on this tight you should be able to get it off. as long as your twisting it the correct way you cant strip the threading.

 

dealer is goign to rip you a new one. do it yourself.

 

thanks fish, i think you could be right but what do you mean by "twising it the correct way"? What way is the "correct" way?

 

i mean like counterclockwise. lefty loosey yaknow?

 

For what? Changing the oil myself? The car manual consideres this a DIY basic maintenance. Besides, I'll just tell them I went to Penzoil and the OEM filter they sold me has a bad gasket.

 

get a good grip on it and it will come off.

 

i meant on how much they will charge you to remove the filter and then they will charge you for a new one as well as new oil and if they are a real dealership, diagnostic time as well.

 

*sigh* ok... sounds like I'm going to take off the right tire and splash cover, put on some latex gloves, and give it a shot.

 

Channellock pliers work really well in taking the filter off. That's what I use every time. It wont be physically possible that the filter doesn't come off, since you can easily grab the filter with the pliers, slightly denting it if you need more grip.

 

At least bring the old filter back to the dealer parts dept and ask for your money back or a new filter, well actually wait til you get it off and see what it looks like then let us know haha

 

get the oil filter gripper things that has a hole in the back so you could attach a stick to it for more leverage.

 

Get a belt you no longer want to use, wipe the oil off the filter with alcohol or something so it's not oily, then strap the belt on the filter and you should be able to "pull" it open. You're welcome.

 

Purchase an oil filter wrench. The right tools are key to DIY maintenance.
I don't think the filter is at fault, you must have some contamination around the sealing surface. An oil filter's o-ring gasket is so thick it's almost impossible for it to leak if it's installed correctly. It should only be tightened by hand. Use the wrench to remove it.

 

This will get it off everytime...but you'll obviously need a new filter. Once you get it off check the mating surfaces (engine block, and new filter o-ring) to ensure there is no contaminated, knicks, or cracks.

Also check the threads on the screw for the filter to make sure they are not cross-threaded.

Good luck!

 

Thanks guys, I'll swing by Sears or Advanced auto parts and look to get the oil filter wrench just to be sure. This look good?
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...pecialty+Tools

Since I bought 2 OEM filters I could just try the second one to replace it... but I'll probably swing by Wal-Mart and pick up a cheap Fram along with more Mobile 1 just to be sure. Will go back to dealer and bi+ch, see if I can get them to replace it. I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

 

Since the filter's overscrewed, any kind of rotating motion won't work... since its completely loose when you screw it either direction now so I'm not sure how tools would really help me. I see the only way is for me to try and twist it out... just hope I won't damage the threading on my oil pan.

 

I tightened it by hand... guess I'm pretty strong. I forgot to wipe off the attachment area for the oil filter before I put the new one on so that could be it... Again, any kind of turning motion on the filter is USELESS now... so I'm not quite sure how the wrench will help me, but will buy anyway. Thanks.

 

Just get a filter wrench and it will come off. You won't be able to get enough leverage with your hands.

 

I'm reading it now that he screwed it on so tight it stripped the threads on either the filter or the engine. Looks like the filter just turns either way and will not tighten or loosen as there are no threads left. If this is so he may have a real problem getting the filter off.

 

Completely loose in either direction? Hmm...sounds like you have loosened the screw that holds the filter on the block. Try rotating it both ways and see which way will back it out. My guess is that it isn't a reverse thread type screw and it should back out by rotating it counter-clockwise.

Once you get it off you'll still have to remove the filter from the screw without damaging the threads. That will be your challenge....best thing it to find something to screw into to hold it while pulilng the filter off.

 

Why not just drop the entire oil pan so you can look at it separatley? Gonna be hella messy, but it sounds like that would be ALOT easier than simply guessing what you did wrong.

IMHO, you cross-threaded the filter and stripped the threads on the pan.

 

Sounds to me the filter shell has separated from the base of the filter. Thus when you turn the oil filter, the shell casing turns, but the oil filter base is still stucked to the engine block.

Eventually, you may have to knock the filter case off, then use a chisel to turn the oil filter base loose.

 

That's what I think it is as well... in which case I've changed my mind again and don't really think I should try getting it off myself. I don't wanna damage the oil pan. Don't know how easy removing the pan with the filter attached would be but I don't think its an easy procedure, so probly wont attack that either.

 

at this point you may do more damage then good, have it towed to a mechanic or get a friend that is more mechanicaly inclined then you. xtra hands are never a bad thing.

imho i think you cross treaded it and stripped the threads. i hope for your sake it is just the filter. DO NOT try to bang it off if you do continue to try to diy. you can always try cutting it off but quite frankly i think this is out of your league just tow it to the mechanic .... just my 2 cents

 

case closed "problem" solved, no big deal.

the looseness was just because it was not screwed on tight. confused? well, the only explination is that when i was originally screwing it on, the oil filter was going in at an angle and didn't line up perfectly with the oil pan threading. so, everything feels normal when you're screwing it in... but it's not going it at the correct position so hence the leaking...

when I "overscrewed" it, it was merely the threading popping into the correct position.... and thats why it felt like it popped and became loose all a sudden. Just keep screwing and everything is fine.

lame... but now you know in case it ever happens to you

 

The filter should be easy to turn until the gasket makes contact with the base. A crossthreaded filter will not screw on easily or feel normal. Glad you got it squared away.

 

So you initially cross-threaded the filter and it righted itself on the threads? Hmm...have you tried removing the filter altogether? If you haven't I think you'll find yourself in a bind when you go to do that as you have stripped half of the threads.