Oil Filter Leaks After Oil Change – TSB for Excessive Pressure
August 9, 2009 1:39 pm Apprentice Tech, Service Manager
Image courtesy of TitanTalk.com
©DenLorsTools.com Summary: The Internet has many oil leak stories from customers that have had bad experiences at Jiffy Lube and other auto repair shops throughout the country. Sometimes the oil leak is due to an inexperienced oil lube tech making a rookie mistake, like double gasketing a filter. Another common mistake is not cleaning the mating surface of the gasket or using the incorrect oil filter to begin with. These can be horror stories no matter which end of the spectrum you are positioned in. It’s horrible public relations for any repair shop to have a previous patron telling everyone who will listen, how awful their experience was. In their mind if the repair shop was the last one to touch their car, they MUST be responsible! Sometimes this is the case, but other times the repair shop is NOT at fault. The following is what happened several years ago when a customer had his car towed to us after all the oil leaked out, following a Jiffy Lube oil change.
The car was brought in on the hook with no oil. After adding oil and briefly starting the engine, oil streamed from the base of the filter. My first thought was that it must have a double gasket. To my surprise the oil filter was tight and there was only one gasket. It was too late for the engine though, it obviously had severe top and bottom end damage. After pricing a used engine replacement for the customer, they were determined to have Jiffy Lube pay the bill. To make a long story short, a hearing was scheduled and I was subpoenaed. I really didn’t know the cause of failure , I could only assume since the filter was the correct one, it was tight and there was no double gasket, there must have been dirt on the mating surface. I reluctantly went to court for the hearing. I must say, Jiffy Lube was very professional and was able to provide a very reasonable explanation for the problem. The lesson that they provided that day is what I want to pass along to other repair shops that may be accused wrongly of faulty work or using an inferior or incorrect oil filter when doing an oil change.
A little exaggerated, the end of the filter can round with excessive pressure.
I recommend that all shops that routinely do oil changes bookmark this page in case they are ever faced with this situation. After-all, auto repair shops get a bad rap too often and are usually assumed guilty until proven innocent. The pdf linked here along with a diagram, shows what happens when there is excessive pressure from a stuck oil pressure regulating valve. This document along with a damaged filter (one that shows signs of bulging) can be enough evidence in court to prevent a verdict that would require the shop to replace an engine. Note that canister type oil filters, regardless of which brand, always have a flat portion on the end. If exposed to too much oil pressure, the flat portion will bulge and make the filter more rounded on the end. If an oil filter cannot be placed on the surface of a level table without tipping over, it has been exposed to too much pressure. The technical service bulletin I’m talking about is provided by filtercouncil.org – TSB 83-1R2.
One final note, I’ve never personally used oil filter wrenches to tighten an oil filter. I’ve always just tightened them by hand, but here is another interesting TSB regarding using filters that have either been dropped and dinged or that might have creases from someone that’s gone a little crazy using a wrench to tighten a filter.
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brian :
Date: August 24, 2009 @ 3:19 pm
Common problem if not done correctly. Please, if you dont know how to change your oil leave it to a professional.
lol.
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: August 31, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
Brian, if you’re talking about the double gasket I agree that is a common problem with beginners.
As far as excessive oil pressure, that’s not a common issue at all. It’s good to know that excessive oil pressure can cause a filter to leak. It’s easy to look for the signs if you’re aware of what to look for.
louisville auto repair :
Date: September 18, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
Yes, too often the auto repair shops gets blamed when the customer drives off and something else unrelated goes wrong. For instance I did an oil change on a car and the customer brought back the car after a few days claiming the brakes now squeak and it must have been something I did. I can see why the customer may think this but most times it’s just coincidence.
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: September 19, 2009 @ 7:40 am
From the shop’s perspective, it’s best to document scratches, dents, noises… anything that is noticed prior to working on the customer’s car. Although, everything may not be detected, this may prevent being blamed later for an unrelated issue. Maybe DenLors should start selling majic 8 balls?
From the customer’s perspective, only use a repair shop that you trust. Allow common sense to prevail, when new problems arise. Is it really logical to blame the repair shop that changed the oil in your car, for brake pads being thin with 60,000 miles on them?
Connie :
Date: September 28, 2009 @ 6:11 pm
My husband took his 2004 Nissan Titan in for a routine oil change. A few days later we noticed oil on the drive way. Unfortunately, because men don’t think very wisely, he let it go and let it go, NOW, he has a major leak and it is back in the shop for another at the least $300. because the other shop says that the Dealer won’t sell him just a seal/o’ring that he has to buy the whole kit. What a rip off and BTW WHO CAN YOU TRUST ANYMORE?
I dropped my 2002 Dodge Ram off at a Tranny shop cause they said the Cylenoid Pack($650.00)needed to be replaced. Eight hours later, they finally called me and told me that it wasn’t that afterall and I had 15 minutes to come pick it up or it would have to stay there all weekend!! They put 22 miles on my truck!! WOW, I hate shops that think that they can get over on women. I will be damned if I ever trust anybody anymore.
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: November 25, 2009 @ 10:34 am
Connie, I understand you’re frustrated – and maybe missed the common sense prevailing part…
Kazz :
Date: May 23, 2011 @ 10:53 am
I have a situation where the oil filter was found to be loose by the technician where the suddenly-oil-free vehicle was towed. I would expect there to be visible damage to the seal, the threads on the filter, or the threads on the vehicle itself. Your example maintains that the filter was tight. I would think that a temporary problem with the relief valve, might not be uncommon and would not cause a spontaneous oil dump as in the case I mention.
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: May 23, 2011 @ 10:59 am
Kazz, sound like a totally different problem. You said “the oil filter was found to be loose”.
DAVID :
Date: July 15, 2011 @ 12:45 pm
I took my 97 Dodge Ram in for an oil change on Saturday, 7/9, and on Monday I noticed an oil spot on the parking lot about the size of a small plate. After the vehicle has been parked overnight, I checked under the vehicle and there will still be a drip coming off a collection point underneath. I called the service location and I will be taking it back for them to look at Saturday, 7/16. There does not seem to be oil leaking from the filter, and it seems to be secure. Are there other points that could continue to supply oil to a leak throughout the night?
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: July 16, 2011 @ 8:15 am
David, I would first try to determine if the oil spot underneath the vehicle is OLD oil or NEW oil. If it’s old oil it’s probably just residue from when the oil was changed. Some guys are better than others at working neatly.
We sell a NEW PIG funnel that helps prevent making a mess when changing oil (click on the image to see the product description). You see, many vehicles have drain plugs and oil filters that are poorly positioned. The old oil can make a big mess on the sub-frame or engine cradle. Then, it drips slowly making a mess in driveways and garage floors. Sometimes it can take days for all of it to slowly drain off the frame. The alternative to using something like the New Pig funnel is using “brake clean” which is used as a general “spray can cleaner” that evaporates quickly. I used to work with a guy that was obsessed with cleaning EVERYTHING with brake clean – not very good for your lungs!
Some techs use a bulk solvent sprayer like the one in the image above (click on the image to see the product description). Pressurized with shop air, so it’s a little less harsh (depending upon type of solvent used) on everyones lungs in the shop.
CLEAN OIL? If it is clean oil there could be a much more serious problem. This would most likely indicate that the new oil from the engine is leaking out. Another possibility is that the tech missed the funnel or overfilled the funnel, when putting the new oil in. Make sure to check the oil level before driving back to the shop. Good Luck.
John D. :
Date: March 29, 2012 @ 6:36 pm
I agree that hand tightening the oil filter is the only way to go. I’ve been doing it for years and have a feel for it. I don’t let my guys use any other method than hand tightening either.
John P. :
Date: November 14, 2012 @ 6:43 pm
I have a friend who is currently going through an issue with an auto shop. He got an oil change in July, went back for brakes in September, then at the end of October his engine siezed. The Hyundai dealership told him the oil filter had a double gasket which is why the engine seized and they billed him $8,500. He is now in the process of suing the auto shop that did the oil change for that amount however I have a hard time believing a double gasket on an oil filter would last 4 months and am questioning if it is truly the auto shops fault or if the dealership is telling him a falsehood. Was curious to get your assessment.
dennisb - Auto Tool Sales :
Date: November 14, 2012 @ 8:07 pm
John, it’s natural for a mechanic to think “if the filter is tight but leaking it must have been double gasketed”. Double gaskets on filters typically leak the instant the motor is running and build up pressure. The old filter is the key. If it’s gone, so are the chances of determining if the oil pressure regulator was at fault. In my opinion, a double gasket is not going to hold for a month (4 months even more unlikely). Also in my opinion, the person that continues to drive the vehicle after the oil light comes on and the engine rattles to a stop is also at fault. When the oil light came on, he should have pulled over and checked the oil. FYI the link to the TSB is working now.
John P. :
Date: November 14, 2012 @ 8:37 pm
Dennis, Thanks for this information. He is suing our local shop that always does a great job but I thought the same you did that after 4 months if the filter was double gasketed then I would think he would notice it. He is going solely off of what the dealership is telling him, but I really don’t want to see our local shop get sued because they are very friendly and honest. Thanks for the info!