Oil filter canister

[bsimaz]

A little history.

I noticed an oil streak where I was driving my car in a parking garage.  I looked under the car and saw oil leaking from my filter canister.   It only started leaking while running after the oil pressure built up.  I got a wrench and tighted up the canister and the leaked stopped.  Thank goodness that's all it was. :-)

My question is...   Is there a specific torque that the canister should be tighted to?   I snugged up the canister after my last oil change then a few more turns to make sure it was tight.   I don't want to crank it down so hard that it breaks but how tight is tight enough so it doesn't leak?

[Ziggy]

30 lb f ft according to Haynes

[rwmastel]

If the leak was coming from the canister-to-housing area, you should double check the seal.  Make sure there is one canister-to-housing seal installed. (As apposed to zero or two.)

If the leak was coming from the bolt at the bottom, check the seals inside the bottom of the canister.  Hey could be very hard from age and not sealing.  Also make sure you are using a washer on the long bolt.

[waqas]

I always replace all the washers that come in the filter kit. This includes the canister washer.

If you hold the canister in your hands and your bolt just falls through, rest assured the bottom dime-sized seal ring is dead (or non-existent). That seal is really what prevents leaks from the canister bolt-hole. It can be quite a puzzle to replace this pesky little seal.

I think the little aluminium canister washer is only there so repeated canister removal does not lead to damage around the canister bolt-hole.

[rogerh113]

Another easy mistake is to have two gaskets stacked in the groove in the top of the canister.  The groove is pretty deep, and gee, that black thing way down there must be the bottom!!  

Regards -- Roger