Oil leak around filter

ChrisinVA · 12-24-2003, 12:49 PM

I have a leak where the filter housing meets the block. It started after I changed the oil to 5w 20 recently for the winter.

Anyone take off that housing before?

**balloo93** · 12-24-2003, 01:41 PM

There is an article on www.madxj.com titled "Oil Filter Conversions
Different Options: '87 through '01 XJ (4.0L)" That shows the housing being removed. The housing shown is a older style one, but I would assume the set ups are probubly close to the same. there are a couple of O rings on the oil tube, and that may be where your leak is. Hope this helps, a online search didn't turn up too much tech on this procedure.

Just for kicks, did you happpen to notice if the old filter had the seal on it when you swapped a new one on? I had read about the heat making the filter seal come off of the filter and "stick" to the housing. I was skeptical, until it happened to me!

wagnerdw · 12-24-2003, 02:02 PM

That does happen! I've seen it often too.

I'd check that, and maybe just go ahead and replace the filter. Clean the area and see if its still leaking, before going all out and replacing the whole assembly.

Good luck.

AMK · 12-24-2003, 02:08 PM

You don't need to replace the whole housing, just the O-ring where the housing connects to the block. The o-ring comes in a set of 3 at the dealer for around $4.00. Use a T60 to get the torx bolt off that holds the housing to the block. It is a tight fit, you won't be able to use a ratchet.

Some people use vice grips on a T60 socket, but that didn't work for me. My bolt was on too tight, so the vice grips were slipping on the socket. So I used a T60 L shaped tool (like an allen wrench), and used a hollow pipe around the tool to provide some leverage.

The bolt is threaded really long, felt like an eternity getting it off, but it came out and the housing came off. It is a pretty big O-ring and it fits nicely in a groove on the edge of the housing. I lubed mine first before I put it on the housing, lined the housing up and torqued it back down. No leaks since

Insertion · 12-24-2003, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisinVA

I have a leak where the filter housing meets the block. It started after I changed the oil to 5w 20 recently for the winter.

Anyone take off that housing before?

I've got that too. Of course at 245000 miles, i have oil oozing from just about every seal it can leak from! Planning on getting new gaskets all around after the holidays...

ChrisinVA · 12-24-2003, 02:55 PM

Ok great, I'll try tightening down the bolts first before ripping into the thing.

I thought of the oil filter gasket thing too, so last night took it off and checked just to be sure. It's definitely leaking around the junction.

So you guys weren't able to get a ratchet and extension bar/ujoint in there to take the bolt off?

AMK · 12-24-2003, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisinVA

So you guys weren't able to get a ratchet and extension bar/ujoint in there to take the bolt off?

Nope, the socket barely fits in there. There is probably 3.5" max between the housing and the frame.. stupid design

I tried with the socket/vice grips for quite some time, but the vice grips always slipped. I even tightened the vice grips with a vice. Luckily though, the bolt is huge so you really don't need to worry about stripping it. I think it is easiest to get the bolt loosened if coming from it under the XJ, and putting it on seemed to be easier coming from the engine bay.

Either way, good luck.

oldblue · 12-26-2003, 05:26 AM

Mine was so tight that I ended up welding a dowel to my t60 socket and breaking the bolt loose that way. Once it was out I welded a 3/4" nut to the head of it so putting it on was 1000 times easier.

I've also heard of people taking a wrench and putting the box end around the torx socket if the shaft on the torx is long enough.

I don;t know why they went to a torx bolt anyway... The older XJs have a regular bolt head instead of the torx. I guess to keep the home mechanics away.

Regards,

Oldblue

12-24-2003, 02:02 PM	#3
wagnerdw Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 132 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	That does happen! I've seen it often too. I'd check that, and maybe just go ahead and replace the filter. Clean the area and see if its still leaking, before going all out and replacing the whole assembly. Good luck. __________________ [COLOR=red]86 Wagoneer LTD [/COLOR] [COLOR=Black]R.I.P. 1-11-05[/COLOR][COLOR=slategray]Silver Metallic "Woody" wagon[/COLOR] No mods, no plans, no wheeling on the 2.8V-6 I'm just happy when she hits 55 right now! [COLOR=darkslategray]89 Cherokee Larado [/COLOR] [COLOR=darkred]3" Lift, 30" tires, and a 4.0 What do you think I'm going to do with it?[/COLOR]

12-24-2003, 02:08 PM	#4
AMK Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Grayson, GA Posts: 890 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	You don't need to replace the whole housing, just the O-ring where the housing connects to the block. The o-ring comes in a set of 3 at the dealer for around $4.00. Use a T60 to get the torx bolt off that holds the housing to the block. It is a tight fit, you won't be able to use a ratchet. Some people use vice grips on a T60 socket, but that didn't work for me. My bolt was on too tight, so the vice grips were slipping on the socket. So I used a T60 L shaped tool (like an allen wrench), and used a hollow pipe around the tool to provide some leverage. The bolt is threaded really long, felt like an eternity getting it off, but it came out and the housing came off. It is a pretty big O-ring and it fits nicely in a groove on the edge of the housing. I lubed mine first before I put it on the housing, lined the housing up and torqued it back down. No leaks since __________________ YJ->donated; XJ->donated; XJ->in progress.

12-24-2003, 02:55 PM	#6
ChrisinVA Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Manassas VA Posts: 818 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Ok great, I'll try tightening down the bolts first before ripping into the thing. I thought of the oil filter gasket thing too, so last night took it off and checked just to be sure. It's definitely leaking around the junction. So you guys weren't able to get a ratchet and extension bar/ujoint in there to take the bolt off? __________________ 94 XJ, 4.0/AW4/8.25/242. 145k miles, bought it in march of '02. Rusty's towhook on front, Hidden Hitch out back with shackle. Rebuilt AW4 in January, '03. Kumho MT's on AR767.

12-26-2003, 05:26 AM	#8
oldblue Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 311 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Mine was so tight that I ended up welding a dowel to my t60 socket and breaking the bolt loose that way. Once it was out I welded a 3/4" nut to the head of it so putting it on was 1000 times easier. I've also heard of people taking a wrench and putting the box end around the torx socket if the shaft on the torx is long enough. I don;t know why they went to a torx bolt anyway... The older XJs have a regular bolt head instead of the torx. I guess to keep the home mechanics away. Regards, Oldblue Last edited by oldblue; 12-26-2003 at 05:29 AM..