Only got a 1/2 Turn After Gasket Contact

[MNL]

Something been bugging me for a while. A few days ago, I changed the oil on a friend's Silverado with the 6.0L. Filled it with Peak 5w30 and used a Napa Silver oil filter (Part number SFL 31042). I took off the oil Champ filter, lube the new Napa filter, pre-fill it and screw it on. After the gasket touch the base, I marked the filter and began to tighten the it to the spec, 3/4 turn. However was only able to get 1/2 a turn. I clean the oil filter and grab a clean towel to try to turn it another 1/4 turn out it would not budge.

I finish filling the engine and ran it with no leaks. I was still uncomfortable with 1/2 turn so after cooling the engine. I remove the filter to check that the gasket was seating in the groove of the filter. I clean the filter housing and the filter can, lube the gasket and re-installed it. After the gasket touch the housing, I began to tighten it and it stop at 1/2 turn. I tried to muscle the last quarter turn but couldn't. Top off the 1/2 qt spill from the filter and ran the engine to check for leaks, none.

I'm bother by the fact that I couldn't turn this oil filter to the full 3/4 turn. I was able to turn every oil filter to spec before by hand. I just worry that the filter may back off or something. Should I lose sleep over this? (which I am posting this at 3am, lol) Or is it fine as long as it was tight.

 

[Olas]

If it was definitely the right filter then hand tight will be fine.

Many years ago when I first started messing with cars I changed the oil and filter on an old peugeot but I had been supplied the wrong filter. It should have been an imperial thread but it was metric (or vice versa). I screwed it on hand tight and a mile down the road the filter was forced off its mounting by oil pressure. Yeah, that was a bad oil change.

Double check your filter is the correct one, and that its not double gasketted. If thats the case you're good to go!

 

[marc1]

I am not sure if this will make you feel better but all of the below vehicles I have owned recently:

1996 Chevrolet K1500 5.7L Vortec (sold)
1970 GTO 400 Ram Air IV (sold)
2006 GMC Sierra 5.3L LS Series (current)
2011 Shelby GT500 5.4L (current)

all specify 3/4 turn on the filter housings (AC or Motorcraft)... I could not tighten any of these filters to 3/4 without "reefing" on them way more than I was comfortable. They were all sufficiently tight at 1/2 plus a little tweak. Never lost a filter and in fact sometimes they are too tight to remove anyway on the next oil change even though I was nowhere near the 3/4. My rule now is hand tight and then a very slight oil filter wrench assisted tweak regardless of the canister recomendation. Ends up being 1/2 plus a tiny bit in my experience.

 

[Donald]

I get it as tight as my two hands can do and its always fine.

 

[Clevy]

I tighten an oil filter as tight as 1 hand can get it. I've never had an oil filter leak ever and they are easy to remove.
2 hand tight is fine if you've gotta take it off. I'd be cursing steady if I was the guy removing it.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
I tighten an oil filter as tight as 1 hand can get it. I've never had an oil filter leak ever and they are easy to remove.
2 hand tight is fine if you've gotta take it off. I'd be cursing steady if I was the guy removing it.


Well I am 60, so maybe my 2 hand tight counts as 1 hand tight from a young whipper snapper mechanic.

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: Clevy
I tighten an oil filter as tight as 1 hand can get it. I've never had an oil filter leak ever and they are easy to remove.
2 hand tight is fine if you've gotta take it off. I'd be cursing steady if I was the guy removing it.


Well I am 60, so maybe my 2 hand tight counts as 1 hand tight from a young whipper snapper mechanic.


Random, but Don.. I always thought you were in your 30's for some reason.

And back on topic: I had the same issue when I changed the oil in our Mule. I used the spec'd WIX filter. I had to do a retry a few times because it made contact so quickly. I just checked it the first few times we took it out and seems to get holding up. The way I see it, if the threaded piece has made full contact, it doesn't matter how far on it is as long as its seated properly. My .02.

 

[Keith_Stone]

I always hand tight as much as possible then bump with a filter wrench. I've got one of these Channel Lock filter tools

so taking any off is a none issue.

 

[hemitom]

I have put many oil filters on a lot of different makes and models, and i'm very anal about the oil filter leaking, most only go on half a turn for me, and the funny thing is when taking these filters off more often than not i need a wrench to get them off. I have on my own cars put filters on until gasket contact and quarter turn or less to see if they would leak on start up and they never did, but i also never had the nerve to leave them at a quarter turn either i would always snug them up before dropping the car.

As you already know, i'm sure make sure the old gasket comes off with the filter.

 

[CHARLIEBRONSON21]

I usually get hand tight, which is usually 1/2 to 2/3 tight. Change over 50 filters a day. Haven't had one leak yet from a fault of my own.

 

[ABerns]

I know I was surprised at how little torque was needed to prevent leaks. Now I'm a one-hand tighten guy, which usually results in no-wrench removal.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: MNL
Something been bugging me for a while. A few days ago, I changed the oil on a friend's Silverado with the 6.0L......

I finish filling the engine and ran it with no leaks.

..... Top off the 1/2 qt spill from the filter and ran the engine to check for leaks, none.



There is your answer. Sleep well.

 

[ZZman]

I have never felt a need to go more than hand tight and never a problem.

 

[ecotourist]

I seem to have a lot of difficulty telling when the gasket first makes contact (seems they're often a long reach or awkward in some way).

So I just put them on as tight as I can with one hand. They always come off pretty easily with a wrench. And so far, (knock on wood) I've never had one leak.

I prefer to change the oil myself so some gorilla doesn't put the oil filter on (maybe) with a wrench and I get to spend an hour getting it off.

Ecotourist

 

[Rand]

different filters have different types of gaskets.
I just use the hand tight method..never fails.

for example the "P" type gasket is different than the squared off flat type.

 

[Hosteen]

I like Denso oil filters because they have a built in stop that prevents overtightening. The filtration is not as good as some advertise, but I think picking s@*% with the chickens about micron filtration is just that.

 

[The Critic]

1/2 is fine, but I prefer 3/4.

Use a strap wrench to give it that extra 1/4, or until the effort to turn becomes very high.

It is also possible that the gasket has simply bottomed out, and in that case, 1/2 is all that you can do.

 

[oilboy123]

I have changed a lot of filters in shops and home vehicles friends/family. Never had a problem with filters. Snug them up well and sleep well. I'm a leaning towards the anal side as well.

I never pay attention to how much of a turn they take. I just make sure they are the right filter.

 

[Sayjac]

Some vehicles have a torque spec for the oil filter. Though I've never used a torque wrench on an oil filter, some members here do it as SOP. I suppose if it really still bothers you, you could research to see if there is a torque spec and use it.

That said, if as mentioned it's the correct filter, and you have no leaks, 1/2 turn should be fine. I do understand your preference for 3/4 turn, I usually try to get 2/3-3/4 turn with hand tightening.

 

[GMBoy]

I do what many said, as tight as I can by hand and a small tweak with the filter wrench. Never any issues removing them with a wrench later.

Critic may have hit the spot when he said maybe the gasket bottomed out and the can cannot turn anymore. Possible for sure.

In any event - you are fine.