What to do if over tightened

[thatguy]

My wife has a new (2009) subaru forester that appears to have a light coating of oil underneath of it.. The oil level is OK, the filter and drain plug are tight..

After finding this board and reading the past posts, I think I may have over tightened the filter. I had no idea you could do that, I thought the only problem was getting it off next time by being too tight

IF it is only oozing oil (level is OK) what do you do about it?

suggestions.. Thoughts..

Brian

 

[demarpaint]

If I thought I over tightened my oil filter and it was "oozing oil", level OK or not, I would remove and replace the filter with a new one, and properly tighten it. Most will say hand tight is fine, I go hand tight plus 1/4 turn with a wrench. In over 30 years I've never had a problem with an oil filter. You probably crushed the gasket, so replacing the filter is your ticket. Its not worth the risk of trying to loosen the filter or removing and reinstalling it. If that gasket splits while on the highway you'll huff the engine.

Just make sure the gasket comes off with the filter and nothing remains on the engine block.

HTH,
Frank D

 

[02zx9r]

like demar said, that is how I have always done it and never had a problem

 

[ZZman]

Take it to the dealer. It is under warranty and they can fix any issues with it!

 

[Steelhead]

dealer won't cover oil filter not installed by their shop.

put on a new oil filter yourself.
get a Sub. or Chiltons service manual for your rig and follow filter instructions.

may be defective filter seal from factory or broken shell to base weld crimp

go to a Subie owner service forum for recommendations on oil filters. can't go wrong on OEM Subies or any of the national brand names, even Fram. buy on sale. filters are like milk, sales draw in item

you'll get lots of howls over suggesting Frams but they would not still be in the filter business if their products didn't perform.
i don't care for their construction design.

 

[d00df00d]

Nobody said Fram doesn't perform. They just say Fram doesn't perform *well*.

 

[thatguy]

I looked at it again this morning and it does not seem to be any fresh oil on or around the filter.. I wiped the filter off and will check tomorrow and see what is going on..

Until I read this forum I had never thought too tight could be bad.. never to late to learn...

Previously I have put the filter on finger/hand tight then tighten 1/4 to 1/2 more with a filter/socket.. What is the recommended procedure??

thanks for the advise

Brian

 

[gnet158]

Do yourself a favor and get a correct size filter wrench (the one that wraps around the filter). The OEM filter that was installed from the factory on my truck was super tight. Luckily a buddy of mine (ex mechanic) had a few of these wrenches in different sizes. It took him 2 minutes to get the damm thing off; I wasted about an hour trying.

 

[kingrob]

I've never had to go more than hand tight to put on a filter, nor do I need a wrench to get it off when the time comes.

Having said that, I just bought a car that some gorilla used to test his filter tightening abilities with. Ended up having to drill a pilot hole through the middle, stick a long screwdriver through, and wrench the thing off. The thing was shredded. (Oh yeah, it was a Fram too!)

That's an example of why you should never use a wrench to tighten the filter. Of course, I have huge robust ape-man hands so maybe in my case, I should just stay away from anything other than hand tightening.

 

[Spector]

Is it possible it was simplyh never cleaned off from the previous change and oil film still around the housing and filter. too tight rarely means leaking.

 

[02zx9r]

Originally Posted By: kingrob
I've never had to go more than hand tight to put on a filter, nor do I need a wrench to get it off when the time comes.

Having said that, I just bought a car that some gorilla used to test his filter tightening abilities with. Ended up having to drill a pilot hole through the middle, stick a long screwdriver through, and wrench the thing off. The thing was shredded. (Oh yeah, it was a Fram too!)


That's an example of why you should never use a wrench to tighten the filter. Of course, I have huge robust ape-man hands so maybe in my case, I should just stay away from anything other than hand tightening.


I had to do that with the factory installed filter on my corolla, 2 different filter wrenches, strap wrench and couldnt get off. Finally hammer and screwdriver got it off.

I normally tighten hand tight and sometimes use wrench for half a turn and I can sometimes get them off with out a wrench

used frams for years, never a problem

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: Spector
Is it possible it was simplyh never cleaned off from the previous change and oil film still around the housing and filter. too tight rarely means leaking.


I agree with that. On my car for example, when you remove the filter, oil drips all over the side of the block.

 

[thatguy]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: Spector
Is it possible it was simplyh never cleaned off from the previous change and oil film still around the housing and filter. too tight rarely means leaking.


I agree with that. On my car for example, when you remove the filter, oil drips all over the side of the block.


that is what I am thinking now, since there was no new oil down there.. This was the first oil change on the vehicle, so it was all new to me - Looking back, I should have used some brake cleaner to get the residual oil off everything..

thanks for the help..

Brian