View Full Version : URGENT! Oil filter hosing gasket
so apparently i have an oil leak and its coming straight from where the oil filter connects to the housing. firestone told me it was the o-ring. do any of you know how difficlt of a job this is and if i could do it myself?
PhilipWOT
12-04-2008, 12:27 PM
:rofl:
fireforgedxtian
12-04-2008, 01:01 PM
I'm going to attempt a serious answer...
You said firestone told you this. I'm assuming you took it in for an oil change? Did they bother to replace the filter as well? If so, something's rotten in the state of wherever-you're-from. If they didn't, go buy an oil filter, and have them replace both it and all the o-rings that are conveniently included with a new filter.
You could probably do this yourself, but that would involve knowing the location of the oil filter, as well as owning a wrench. Check out the technical section of pelicanparts if you're feeling brave...
e36m34life
12-04-2008, 03:37 PM
Are you talking about a gasket that connects the oil filter housing itself to the block of the car? Or the gasket for the lid on top of the oil filter housing? Those two are completely different things; one is very cheap and easy to replace, the other is a big pain in the ass. I hope your talking about the lid gasket for your sake.
E36 Phantom
12-04-2008, 03:47 PM
Are you talking about a gasket that connects the oil filter housing itself to the block of the car? Or the gasket for the lid on top of the oil filter housing? Those two are completely different things; one is very cheap and easy to replace, the other is a big pain in the ass. I hope your talking about the lid gasket for your sake.
+1
There is an O-Ring around the metal cap on the filter housing. If that's leaking, it's easy to fix. Take a look and see.
im talking about the gasket on the lid of the housing where the filter screws into. i am hoping i will be able to do this myself.
E36 Phantom
12-04-2008, 10:16 PM
im talking about the gasket on the lid of the housing where the filter screws into. i am hoping i will be able to do this myself.
Lol, yes, you can do this yourself. Have you never changed oil before?
Just unscrew the bolt on the top, and you'll see the little O-Ring on the filter cap of the housing. Pry it off with a screwdriver, lube the new gasket with fresh motor oil, slip on to the filter housing and you're done.
However, chances are that you'll have to buy a new filter. Might as well just change your oil while you're at it.....:rofl:
PhilipWOT
12-04-2008, 10:52 PM
im talking about the gasket on the lid of the housing where the filter screws into. i am hoping i will be able to do this myself.
If you possess the cognitive capacity to tie your own shoes and/or operate a computer with enough proficiency to post this ridiculous thread (but not quite enough to click "search"), then you have the technical ability to change this o-ring.
Nline6
12-05-2008, 09:05 AM
If you possess the cognitive capacity to tie your own shoes and/or operate a computer with enough proficiency to post this ridiculous thread (but not quite enough to click "search"), then you have the technical ability to change this o-ring.
TOUGH LOVE.......:rofl:
it actually turns out that the gasket on the lid is not the problem. leak is still occuring. talked to a mechanic and he said that to fix the problem he would have to take out some stuff(alternator) to get to the problem, which is another gasket. said the cost is bout $102.
E36 Phantom
12-05-2008, 02:38 PM
Ok, that makes more sense.
What gasket exactly?
PhilipWOT
12-05-2008, 02:57 PM
TOUGH LOVE.......:rofl:
That's how we do here in e36. Dumb thread, no search = you get sarcasm.
Ok, that makes more sense.
What gasket exactly?
Yes, it does. Probably the gasket between the oil filter housing and the head. The gasket is cheap, but it's a mofo to change it.
lsprague
12-30-2008, 05:25 AM
OK, I have a more serious question along the lines of this thread. I have a Haynes manual for my 1997 328i convertible. Because the manual is generic to more than just my model, they show a metal-looking cap for the filter housing/cartridge - where the o-ring seats around the perimeter in a distinct groove. MY filter housing cap is not the same. It's black, apparently plastic by feel, and there is no obvious groove like the picture. In fact, when I put the cap back on, it appears to completely seal with the housing without a need for an o-ring as if the o-ring would be in the way or be unnecessary, but maybe I'm wrong. Does anyone know if I need to use the o-ring - or if it's superfluous for the design of my filter housing cap? Honestly, I'm pretty mechanically inclined and I understand the use of o-rings but I've done 3 or 4 oil changes on this car already, and for some reason this last time, I had a leak - checked this area and saw the o-ring bulged out of the seat area - clearly causing a gap for a leak. This got me thinking "Hmmm, is the o-ring unnecessary? Have I used it in the past?" I thought I have used the o-ring in the past but never had an issue with them. This time, the o-ring seems to be more in the way and causing a problem than helping.
I ditched the o-ring last night, sealed up the cap, seems to be working fine. Just curious if anyone had concrete information with my style cap and the need or no-need for the o-ring. Thanks. :dunno:
mksu19
12-30-2008, 08:35 AM
..."Hmmm, is the o-ring unnecessary? Have I used it in the past?"...
I ditched the o-ring last night, sealed up the cap, seems to be working fine...
:jawdrop:
Is this fifth lug nut really necessary...!? :D
E36 Phantom
12-30-2008, 06:07 PM
OK, I have a more serious question along the lines of this thread. I have a Haynes manual for my 1997 328i convertible. Because the manual is generic to more than just my model, they show a metal-looking cap for the filter housing/cartridge - where the o-ring seats around the perimeter in a distinct groove. MY filter housing cap is not the same. It's black, apparently plastic by feel, and there is no obvious groove like the picture. In fact, when I put the cap back on, it appears to completely seal with the housing without a need for an o-ring as if the o-ring would be in the way or be unnecessary, but maybe I'm wrong. Does anyone know if I need to use the o-ring - or if it's superfluous for the design of my filter housing cap? Honestly, I'm pretty mechanically inclined and I understand the use of o-rings but I've done 3 or 4 oil changes on this car already, and for some reason this last time, I had a leak - checked this area and saw the o-ring bulged out of the seat area - clearly causing a gap for a leak. This got me thinking "Hmmm, is the o-ring unnecessary? Have I used it in the past?" I thought I have used the o-ring in the past but never had an issue with them. This time, the o-ring seems to be more in the way and causing a problem than helping.
I ditched the o-ring last night, sealed up the cap, seems to be working fine. Just curious if anyone had concrete information with my style cap and the need or no-need for the o-ring. Thanks. :dunno:
I didn't realize any E36's came with the plastic caps.
Our 540i & 740iL had the plastic caps, and NO, you don't use O-Rings with them. I did the same thing as you when I got the 7, and had a hell of a time getting that plastic cap on with the O-Ring in the way....:rofl:
Because plastic is a bit formable, it will seat to the housing just fine. Metal on metal causes some gaps which is why you need the O-Rings on the metal capped housings.
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