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A funny thing happened to me today...

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ChfBrianB:
So I'm in a hurry to get Lisa downtown for a business thing she had to do.  She doesn't like driving in downtown since she tends to get lost and hit things.

So, I'm mildly frustrated that I have to take time from my day off to go drive her around.  I'm accellerating up the ramp at Mc Knight and Hwy 36 when I glance down to see a light on the dash that I've never seen before.  It is telling me to "Check Gauges!".  I think to myself "Oh Crap, now what" as I look at the oil pressure and see it at 0!  I look in the rear view mirror to see a film of oil on my rear window, and a grey cloud behind me.

I remember saying to lisa, "well, the engine is toast" as I take the off ramp thinking I have about 1000 yards to drive before the engine seizes up.

I pull over in the shade on a side street and get out to find the entire undercarrige covered in oil, and it's pouring onto the ground from the front half of the engine.  After about 3 minutes of frustrated diagnostics, I find that most of the oil appears to be coming from the oil filter area.  I grab onto the filter, and it's wobbling back and forth.  I give it a 1/4 turn, and it falls off into my hand.

So, I (literally) run to the parts store that is 3 blocks away (because Lisa reminded me that I had 30 minutes to get her downtown.)  I bought a new oil filter, and 5 quarts of oil.  I put the filter on, filled up the lost oil, and started it up...  A little clicking from the valves at first, but the oil pressure jumped right up and it's been fine for the rest of the day.

Funny thing that the oil filter came off.  I just changed the oil a week ago, so I know that it was installed properly.  I'm wondering if the threads weren't faulty on this filter.  Gave me quite a scare though.

Jerry:

--- Quote from: Administrator on June 28, 2010, 10:14:53 PM ---Funny thing that the oil filter came off.  I just changed the oil a week ago, so I know that it was installed properly.  I'm wondering if the threads weren't faulty on this filter.

--- End quote ---

We believe you Brian. The most common thing is the old gasket stays on the block and blows with oil pressure, the second is "I'm sure I tightened it" Last on the list is a bad filter (unless you put the wrong one on)

dorelse:
I've had that happen to me once...oil filter gasket stayed on the block, didn't notice it didn't come off, and I put another filter up on it.

Oil sprayed everywhere when I started the engine up.

David CVX-16:
My story: I changed the oil in the Celica and the next day to work, I notice smoke coming from the hood at the stop sign. Am a block away from work, so at work I pop the hood and the underside of the hood is covered with oil. I forgot to put the oil cap on (sitting on the engine). Oil level only down about a 1/4 of quart. Lesson: check and recheck and recheck everything you do. I have even put in oil without first putting in the oil plug in the engine. DAH. I have an excuse that Brian does not - I am a senior citizen.

Glad there was no damage to the engine Brian.

I switched to full sythetic on both cars since it is not that much more than sythetic blend, and now I will change about every 4,000 miles. The Celica gets about 10,000 miles per year and the Ford 4,000 per year.

There never seems to be an end to servicing all the engine powered stuff.

Jason:
Bet that was scary Brian. I bought a Sebring once that "needed a new engine" because it was pouring oil all over when it was really just a loose oil filter.

Glad to hear it all worked out. Now your gonna smell burning oil for a while until it all burns off the exhaust.

Think of it as under carriage rust prevention!

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