C6ROLLER

Hey guys, my car (08 C6) has a slow oil leak. I got under it and it looks like its coming from the oil filter seal. I added oil to the seal when I changed the oil months ago, also I hand tightened it at the time of oil change. It leaked a while ago and I tightened even more by hand and that seemed to fix the leak. Now it's leaking again and I'm pretty sure I can tighten it by hand a little more but I don't want to strip it. Also when I look for an oil filter torque wrench I don't seem to see how it will work with our filters as the wrench needs a bolt to grip. 22lbs of torque is what I read GM calls for. I'm not the best at DIY so any info would help Thanks.

HK770

1 ...Fill filter with oil , wet down O ring with oil.

2 ...Hand tight, and then using filter wrench turn 1/2 turn period!

Bruze

You won't strip the threads by hand. The only problem with over-tightening is that they can be difficult to get off. However, in 50 years of changing oil I've never had that happen.

Occasionally I've had to snug one up a bit beyond hand tight with a wrench to stop a leak and have never had a problem getting it off.

rkj427

Nothing further needed if it indeed is the filter

Patsgarage

With all the above. You might want to try a new filter, I have seen some that are just a Charlie hotel off and will not tighten up correctly.

jft69z

When you changed the oil/filter, did you make sure the gasket from the old filter didn't get stuck on the engine? Now you're in a double gasket situation, not good. It happens.....

C6ROLLER

Thanks everyone. I'm pretty sure I took out the old gasket. I think I'll give it a good tighten by hand, if that doesn't fix it I'll just do another oil change. Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

Bruze

Pat, WTF is a "Charlie hotel"??

jft69z

C.H......C*** Hair

Patsgarage

That is the not so PC way of saying off by just a little bit.

Bruze

Haha, okay. As a life-long toolmaker I am very familiar with the actual term. I just didn't make your connection to it.

Don-Vette

Hand tight on oil filters is not enough to seal, rubber gasket must be squeezed, I go 3/4 to 1 turn with wrench after hand tight.

Corvette_Ed

The filter MUST be tightened with an oil filter wrench or it can vibrate loose.

_05C6_

True or not, I heard this from an old GM tech. There was a bulletin put out at some point that stated to use only the AC Delco oil filter on our vettes. ????
I had the same dampness just behind the oil filter and thought it was a rear main starting to leak. The old guy said it's because of the oil filter I had on there. We changed it, used the AC Delco filter and it's as dry as can be.
Like I said, take it for what it's worth.

cclive

You can't overtighten if just doing by hand.

psp6158

THIS!!! and yes it happened to me, seems to be Fram filters most of the time but have read of others...

carsangelop

A red one is even closer tolerance

Bruze

The double gasket thing: I keep hearing about this (just since the internet age actually) and it is beyond my imagination as to how this happens. You have to be oblivious to the world around you to NOT NOTICE or even LOOK at the old filter as it comes off -- the gasket is very obvious and if it is NOT THERE it should be noticed by anyone with eyes.

Also, I always wipe the mounting surface off with a clean rag before installing the new filter, and it would be very obvious if there was a gasket stuck there.

wayback

Up till last month I would have agreed wholeheartedly with you. But when I changed the oil and filter in my wifes SUV I was lazy and just crawled under and went to work. Well my led worklight decided to die on me but smart as I am I kept going. Put in drain plug and took off the oil filter and dropped it onto the oil drain container as it was still hot. Slapped on the new filter, filled with oil. Good to go!! Started it up to circulate the oil to get a accurate level reading.

Yep 2 gaskets on filter, oil spewing everywhere.
Never say never. First and hopefully last time this ever happens to me.

At least it was HER car not mine.

Bruze

You never wipe the mounting surface off? Am I the only idiot on the planet that does that? I've always done it for cleanliness reasons, but actually (as it now seems apparent) it can be a double-check for a stuck gasket.

FWIW: In a half century of ALWAYS changing my own oil on cars, trucks, motorcycles, and tractors I have NEVER had a filter that was a problem to get off, and have NEVER had a gasket that didn't come off with the filter. I ALWAYS rub new oil on the new filter gasket. All of this stuff is just done by rote, for me anyways. I was probably taught -- or subconsciously picked up -- most of this stuff when very young, by older gearheads that I knew.

As I previously posted I only hand-tighten except on rare occasions when a bit of snugging with a wrench is necessary.

Oh well, the world spins . . .