Oil filter loose
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Oil filter loose
My buddy called me yesterday with an oil leak on his 2015 C7 Z51... He had just got back from a long drive the day before, and found oil leaking ... We found the filter was easily hand removable without tools, removed it, inspected it, and retightened it.
It had not been changed since 8 months before, driven all winter, and was OEM done at the dealer.
I've not seen this in any of my cars, but I suppose it can happen. One reason I actually torque mine to 20ft lbs on my LS7.
Anyway, apparently, this was a near miss and his oil level was OK. Reminds me of a VW timing belt I broke on start-up the morning after a long road trip... Could have been much worse.
Any history of these coming loose? I have a L86 in my Yukon and will focus on that WHEN I CHANGE MY OWN OIL (OF COURSE)!!!!
It had not been changed since 8 months before, driven all winter, and was OEM done at the dealer.
I've not seen this in any of my cars, but I suppose it can happen. One reason I actually torque mine to 20ft lbs on my LS7.
Anyway, apparently, this was a near miss and his oil level was OK. Reminds me of a VW timing belt I broke on start-up the morning after a long road trip... Could have been much worse.
Any history of these coming loose? I have a L86 in my Yukon and will focus on that WHEN I CHANGE MY OWN OIL (OF COURSE)!!!!
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From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
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My 2014 oil filter is tightened by hand. When the rubber seal makes initial contact, I turn it 3/4 to 1 full turn by hand. 20 lb ft sounds like you definitely won't have your filter fall off.
Elmer
Elmer
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From: Gainesville, Ga.
My buddy called me yesterday with an oil leak on his 2015 C7 Z51... He had just got back from a long drive the day before, and found oil leaking ... We found the filter was easily hand removable without tools, removed it, inspected it, and retightened it.
It had not been changed since 8 months before, driven all winter, and was OEM done at the dealer.
I've not seen this in any of my cars, but I suppose it can happen. One reason I actually torque mine to 20ft lbs on my LS7.
Anyway, apparently, this was a near miss and his oil level was OK. Reminds me of a VW timing belt I broke on start-up the morning after a long road trip... Could have been much worse.
Any history of these coming loose? I have a L86 in my Yukon and will focus on that WHEN I CHANGE MY OWN OIL (OF COURSE)!!!!
It had not been changed since 8 months before, driven all winter, and was OEM done at the dealer.
I've not seen this in any of my cars, but I suppose it can happen. One reason I actually torque mine to 20ft lbs on my LS7.
Anyway, apparently, this was a near miss and his oil level was OK. Reminds me of a VW timing belt I broke on start-up the morning after a long road trip... Could have been much worse.
Any history of these coming loose? I have a L86 in my Yukon and will focus on that WHEN I CHANGE MY OWN OIL (OF COURSE)!!!!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Another installation goof, pure and simple. Otherwise, they do not come loose. You cannot simply remove by hand... unless you are The Rock or some such He-man.
And, yes, you were fortunate to find it. I had a friend who got a new engine some years ago when something similar happened right after a visit to one of the quick oil-change places. All the best.
And, yes, you were fortunate to find it. I had a friend who got a new engine some years ago when something similar happened right after a visit to one of the quick oil-change places. All the best.
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I wonder if the variable pressure oil pump can maybe not tighten the filter with time the way every other engine I've owned has...?
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From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
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Elmer, I never want to start a thread war with you or any other guy named Elmer... But I gotta say, unless you're Popeye on Spinach, hand tightening an oil filter is not what I've ever heard to be correct on any car. The C6Z06 shop manual is how I came up with the torque specs for the filter for my car if I remember correctly. But that was 12 years ago... Maybe it does say hand tight. I'll recheck. But a 13K$ motor deserves some specs for a filter. I just do what I did prior, and if not prior, then by the book.
I wonder if the variable pressure oil pump can maybe not tighten the filter with time the way every other engine I've owned has...?
I wonder if the variable pressure oil pump can maybe not tighten the filter with time the way every other engine I've owned has...?
From the Helms manual Page 9 - 813
What can I say?
Elmer
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From: Hanover Maryland
In my case I make it however damn tight I want, because I'm the same guy who will be struggling to get it off next time. Either way, as long as I don't become feeble I have a feeling future me will be able to handle it.
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Elmer
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Safety Car
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From: Margate, FL
I stole this image from another forum showing the directions printed on the filter itself follow that exact procedure
I snug mine up using a filter wrench to get a full turn after it touches the gasket because I can never seem to get enough grip just by hand. Too tight could crush the seal causing it to split... and too loose will obviously cause leaks.
As @ArtClassShank said - I put it on so I know I can get it off
and have only myself to blame if it leaks 
I have three vehicles and no problems to date using Mobil 1 and Wix filters.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Castleton VA
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I've been changing my oil/filters for ~45 years. I've done them to well past hand-tight, or to the correct torque in some cases, all with no problems -- until my last oil change on my wife's 2019 Mustang GT (hand-tightened).
She got an oil pressure light on the interstate (and kept driving for a while, thinking the light was just another one of the various electronic messages the digital display occasionally present
).
Once towed to the shop, they found an oily mess where the oil filter had started to spin off. Ultimately, though, we dodged a HUGE bullet on the 6 month-old 5.0L, as there was still at least a couple quarts left in the pan.
Torque wrench on EVERY filter from now on for me.
She got an oil pressure light on the interstate (and kept driving for a while, thinking the light was just another one of the various electronic messages the digital display occasionally present
).Once towed to the shop, they found an oily mess where the oil filter had started to spin off. Ultimately, though, we dodged a HUGE bullet on the 6 month-old 5.0L, as there was still at least a couple quarts left in the pan.
Torque wrench on EVERY filter from now on for me.
Last edited by mneblett; Jun 16, 2020 at 10:31 PM.
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Elmer doesn't lie. I did have to crack the book myself to confirm I wasn't losing it..
My 2008 shop manual pg 9-468 calls for 30nm / 22ft-lbs for the oil filter for the 7L and 6.2L (LS7 and LS3) from 2008... So we were both right! I personally much prefer actual measures than qualitative guessing by hand. And I never really know exactly when the gasket hits the flange. I also think torque setting are "usually" to prevent over tightening, not under....
I'm a bit surprised GM went away from that for the C7.
I've never had to drill a filter off. And I've never had one come off that I put on. Tightest I have ever dealt with was OEM new filter on a 5.7L 2012 Jeep. They really didn't want that filter to leak from the factory!
Chris
My 2008 shop manual pg 9-468 calls for 30nm / 22ft-lbs for the oil filter for the 7L and 6.2L (LS7 and LS3) from 2008... So we were both right! I personally much prefer actual measures than qualitative guessing by hand. And I never really know exactly when the gasket hits the flange. I also think torque setting are "usually" to prevent over tightening, not under....
I'm a bit surprised GM went away from that for the C7.
I've never had to drill a filter off. And I've never had one come off that I put on. Tightest I have ever dealt with was OEM new filter on a 5.7L 2012 Jeep. They really didn't want that filter to leak from the factory!
Chris
Last edited by 80atez; Jun 17, 2020 at 05:12 PM.
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From: Oklahoma
56 years of doing my own service on all my cars and trucks. Always have hand tightened and never a drip or lost filter. When I got my 2019 Z06 the manual called for 20 ft lbs I believe on the filter. On the first oil change I install the filter as I have for 56 years and then get the torque wrench out to see how close I am. I moved the filter a little more but lost my nerve to continue to tighten as it seemed it was never going to click. Not sure I will use the wrench in future.
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I think we've gotten this topic all figured out and I appreciate the input.
It's pretty clear to me the C6 spec is 22ftlbs, the c7 is some sort of average joe's hand tight, otherwise known as wtfk? And when a Chevy dealer (junior apprentice) does it, it can come loose. Shocker...
I hope this helps someone in the future.
I've torqued my filter on my LS7 to 22ftlbs about 8 times without a smashed anything. And without a mess in my garage or worse.
I like numbers.. I trust numbers.. C7 owners, consider yourselves warned.
I want to add one more thing... That C7 underneath looked absolutely pristine. Like brand new. This was after 4 winters of use in northern MN. He has winter tires for the thing! I am amazed how these new cars can take winter salt with almost no effect! He's used that car twice the time I use mine and had fun with it because he had the right idea - use the car when you want to, damn the torpedos!
Cheers all, Chris.
It's pretty clear to me the C6 spec is 22ftlbs, the c7 is some sort of average joe's hand tight, otherwise known as wtfk? And when a Chevy dealer (junior apprentice) does it, it can come loose. Shocker...
I hope this helps someone in the future.
I've torqued my filter on my LS7 to 22ftlbs about 8 times without a smashed anything. And without a mess in my garage or worse.
I like numbers.. I trust numbers.. C7 owners, consider yourselves warned.
I want to add one more thing... That C7 underneath looked absolutely pristine. Like brand new. This was after 4 winters of use in northern MN. He has winter tires for the thing! I am amazed how these new cars can take winter salt with almost no effect! He's used that car twice the time I use mine and had fun with it because he had the right idea - use the car when you want to, damn the torpedos!
Cheers all, Chris.