Hi
Car is an '89 Escort 1.3 HCS (OHV)
I've been a bit of a naughty boy recently and haven't checked the oil in my car since it last had an oil/filter change in January. When I checked this morning, guess what? No oil on dipstick. Slightly bemused by this, I filled up with the 1 litre can in the back and started looking for the missing oil. I didn't have to look far when I found it covering the CV gaitors and box section behind the engine. There was a drop or so of oil found under the oil filter but none on the oil pump nor sump.
I'm going to get a new filter (and gallon of oil!) tomorrow or sometime but I'm just wondering how important the cleanliness of the oil filter mating surfaces need to be? I say this because I was a bit slap happy when screwing the new one on and didn't wipe the old oil off first. Do you think this is what's caused the leak?
Cheers
Mike Farrow
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Almost certainly caused by the oil filter seal. Considering they are not screwed in tight you always have to be sure to clean off the mating surface on the block, and wipe clean fresh engine oil on the rubber seal on the new filter.
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The normal recommendation is to completely clean the threads and mating surfaces and wipe off all the old oil; then lightly smear the O-ring oil seal and thread surfaces using the fresh oil before screwing back on until hand tight.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Thanks chaps. The filter was screwed in tight but agree I should have been more careful. I forgot to take a cloth with me when I went outside to change the oil which is main reason it wasn't done!
I was just so amazed to loose so much oil is so little time (200 miles tops)!
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I don't think the vital point is so much wiping off the old oil as wetting the surface of the rubber seal before refitting. They are only meant to be hand tight, but a dry rubber seal won't tighten fully - it sort of squeaks, without sqeezing fully home.
To be wise after the event - it's always a good idea to run the engine for a few minutes after refilling, and watch round the filter to see there is no leakage.
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Hi Cliff
I did wet the surface of the rubber with new oil. I tightened it more this time than usual because it leaked slightly when I changed the oil in July and I had to tighten it a bit. I'm just miffed that this time it lost so much oil.
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Hi all,
Well, I replaced the filter with another one from Ford today. The "old" oil filter wasn't pitted or anything but as you all said and I agreed that must be it.
After a minute or so of idling I looked underneath and voila!: drip, drip, drip. Turns out it was the oil light switch leaking, and boy is it leaking!
New switch has been ordered, but are there any tips on fitting the new one? Is it just a case of screwing in the new one or does the thread need to have some kinda sealing compound on it? A new oil pump gasket has been ordered just in case, as it looks like it may be a pig to get at.
Thanks again.
Mike Farrow
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Mike, I havn't replaced one of these for years. We used to remove the switch and fit a tee piece in place of it. The warning light switch went into one part and an oil pressure take off into the other. From memory the thread is a tapered one. I used to fit it with the thread dry, no sealant, and just tighten it up. I can't remember one ever leaking. If the thread is tapered, make sure that it is not cross threaded. I would be wary of using sealant on it, the switch is straight into an oil gallery and even a small quantity of unattached(excess) sealant in there could be, shall we say, less than helpfull. Tighten it to what you think is ok, check for leaks, and if necessary, tighten it a little more until it is oiltight.
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Thanks mjm.
As far as I'm aware the thread isn't tapered, as least it doesn't look it :-). The leak is from the electrical connection at the end. I won't put any sealant on then, just screw it straight in. I onlt asked because I remember reading a Ka manual once which said to put something on the thread which I forget now, but the one I've got for my car doesn't. It shouldn't need tightening that much, Haynes says 13Nm IIRC.
Cheers
Mike Farrow
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Hi all
Well I got the parts today and fitted the new switch in the snow. New oil pump gasket came in handly as I found I couldn't swing the breaker round a full 60 degrees to find the next position on the hexagonal head, without taking the pump off to give myself more room (I lack a 1/2" rachet). New switch only screwed in half way but by that point I thought I was putting enough torque on it with breaker bar so left it at that. It doesn't leak anyway.
Thanks again.
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Nice to hear of a happy ending!
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I've often noticed that oil line fittings like this have a very slight, imperceptible taper. It only becomes apparent as you tighten it, and find it getting tight before it seems to have run out of thread.
Also oil is notorious for appearing to leak from somewhere it isn't, but in fact seeping from somewhere near.
I once had a pressure sensor switch that leaked a fine spray of oil but only going fast. It sprayed oil onto the gap between head and block, then ran along the gasket edge and dripped somewhere else. The sensor itself always looked dry. I had nearly resigned myself to replacing the head gasket before I finally spotted the faulty sensor.
Glad all is now well.
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