If my oil filter is loose, what will happen to my car
You may know that fresh and clean oil is essential to keep the engine running smoothly, but what keeps the oil clean within a few miles between oil changes? Oil filter, of course!
The engine oil filter helps prevent debris from entering engine parts. It also helps regulate the oil pressure throughout the engine to ensure that all components are properly lubricated. If your oil filter is loose, you may have serious engine problems! So what can you do? Continue reading to understand the symptoms of loose oil filter, possible causes and what to do if it happens to you.
Can a loose oil filter cause a leak?
The short answer is yes. If your oil filter is loose, your hands may leak. As the oil pump constantly pushes the oil into the whole engine to pass through the oil filter, a large amount of oil may be lost through a damaged gasket or a filter with improper sealing. The severity of the leak will depend on the looseness of the oil filter. Even if the oil filter is tight, a damaged or pinched oil filter gasket can cause leakage.
Look for signs of loose oil filters
Loose oil filter is a common cause of oil leakage of automobile engine. If the oil filter is loose, the following symptoms may occur:
The most obvious sign of engine oil leakage is the oil on the ground under the car. It may be just a few drops of oil or a fairly large puddle. In any case, your oil filter may be the culprit.
Note: If leakage is found, be sure to check the oil level. Driving the vehicle without oil or with insufficient oil may cause serious engine damage.
Top up oil frequently during oil change
If the engine oil must be topped up several times between oil changes, a leak may occur. A loose oil filter may cause you to drain oil faster than usual.
Low oil pressure
Be careful of the engine oil warning lamp. If the oil filter is loose and leaks, the engine may lose oil pressure. When the vehicle leaks all engine oil, the oil pump has no oil circulation. This will cause insufficient engine lubrication and may cause the engine to seize or damage parts. Other common causes of the low oil pressure warning are insufficient engine oil, a faulty oil pressure sensor, or a damaged oil pump.
If the engine oil warning lamp is on, do not continue driving.
Why is your oil filter always loose
Therefore, you are sure that your oil filter is loose, which will cause your engine to leak oil. Maybe you have tightened the loose filter before, or even completely replaced the filter, but you find that it is loose again. How frustrating! The following are several reasons why the oil filter may be loose:
It is not tightened correctly
This may seem obvious, but you will be surprised that the oil filter is often loose because it is not tightened correctly. Most oil filters can be manually installed and adequately secured. However, sometimes, due to engine vibration, closely connected filters may become loose over time. Some vehicles have specific torque specifications for the oil filter. If it remains loose, your oil filter may only be "hand tightened"
On the other hand, a tight oil filter may be as problematic as a loose oil filter. Over tightening the oil filter may crush the oil filter gasket or oil filter housing, causing it to crack and eventually leak. Do not use the oil filter removal pliers to tighten the filter - only for removing the filter.
Your oil filter gasket is damaged
Cutting, twisting, or breaking of the oil filter gasket means that the oil filter does not seal the engine mating surface correctly. The gasket should be placed flat in the oil filter base plate or around the housing without any signs of wear. Even if your oil filter is still in good condition, the gasket may be damaged if it leaks.
You're dealing with double gaskets
Another common cause of loose or leaking oil filters is double gaskets. When the old gasket sticks to the mating surface of the engine block during removal and a new filter is installed on the top of the old gasket, a double gasket condition will occur. The oil filter gasket is notorious for sticking to the engine even after removing the corresponding filter.
Oil filter gaskets that are not properly lubricated during installation can cause this. When removing the old oil filter, carefully check whether the old gasket falls off with it, or ensure that the old gasket is removed from the filter housing before installing the new gasket. Otherwise, when you start the engine, you may have to deal with a messy gasket burst.
Damaged filter threads
The thread on the oil filter (where the filter is screwed to the engine) must be fitted correctly. If the filter is installed with cross threads, the filter may not seal correctly to the mating surface, which may eventually lead to leakage.
You used the wrong filter type or size
A loose oil filter may only be due to the wrong type of filter installed on the engine. Not all filters are identical or designed to be installed on the engine in the same way. Similarly, for engine mounts, an oil filter that is too large or too small may cause the filter to loosen. Be sure to check the owner's manual for the type and size of oil filter that is suitable for your vehicle.
What to do if the oil filter is loose
A loose oil filter can be frustrating, especially if it is a recurring problem. Thankfully, the oil filter is easy to replace. The best time to change the oil filter is every time the oil is changed.
