Leaky oil filter, again

[gs.davies]

Following some more investigation on an oil leak on LFF, I’m still getting a leak from the oil filter.

I was finding the front of the engine soaked with oil after a fast run, apparently from around the rubber seal on the oil filter.

I took the filter head off, replaced the block gasket, which had also failed, ensured the mating surface was clean and free of nicks etc. I also replaced the oil pressure relief valve which had shown some signs of sticking.

Put it all back together and it’s now dry, until the engine sees sustained revs, such as a motorway run.

I’ll fit an oil pressure gauge to see if it’s excessive oil pressure causing the seals to fail, but I’m really not sure it is.

Any further thoughts on this?

[gs.davies]

PS, it’s a spin on oil filter. The bowl type is available but I don’t fancy refitting it.

[Rusty old S]

It’s hardly high oil pressure as it’s being dumped into the sump/gearbox This is classed as flow, I have the same issue one on a S and one on a SPI

[Exminiman]

Is the filter head distorting ?

Might be worth trying a shiny new one maybe a competition one ?

Have you tried different makes of filter?

Maybe is heat rather than pressure that is causing or showing up the problem on a long run.

[Oneball]

It’s hardly high oil pressure as it’s being dumped into the sump/gearbox This is classed as flow, I have the same issue one on a S and one on a SPI

Why can it not be high pressure? If the relief valve isn’t working then everything is going through the filter.

[Herbert]

Change the oil filter housing to a racing one, kad or swifty. Use new studs and gasket. When you put the spin on filter, grease it liberally and it will never leak.

[BAD942B]

It’s hardly high oil pressure as it’s being dumped into the sump/gearbox This is classed as flow, I have the same issue one on a S and one on a SPI

Why can it not be high pressure? If the relief valve isn’t working then everything is going through the filter.

at the max pressure the pump is developing at that time

[mk1]

There are duff repro oil filter heads about. It sounds like you have one of these or yours has sustained some damage.

Swap your filter head for a good s/h one & check that the mating face is flat with a straight edge before you fit it.

It's amazing how much abuse these take over the years & it isn't that surprising that they can pick up a bit of damage from time to time.

Find a good one & your problem will disappear.