So my close call with oil filter failure..

[kctyphoon]

Ehh, just figured I'd share this for entertainment..

I have a small company van these days, (promaster city) so my personal car doesn't see any real use.. so much so, that my inspection was overdue by 2 months and I had no reason to rush out and get it done. Finally 2 about weeks ago I ran over to the closest state inspection station to get it done. It's about 20 minutes away mostly taking highways.

No line at that station, pulled it with the car running, handed over paperwork, talked to the guy a little and he said ok just jump in the passenger seat and I'll pull the car up.. he did, and within 10 seconds I hear someone yell "get that car outta here! It's dumping oil all over the place!" My initial reaction was this guy must be crazy, there's no way that's from my car.. sure enough we pull it up, and there's a steady FLOW of oil just dumping on the ground.. pull the car out, jump out and look and there's oil just being dumped out by the filter. Shut it off, grab Channellocks, try and tighten the filter. Restart, no change.. immediately call a tow truck. My only comfort is knowing I just drove a good 20 minutes or more and there's still oil left in the car to be flowing out like that.

Get it home, and about a week or so later I finally do an oil change (was due anyway). About a quart / quart and a half came out.. no oil light ever came on while the car was running, and even if it did who would ever think that oil was just being dumped out so fast. I most likely would have shrugged it off until I stopped driving since the dash read 15% oil life left on the timer, and the car had sat for so long. Anyway - New filter, replace oil - all good..

Point is how lucky I was with the timing of everything.. one extra red light on the way there coulda changed everything. Leak developed after leaving the station, no telling if it woulda made the drive home.. couldn't have asked for better timing with a bad situation like that. And it was a premium filter too, K&N. didn't see a crack on the gasket when I removed it, so imma go with the cold weather and lack of use just caused it to harden up and leak.

So I guess one lesson in this (sort of) - pay attention to idiot lights if they happen to suddenly come on.. no telling what might happen out of nowhere.

Wondering if anyone has had an oil filter just fail like that too..

Side note - good time for everyone to make sure their jump packs are charged for the cold weather.. used one twice so far. Once to help out some college kid who's car wouldn't start in front of my house, and once to get my own car started after sitting for so long without use..

 

[Hiball]

I'm Leary to claim there are lots of stories concerning leaking KN oil filters, but I've seen quite a few threads concerning the issue. If I'm not mistaken, I believe there was actually a recall issued, concerning them leaking at the base around the nut, prior to that most people dismissed the issue as user error from over tightening. I can see how it would easy to overtighten with that hex on the base.

 

[chrisnazzy]

It's a Crosstour right? I have a Pilot with pretty much the same motor and I run Mobil 1 Extended Performance and Mobil 1 Filter. Guaranteed for 15000 miles intervals and on average I run it about 8000. Usually use the Honda maintenance minder and reset it once and the oil is still brown and transparent when it's drained.

I've never had an oil filter leak on me like that but then again there is a world of difference in the weather between NJ and AZ. I would have to agree with you that sitting for any extended period of time in low temps may have had something to do with it.

If you lean more towards a premium filter try the Mobil 1. Out here they are available at Autozone and O'Reilly and they are $8.99-12.99. The K&N oil filters are usually a couple dollars more anyway.

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[WhiffySpark]

I’ve switched to purolator boss filters. I like them

 

[Tonyuk]

Never heard of this before, the only time ive seen oil filters leak are either ones with the old gasket still in place or a filter with a damaged side, glad you noticed it in time.

Im a fan of Mann or Mahle filters and they're not that expensive really.

 

[fordnut85]

I had one come thru the shop like that and it was also a k&n. There were some issues with them at one time and can't remember what exactly happened with them but we changed the oil with a wix and problem solved. I couldn't tell where the old one was leaking either.

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[jfcasey]

I see on equipment filters that get holes in them from hoses rubbing the paint off, then they rust and the oil pressure blows them open. Haven't seen an engine blow yet and it's amazing. Last one was a backhoe that gets roaded a ton and could have easily leaked out enough to kill the engine.

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[kctyphoon]

Yea I usually go with K&N for filters an either Mobil1 or Royal Purple for oil on the Honda. For my truck (7.3 powerstoke) I pick from the bunch of Motorcraft and Bosch (I think) filters I have from them all going on clearance at a local parts store a few years ago. For $1 a filter I took everything they had on the shelf, but I haven't driven that truck in years now so every year I just pick at repairs and upgrades.

Anyway - the hex nut on the bottom of the K&N filters make it easy for install and removal. This time around I went with the Royal Purple filter. I'm sure this was just a fluke situation, been using K&N for years but after that - yea confidence a bit shaken. Also noticed some rust on the bottom and sides of the filter too. Can't remember that being normal for me, but the leak was coming from by the gasket. Unless there was freak pinhole that developed by the top of the filter I'm going with gasket failure, since I didn't notice any rust up top.

 

[kctyphoon]

Funny too, cause that same week I brought the dodge promaster to get the oil changed at a lube place.. they use a pit, since it's such a small place there's no room for lift with the low ceiling they have.. guy installed a new filter, no idea what kind - I don't care. They filled the oil, started the van and immediately the guy in the pit yelled to have the van shut off.. that was followed with a discussion of how sometimes you just get a bad filter. That is literally ALL they do in this place - oil changes - for decades- so I gotta believe it's happened to them before.. van is only about 3 months old - so yea, that woulda been great if they didn't check before sending me out..

 

[2level]

I had an oil filter (Fram) push/bulge the gasket out the side; dumping out about 3 quarts of oil in mere seconds at 7,000rpm. Oil coated a tire -- fishtailed the car across two lanes, but luckily didn't collide with anything. That was the last Fram oil filter that I've used, other than HP-6's.

 

[smalltown]

I had an oil filter develop a rust spot, and start leaking through the side. I was able to add oil, and get home. Never had that happen before the filter wasn't that old, but I'm in the rust belt.

 

[rsanter]

I had an oil filter puff up like a football one time. I suspect the oil pump relief valve stuck.
Changed oil filter and fired it up to see what would happen and it was fine.
Never a problem again

 

[Schurkey]

Didn't K&N offshore their oil filters a few years back?

I looked at a batch of K&N motorcycle oil filters, I'm thinking they were Taiwanese, but I don't remember for sure.

 

[kctyphoon]

Didn't even know they were ever a USA made product.. don't know if they were ever packaged highlighting that either.

Lisle is like that too.. you walk into Pep Boys, and they have a small section of Lisle tools. You'd never know they were made in the USA unless you look at the fine print on the back of the package. You'd think these days especially it would be highlighted on the front of the package.

 

[dalehsc]

I borrowed a GMC 4x4 with a 5.3L once to haul my race car. As we were going down the highway,one of our crew came up along side & motioned me to pull over,as we were starting to leak & and a bit of smoke. The truck had very low kilometers,but the filter had a small pin hole & was squirting out on the y pipe.Not sure if a rock had damaged the paint ,but it was a rust hole in the can.

 

[slip knot]

Check the oil pressure. I had several filters blow out in my racing days. HP/HV oil pumps turning high RPMs play hell with filters.

 

[redwrench60]

I’ve seen this first hand. I had a customer bring Chevy Impala leaking oil like a screen door on a submarine and it was their K&N oil filter. It was clean and tight with no visible damage but leaking around the seam. Against my recommendation they supplied their own K&N replacement and a week later it returned on the hook with the same problem. A USA made Wix replacement filter solved the problem.

 

[jrockford]

The hex nut should be for removal purposes only. You're certain that is where the leak came from?

 

[Volvotechdude]

Meh skip the marketing hype. Stick with factory filters.

 

[BillK]

Meh skip the marketing hype. Stick with factory filters.

Only way to go ++++++++++

 

[BillK]

Also..... does the Mobil 1 and the Royal Purple meet the correct specs for your Honda ? I use Mobil 1 in everything but you have to make sure to get the correct one.

 

[kctyphoon]

Also..... does the Mobil 1 and the Royal Purple meet the correct specs for your Honda ? I use Mobil 1 in everything but you have to make sure to get the correct one.

Yes it does.. Honda is famous for the "use of anything but genuine Honda fluid anywhere - including washer fluid and blinker fluid" - may result in immediate death by shark nato attack"

But for engine oil they grudgingly admit any oil displaying the starburst symbol is fine. I seriously don't want this thread to turn into an oil debate though.

 

[SD_40]

Soooo...uh....no green sticker?!

 

[Kent_B]

Back in the early 80's i saw a Chevette rolling off a car carrier hemorrhaging oil from a split in the oil filter gasket. This was from the factory. Great quality control from Chevrolet back then.

 

[anndel]

Sorry to hear what happened. I always use Toyota OEM filters for our vehicles which are made by Denso.

 

[kctyphoon]

I won't testify to this, but I wanna say I read somewhere that Honda oil filters are made by Fram.. not that it really matters.. the oil filter debate has been beat to death and it's pretty certain that no product is exempt from failure.

 

[Volvotechdude]

I won't testify to this, but I wanna say I read somewhere that Honda oil filters are made by Fram.. not that it really matters.. the oil filter debate has been beat to death and it's pretty certain that no product is exempt from failure.

That is true but why take the chance? Stock filters are made to an exact spec for the vehicle. The aftermarket loves to play around with those specs, not something I personally think is great.

 

[Ms6peters]

Had THREE tall K&N filters in a row fail over time on a Dodge Cummins....one was actively dripping really badly. Wasn’t aware of the mentioned recall. All three developed leaks from the spot welds on the canister nut. I only use the canister nut for removal now. The spot welds do have a fragile appearance.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Back about 1987-90, A new Caprice was unloaded from a auto transport at the dealership I worked at. It was about -25 below, so the car was left running while other vehicles were unloaded. When the driver glanced at the car; there was a pool of oil under the engine. The relief valve had stuck, and the oil filter ruptured. I ended up replacing the crankshaft, bearings, and oil pump in that engine. Glad it failed and was corrected before it was sold, so we didn't have a customer inconvenienced by an engine failure on a new car.

 

[kctyphoon]

Personally I've been using K&N for years, on a few different cars I've had, my GSXR too.. this is the ONLY time I've ever had any issue at all. If I get motivated enough I'll take the old one out of the trash and clean it up inside the house for a better look. To be clear, I'm not BASHING on the brand. I could create a thread about fram filters and I'm sure failures would pop up too..

Like stated - I don't know for sure what the issue was, taking a best guess here from what I saw. The fact it was an easy fix outweighs "why" as far as I'm concerned, but if I get curious later I'll pull it outta the trash.

 

[WVBrady]

I had an oil filter puff up like a football one time. I suspect the oil pump relief valve stuck...

I had a diesel Rabbit do that. They were known for having the relief valve stick.

 

[chaosracing]

Never had an oil filter do that. I have used nothing but Purolator filters and Castrol oil since the mid 90's. Tore apart an engine that had that combo on since new and it still looked pristine inside. A few years ago, Advanced was running a promotion for a free filter with 5qt of Castrol GTX purchase. It was the K&N filter. Got two since I needed to change my oil and wifes oil. Gave the filters to a buddy for his work trucks. One of them wound up dumping oil as well.

Purolator used to make OEM filters (I know Motorcraft for sure) but now not sure who else they manufacture for.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I've also seen the gasket stick to the mounting surface and then double gaskets cause the leak

 

[kctyphoon]

Yea had that happen to a friend. Most times the leak for something like that is immediate. Had I driven the car on a normal basis, the filter woulda been off and gone months ago and this would have never happened.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I got my friend a nice later model motor for his Pathfinder, but it sat in his shed a few years before he put it in. He got it running, went down the street, and the new Fram filter ruptured the side.
"POS! A Wix 'ill fix that" he said.
And it didn't pop, it stripped the threads!
Yup stuck releif valve. after some study of the plumbing, we figured out how to run one externally, till the OEM one freed up a week or so later.

 

[apollo11]

https://www.yourbestpicks.com/best-oil-filters-reviews/

is this review valid?

 

[d.mcfarland]

https://www.yourbestpicks.com/best-oil-filters-reviews/

is this review valid?

Yes, but they leave out the Fram Ultra which according to bobistheoilguy.com it currently has the ranks of best value, all things considered.

 

[1foxracing]

There was a recall on K&N-204 motorcycle filters, a friend of mine took a spill at Mid-Ohio
because of these junk oil filters. I posted about it on BITOG back in Sep.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4516913/Re:_K&N-204_oil_filter#Post4516913

 

[Bluevista]

I've been changing my own oil for nearly 50 years, never a problem,(knock on wood). I've never had a lube job done by anybody else, nobody touches my cars for any reason but me.
I only use Napa filters, that are made made by Wix, and Napa Premium Performance oil, which is Valvoline in a blue jug.

Fram filters have been known as "The orange cans of death" for as long as I can remember.

 

[bpankratz]

Just throwing this out there. To you people using K&N or Fram filters: PLEASE STOP! besides the massive amount of failures on these filters (compared to almost none on a quality filter), their filtering material *****! I can provide a cutaway comparison picture of a Fram next to an OEM filter if you would like.