Leak from oil filter - M40

Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:28 pm

Ok, I have had my oil changed recently, and now have a leak from the top of the filter housing. I have wiped it clean, driven for a few miles, and that is definately the source.

The washer on the bolt is bent, and I can't get it centred, also the top of the housing does not seem tight enough.

What should I do to sort it? I suspect the garage who did the oil change may have used a non-OE filter, could this be slightly too big?

Any ideas?

Thanks for your help, the car is leaking quite a lot.

Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:11 pm

If leaking alot then I suggest you take your car back to the place that changed the oil filter and get them to sort it

does sound as if they have used the wrong filter.

Get them to fit a genuine filter 1993 318i trg will need
11.42.1.727.300

Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:29 pm

zimmerbimmer1 wrote:
Get them to fit a genuine filter 1993 318i trg will need
11.42.1.727.300

And fit the two new O rings.

Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:06 pm

thanks guys. i will replace the filter, o rings and the washer. it seems to be leaking from the very top, where the washes is, but hopefully if I do the lot, it will cure it. thanks for your time.

Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:12 am

Any idea why there are two washers with the new oil filter?

Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:26 am

one is rubber the other metal one at the bolt head (metal) and one in the groove at the threaded end so it dont leak at the bottom as well

Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:29 am

yeah, but I have two metal ones, one is copper.

I also have the two rubber ones, but I know where those go.

Any ideas?

Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:12 am

I recently bought an oil filter from an autofactors for my 92 318i touring and it seem to be a few mm longer than the one that came out, consequently the top of the filter housing didn't seem to locate all the way over the lip but closed enough so it didn't leak-annoying though, i have to keep checking.

Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:27 am

I think mine might be like that. Still a bit unclear as to which of the two washers to use under the retaining bolt.

Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:16 pm

Use the widest washer, i think they supply two because the filter also fits other cars.
If there both too small then get another washer from somewhere but just make sure its a crush washer i.e. Ali/copper.
The filters are always a bit too tall to fit in when new so you have to compress them in to get a good seal or the oil will not flow through them and just leak around the side defeating the point of fitting one.

Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:24 pm

The copper washer is for the sump plug...

Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:31 pm

The ones i get never fit the sump

Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:32 pm

Thanks, spoke to the guy who did the last oil change and just found that out. It turns out that the pattern filter did not come with the O rings, etc. and the washer used was a sump one. This was slightly too big in diameter, was not square under the bolt, and was allowing the oil to escape.

Replaced the filter, O rings and washer with OE, and all seems fine - touch wood!