Massive oil leak from oil filter housing

[gst96spyderman]

I have a 96 gst spyder, and was kinda driving it hard the other night. I awoke the next day and found that my bra on car is ripped and has oil on it. I turned car on. Then oil started pooring out of car. I get it towed to the house, and dry everything up and place more oil into engine. I found that the leak is coming from oil filter housing. There is oil everywhere. From Alternator, to bumper and on my rims. There is oil residue everywhere. So I drove it like this for a couple miles before noticing what I've done. (yeah, I'm a dumbass)

The oil only drips if car is off. Once turned on, I'm losing a quart every 20 secs. What could this be? I've priced the oil filter housing @ NAPA, and its like $70. My question is, could this be a oil return line? If you, do I have to purchase oil lines seperately? I'm sick of the oil stains on my driveway, and so is the old lady. Any thoughts? I have already replaced oil filter and made it snug. Thats not it.

 

[xioca]

Clean it up with a pressure washer then find out exactly where the leak is coming from.

 

[red_devil]

Is it leaking behind the the filter? could be the o-ring that is leaking.

 

[ozzie_1978]

wipe the fresh oil off with a few rags and have a friend start it while you're under there

 

[XLR8]

You can check the o-ring by removing the filter and then loosening the shaft in the center. Not sure if autozone carries them but I have ordered one from JNZ before.

 

[knochgoon24]

I'd wipe it down with a rag and start it back up and see where it's leaking. I wouldn't use a pressure washer to keep from getting water in through where it's leaking. If it's leaking a quart every 20 sec, you should be able to just wipe it down good then start it up.

 

[Slavic1991]

i had a fimilar problem. execpt it was right above the oil filter housing. the sealer/gasket on the bedplate was bad...so i just rebuilt it.

 

[gst96spyderman]

Alright, I've wiped everything down with a rag. (several rags) Thats how I found that the oil filter housing is the source of leak, because like I said before, there was oil everywhere. It seems to be leaking from the opposite side of where oil filter is located. (the bottom) Not sure what its called. Its pretty hard to explain. Hell, at least I grew the balls and started the car, and found out there seemed to be no internal problems or weird noises coming from engine.

As stated before, I was running car fairly hard. (2 redlines in 1st gear, and shifts @ 5-6k rpm) I've owned a couple DSM's now, and know a few people with dsm's, but have never heard of this problem. Also, as I stated before, I have a torn bumper bra. No damage to bumper though. This could be the source of problem. Has anyone ever heard of this?

I'm going to at least see how hard it is to remove oil filter housing. Has anyone ever done this? Pictures, diagrams, written instructions, prayers... send'em to me. I need em.

 

[Timechg]

I had a similar thing happen to me when I was driving on the Interstate. I drove and then I suddenly lost oil pressure. My oil pressure switch came off somehow (either excessive high pressure or perhaps I hit something). See if you have a wire hanging that should be on that sensor, that would definitely make your oil shoot out. It could be a oil filter housing gasket, any turbo oil lines may have burst and is running down the metal line. Otherwise I wouldn't run your car with a big leak because your pump won't build any pressure, and it may damage your motor.

Tim

 

[gst96spyderman]

I've been looking for this particular part and have had NO luck finding one. What is the proper name? I need the entire housing the holds the oil filter, oil cooler ect... everything. Also, if someone know where to get a new one, please lemme know. And I will not buy a used one. Must be new in order to get a warranty thanks

 

[Timechg]

It's just called the oil filter housing. You will probably have to go to a mitsubishi dealership, or one of the vendors on dsmtuners. EXTREME PSI : Your #1 Source for In Stock Performance Parts - OEM Oil Filter Bracket Assembly: Mitsubishi Eclipse 95-99

Tim

 

[Dsmj89]

I had a similar problem on my previous 2g only it turned out just to be the o-ring on the oil filter. If your oil filter o-ring is good then most likely it is the gasket on the housing. I'd replace the whole thing brand new, anyways it is suggested to be replaced as per maintenance after working so long on a 10+ year old car.

 

[gst96spyderman]

Thanks guys. I couldn't find the part anywhere online. $54? thats nothing. Has anyone ever done this installation? I really want to know how difficult and time consuming this is. Time is a factor to me, so if anyone knows that this will take 3+ hours, tell me. I don't have that kind of time. Also, I guess the gasket is sold seperately? What about the oil lines? Is this assembly all that I need. I was hoping to change out oil return lines as well.

 

[knochgoon24]

I had a similar problem on my previous 2g only it turned out just to be the o-ring on the oil filter. If your oil filter o-ring is good then most likely it is the gasket on the housing. I'd replace the whole thing brand new, anyways it is suggested to be replaced as per maintenance after working so long on a 10+ year old car.

What's to replace? There are only 2 gaskets that go bad. Most of the rest is cast. Why don't you try a new gasket and o-ring and see if that works?

Thanks guys. I couldn't find the part anywhere online. $54? thats nothing. Has anyone ever done this installation? I really want to know how difficult and time consuming this is. Time is a factor to me, so if anyone knows that this will take 3+ hours, tell me. I don't have that kind of time. Also, I guess the gasket is sold separately? What about the oil lines? Is this assembly all that I need. I was hoping to change out oil return lines as well.

You could probably follow this for the most part without the porting. http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/319342-oil-pressure-relief-valve-porting.html

 

[gst96spyderman]

Alright. How many gaskets will I have to buy seperately? I know there is at least one. OEM Oil Filter Bracket Gasket: Mitsubishi Eclipse 7 Bolt. What about Oil Return Line Gasket : T25/T28 Turbo? I just want to get this right and parts ordered this afternoon.

 

[Polyol]

There is the oil filter housing gasket, and there is an o-ring between the oil cooler & filter housing. And then the seal on the filter itself.

 

[GsXdSmKingGsX]

Check the O-ring and all of the seals. I had the same problem at one point

 

[gst96spyderman]

Parts are ordered. Hopefully this works. Thanks 4 the input

 

[gst96spyderman]

So 2 weeks later, I resolve this problem. I'm almost embarrased to tell everyone this, but hopefully my bad luck/stupidity will prevent someone else from feeling like an ass.

So after 10 days of trying to get old oil filter housing bracket off and replaced with new one, I finally do so. (knockgoon24, thank you very much. Your help was unexplainably wonderful. Thank a lot man. Tell defiant or luda to give you a raise or something)

Remember, I'm on day 10 of this project that should have taken 6 hours at the most (but I don't have access to many tools.) So the job is 99% complete. I'm at the stage of completion where you place oil filter back on the housing.

Now because I've had the door open and left key in ignition for a week, the battery is dead. So I finally jump car off, and get it running. Then the leak begins to poor out again. sh*t m*ther-----ect...

Thank god I only put 1 qt of oil back in. So I clean mess up, and remove oil filter and check seal. Upon removal, I see that the bolt that the oil filter is suppose to screw onto, is spinning with the oil filter. That isn't how that works. So I tighten it up with vice grips. Now I start car again, and there you have it. The solution to my problems. Its only a temporary fix, but its what was causing the oil leak.

Anyways, any and everyone that posted a reply, thank you very much. I LOVE THIS SITE!!!!!! DSMtalk.com sucks man. They gave me 0 help. Much Love and respect to DSMTUNERS.com