Wierd oil leak near filter housing area...?

[greeneclipse]

I've got this slow leak by the oil filter area. If I don't drive for a few days i see a small pool of oil directly under the oil filter area.

I know it's not the pan; it's bone dry around the pan seal and the turbo oil return line.

The filter is on tight, and there is no oil around the filter seal. I outlined some spots on a pic. that are wet whenever I look underneath. (pics not mine...i found it online somewhere)

The wierd thing is that I see a ring of oil around the filter housing that turns into drop...This is what's making the puddle under the car, but I don't know where it could be coming from.

Is there anything above the filter housing that could leak down onto it ???

 

[The_EE]

could be leaking on the top of the filter and being sprayed onto the other locations and then pooling up and dripping later on.

 

[GVR4592]

I would clean all of the oil off and run the engine until you see where the leak is coming from.

 

[greeneclipse]

I've tried cleaning up and watching for a leaks as it runs, but no luck....seems like it only leaks when the car's off.

I've fully checked the filter....its dry all around and there is never any oil around the filter seal area when i take it off for oil changes.

Some people have said that the filter housing could be cracked by the cooler, but if it was wouldn't coolant be leaking out too?

 

[brygsx95]

Sounds like the same problem i had. It was a crack,but you couldn't notice until it was off the car. I ended up changing seals that did'nt need to be replaced. Try and find a used one that is in good condition. It's a pretty simple process to install.

 

[greeneclipse]

Are there any gaskets or seals within the filter housing that I could replace instead of the whole unit?

 

[fastestdsm]

mine was leaking there as well, u see the stud that houses the filter? U can use a socket set to tight the nut so the housing wont turn, mine was turning and after tightenting that nut it fixed the oil leak but for some reason, I now have a coolant leak down there. Im pissed and dont know what to do. I just bught the car about a month ago and I already put over 1000 into matinence, my advice, never buy a dsm again.

 

[greeneclipse]

I already tried that...no luck. I even tightened it with locktite. It doesn't spin with the filter either.

I think you may have overtightened your stud. If coolant is leaking you probably crushed the cooling passages inside the housing.

 

[red_devil]

I am having the same problem but its coming from the little round gasket that you can get to by taking the nut of the filter housing. I tried some sealant and it fixed the leak for a few days. Is there any where I can buy one thats not from the local dealer?

 

[92talontsibryce]

Ha im seeing that alot of people are having this problem. As well as me to. im going to replace the oil filter housing and the gasket behind it. And hopefully it will stop the leak. Good Luck

Bryce

 

[Matrixhunter]

I had the exact same problem. It is one of the lower 3 seals. Crank, balance shaft seal, or the oil pump seal.

 

[squeak104]

Its most likely the seal behind the oil filter housing. Once you take the nut off behind the oil filter the cooler will come off and there's a seal behind it that looks like an oil filter gasket. You can pick one up at a local Mitsubishi or possibly a Chrysler if they did anything in Eagle. Part number is MD620908. Its only a few bucks

 

[gst96spyderman]

I'm having the same problem, except when car is running. Seems to be leaking from top of the filter housing. Any thoughts?

 

[carbonfibergsx]

yeah grab a small mirror and look on top of ofh they usually crack on top of where the dummy switch is overtighted