Another leaking oil filter!

[Chris1956]

Folks, The oil filter on my Mercruiser rusted through for the second time in three years. This time I didn't notice it right away and it dumped 2+ quarts of oil in the bilge. What a mess!<br /><br />Since this has now happened twice, I wonder, does it happen to anyone else on this forum? Also, do they make oil filters out of aluminum, so they don't rust?

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

Which brand filter are you using? and are you boating in salt? I'v seen filters leak at the seams and such but never seen one rust out, How long have these filters been on your motor? I mean if the filter rots out due to constant water in the bilge or some sort of excessive moisture I would be concerned about the oil pan also. I havn't come across a filter made from aluminum, but I have noticed that cheap filters are made with low quality metal and are thinner or at least appear to be easier to crush or tear, I would suspect that if the paint was being scratched off then rust could occur if bare metal was exposed. You do install the filter with your hand and not a wrench??

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

I have never seen an oil filter rust out in a single season no matter who builds it. It would have to be sitting in salt water to come close to rusting out that fast. You sure there isn't a water leak that is running down the filter?

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

Agree with Capt Ken on the water leak nearby. If not, and you're leaving filters on there till they rot away, I'd be more concerned with the engines internals.....<br /><br />You change the oil at least once a season right???

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

Thanks, The filter brand was likely purolator, but I cannot say for sure. The filter was installed for about a year, since I installed it upon pulling the boat for the season (December), and launch it in April. The filter had a rust hole 1/2 down the side. <br /><br />Perhaps there is a leak from the riser or manifold, but I sure didn't see one. I do run in salt water. I do use a wrench to tighten the filter. Maybe I scratched the paint!

 

[trog100]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

the next time u fit one tighten it by hand and dont scratch the paint off.. cant see why one should rust thru anyway but one with intact paint is gonna stand a better chance of surviving than a scratched one..<br /><br />how is the rest of the tin-ware on your engine by the way.. he he <br /><br />trog100

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

i'd change the filter 3 times a year until I found the cause.I'll bet it's not the filter.<br />Oil in the bilge is not a good thing.<br /><br />DHP

 

[Bondo]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

Never...Never... Never use a Wrench to tighten an Oil Filter....................<br /><br />It's written All over the box.....<br />It's written All over the Filter......<br />Never use a Wrench to tighten the Filter.......<br /><br />It only takes 1/2 to 3/4s of a turn to Tighten, After O-ring contact with the block........<br /><br />Did I mention........... Never use a Wrench to tighten a Filter........... <br />That goes for Fuel Filters Too........<br /><br />Go down through the archives....<br />There are Way Tooo Many threads about guys Chiseling the oil filter off, After they manage to get To it......<br />Mashed Knuckles,+ Pain.......<br />That's what Tightening with a Wrench will get you.............. <br /><br />You could go to a Remote mounted filter to get it up out of the water...........<br />Or, Buy the filter ahead of time,+ Shoot it with a couple coats of Rustolium.......<br />Probably Easier to Just Fix the Water Leak............<br /><br />I too would be Extremely Concerned about the condition of your Base..........<br />Might be a good time to start looking for an Aluminum pan..............<br /><br /><br />Sure am Glad I boat in Sweetwater.......

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

What are you trying to say bondo, can I use a wrench to tighten the filter or not? <br /><br />Merry Christmas.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Lou C]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

I run in salt water too, and that seems unusual unless you have a raw water cooled boat with a cooling leak somewhere. I change my oil filters once a year at winterization and they are never rusty, and my boat sits in salt water from May to Oct. I do use the Sierra Marine filters, maybe they have a better paint coating?

 

[cmyers_uk]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

Boat in saltwater change filter each year and not a sign of rust use OEM Volvo penta filters. Something else would appear to be contributing to this.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

People always ask what is the difference between a car oil filter and a marine filter.<br /><br />The major difference is that a marine engine manufacturer uses a filter with a better paint coating on it. You could really see the difference in filter construction and finish with a genuine OMC Cobra filter or a Mercruiser filter and a Fram, AC, Purolator, etc.<br /><br />In salt water climates, filter rusting is very common, especially when they are not serviced or inspected often. Many times it is the boat's problem due to salt water or rain running down thru the motor cover and transom and dripping onto the engine, rusting the starter, and (Chevy) filter areas.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

How far is the filter from the battery? Overcharging a battery causes lots of air borne acid. A little on a scratch would eat thin filter shell that quick.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

Thanks for all the kind words. To answer Trog, I do worry about all the steel on the motor. especially the oil pan and timing chain cover. My neighbor had his oil pan rust out, and his boat is newer than mine.<br /><br />Bondo, I ageee with your subtle message , however, using a wrench makes it easy to SNUG up the filter. It is in an awkward place, and I only turn it 3/4 of a turn anyway. I have had autofilters refuse to come off, so I am familar with the danger of using a wrench.<br /><br />Seahorse, I had not heard about a special coating on marine oil filters. A lot of marine places sell Fram and other filters which do not seem to be listed as "Marine". I will certainly change to a real "Marine" filter, given the mess I had and the potential damage to my motor, from running on low oil.<br /><br />Again, thanks to all, and to all a "Happy Holiday"

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

I nave NEVER seen a rusty filter. And I run salt. I have run (long ago) Chicago winters with salt all over the roads, and never saw a rusty filter. You have a problem somewhere in that engine compartment that baffles me.....I have never even heard until now of a filter rusting through. I would take and send this to the manufacturer as get there opinion. You have gotta have some salt water spraying right at it. Weird.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

How about a hose pinhole- pressure side- spraying at it. If the hole is always in the same place on the filter. Open the hatch- secure it with rope and watch for the water spraywhile running at a fast clip. Don't lose the hatch. Or take it off. I don't like my medications. Rich

 

[Don S]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

I don't know what kind of boat you have or how your engine hatch is setup, but if you get a lot of salt water on your deck, from fishing, diving, or whatever and it just goes under your engine hatch and on to the engine, you need to do some modifications to direct the flow of water away from the engine, or at least as much as possible. If you have a lot of water in the bilge, you might want to set up a small bilge pump under the back of the engine to get as much of the water out as possible, maybe even repaint a couple of extra coats of paint on the filter and don't use a wrench at all on the filter. Tighten it with one hand as tight as you can get it with oil on the oring and you shouldn't have any problems.<br />Use some corrosion guard frequently or you will be replacing pans and timing covers, pulleys on the front of the engine and all, quite frequently.

 

[trog100]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

think of the rusty filters as a lucky warning chris.. its probably saved u some money replacing the more expensive "tin bits" on your engine.. he he<br /><br />the timing chain cover rusted thru on my boat shortly before it came into my possession.. the previous owner said it went "perforated" in a wierd kinda fashion but he couldnt figure out why.. he he..<br /><br />the little tin plate covering the bottom of the flywheel on some engines would probably be the first to go.. but its hidden and dosnt do a lot in a boat (or a car come to that) so i dont suppose it gets replaced that often..<br /><br />trog100

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

To Trog and all the others with good advice. The boat is a 19' bowrider with a conventional 4.3LX motor, and motor box. Saltwater coming in contact with the oil filter is likely to be from the engine's cooling system(pinhole leak like Rich suggested?). However, it may also splash up from the bilge, while underway. I had bilge water splash into the carb. one time when I was out in a rough ocean. That was unnerving since the motor stalled at a bad time, and it had never stalled before!<br /><br />I painted my timing cover with rusty metal primer several years ago. I had a waterpump drip on it for a time, and it looked like it was starting to rust. I am also very concerned that the oil pan may be rusting, since I cannot inspect it easily.<br /><br />Ironically, I used the spray corrosion protection on the oil filter when I installed it last December. I guess I did not get all of the filter's surface.<br /><br />The real purpose of this thread was to determine how common this problem is. I have found out that it is not common at all!<br />Thanks again!

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Another leaking oil filter!

Chris1956,<br />If you had bildge water spray into the carb in rough water,run the numbers here.You have no flame arrestor on the carb and WAY TOO MUCH water in your bilge.<br /><br />DHP