Oil drip

I have a small drip from around the filter housing. Small but bothersome. Could this area be smoothed down to allow a better seal? The area in question is lower left in picture

 

Do you use a a new rubber O ring around the edge of the filter housing when you change oil? That may help seal the "scarred" area.

 

I used the one that came with the filter. Maybe use a slightly thicker one?

 

This is the one that came with the filter

 

I would dress the area with a whetstone or machinist's (not bastard) file.

 

Sounds good, thanks

 

Oh, follow up with finishing paper until it's so smooth that you can't see any tool marks.

 

Can't find whetstone, how about 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper?

 

Chamfer the inside and outside edges, stuff a rag in there first to pick up the swarf.
Then wrap the 400 grit around a block and try to keep things flat.

Hard to see how deep that scar is . .

 

Not very deep, didn't leak at first, changed oil couple months ago. Bike set couple weeks, that's when I noticed drip

 

take a flat edge and span over that place to see if there is anything that sticks up, if there is use a file to remove it, using other good places to keep the file flat.
don't file anymore than the up bumps. metal is already removed, that's why it leaked, don't remove any more.
now smear some RTV gasket goo on it thinly so you can almost see through it, put the filter on and snug it with your fingers till it touches all around.
come back the next day and torque it to specs

 

Will do. One more question, should the oring sit so deep in the groove on the filter housing? Looks like it should sit a little higher, doesn't seem to be much touching the other surface

 

Is that a new o-ring?
That is about as deep as an old-hardened one sits.

 

Yes, came with new filter

 

I might be wrong (I switched to a spin-on filter three years ago), but I think it's supposed to be a bit more proud of the housing.

 

Yeah that o-ring is a bit low. What brand filter is that?

 

Not sure of brand, came from a local shop. He had a part number for it. The previous one came from AutoZone and never leaked a drop.

 

My Wix filters come with new O rings that don't seem to come out much further if I recall. I remember thinking there isn't much to compress.

 

The stock filter housing o-ring is right at 4.00mm diameter.

 

I think if it were me, id measure oring thickness. and if needed get a chunk of steel plate idk off hand like 8x8 or whatever will work. suff a clean rag in the hole but below the level of the metal.

then spray glue some idk 600-800 paper, whatever seems appropriate for the material you want to take off and the final finish. and essentially lap it as it stands by moving the plate with the sandpaper over it in figure 8. keeping everything as true as possible in this situation.

but in the end if it seals it seals, don't matter how you get there.

 

Contacted Len

 

I'd just spend $2 and get the correct o-ring. Less work.

 

Good point

 

New o-ring, 1.20, no leaks. Thanks for help