Oh me, oh my . . .
Changed the oil and filter on the Red Jett last week. Drove it for 20 minutes, all was well.
Yesterday, I went along Beechmont Road (GC Hinterland), and thought I'd do a 7,500 rpm in first gear. I do this every month or so.
Spun to 7,500 no issues, but I heard a thump sound from the engine bay and the oil warning light came on.
Lowered revs and had to drive for about one kilometre until I found a safe place to pull over.
Opened the bonnet and there was oil everywhere on the right hand side. New oil, honey gold, so not black crap discolouration.
Check dip stick. No reading!
I sat inside the Red Jett contemplating my fate and hoping I hadn't blown it’s engine.
Then considered phoning RACQ for a tow home. Had one last look under the bonnet, and whet down to feel the oil filter.
It was so loose it wobbled in my hand.
Hitched a ride back to my home, about 15 kilometres away. Went to my shed and got new oil, new oil filter (K&N), removal tools, funnels, rags etc.
Hitched a ride back to where the Redd Jett patiently waited.
As I took the old filter off, I noticed that the o-ring (which is imbedded in the filter end) was missing. Looked into the oil filter housing and saw it still sticking to the housing. I removed it.
Lubed up the o-ring and installed the new K&N filter. Added oil and drove home. Engine on song.
However, this morning when I went to clean the engine bay of oil, I noticed under the Red Jett a pool of oil. Checked the dip stick and one litre was missing.
Then, I removed the K&N filter and checked out the filter housing. I noticed that there is a spiral ring core in the middle of the filer, but it was bent sideways.
Or maybe I didn't tighten it enough. Being stressed out and all.
So, I got my last K&N filer out and installed it. Screwed it on slowly and near the end the filter would wind back a bit after each small turn. Strange. Bugger of a place to put an oil filter.
Removed the 2nd K&N filter and noticed that the spiral wire core was also bent sideways, not like when new. To I straightened the core and slowly and gently reinserted the filter. Went fine, and then I heard a very small clink noise, so assumed to housing probe was catching the spiral core. Then unscrewed a little and rattled the filter with each tightening turn. No wind back what so ever. Tightened the filter well. Added one litre of Castrol Edge 5W30 and went for a spin after cleaning the oil from the engine bay. Used a mild degreaser.
Upon returning I noticed oil smoke coming from the rear of the engine at right and side, and a few drops underneath the engine.
Could it be the residual splashed oil smoking and dripping a few drops?
Then I saturated the whole back of the engine and side, including oil pan with heavy duty degreaser. One whole can.
High pressure sprayed the degreaser off.
Started the engine and took the Red Jett for a 15-minute spin. Came back, noticed no drops under the engine, but still smoke from the rear of the engine bay, though not as much.
Took the Red Jett for another spin, took it to 7,000 in 2nd gear. When retuning there were no drips and no smoke coming from the engine bay. Oil dip stick read true.
Phew what a saga.
The oil filter that failed was a cheapie that I picked up a few years ago. But then again I might not have tightened it well, and what's this bent filter coil business on the K&N's? Never again. Genuine Nissan as always.
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