| First Oil Change [message #72441] |
Mon, 01 February 2010 00:55  |
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ljdavick
Messages: 3548
Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
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Folks it's been a long time since I've changed the oil on any my cars - it's so simple to drive through the oil change place - but I seem to belong under my GMC. My oil test kit showed up last week, so I thought this weekend was the perfect chance to change the oil.
Everything went well, but I found that the oil cooler module that the filter attaches too oozes out oil unless I tighten the filter more than I am used to tightening. I had always tightened the filter 1/2 to 3/4 turn after the gasket hits the surface. this time I had to turn it about a turn and a half.
Am I doing anything wrong?
Oh - here is a neat tip from Tom Hampton. He uses a sharpie and writes the mileage, date, type of oil on the end of the oil filter. I thought that was a great idea.
Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
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| Re: First Oil Change [message #72442 is a reply to message #72441] |
Mon, 01 February 2010 01:27  |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Larry,
Are you sure the oil was leaking between the filter and not the filter / oil cooler adapter?
The reason I ask is there is a second gasket between the filter / oil cooler adapter. With the filter removed you can see a large nut. That nut is the one that holds the adapter to the engine. There is a gasket between the adapter and the engine. The gasket happens to be the same size rubber piece that is used on most (but not all) filters.
If it is not leaking now then then next time you change oil take the gasket off of the old filter and use it to replace the gasket between the adapter and the engine.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] First Oil Change [message #72467 is a reply to message #72461] |
Mon, 01 February 2010 11:06 |
idrob
Messages: 645
Registered: January 2005
Location: Central Idaho
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| ljdavick wrote on Mon, 01 February 2010 07:52 |
This is a wonderful write-up and explains the filter / cooler
assembly beautifully. I'm now concerned about the cooler gasket, as
it seems that tightening the filter should not have compressed that
gasket. I'll keep an eye on it for leaks. Is there any value to
looking for a higher quality gasket than the one from an oil filter?
Larry Davick
The Mystery Machine
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Larry: As I recall the oil cooler adaptor nut assembly (the one which requires the 1 1/4 inch wrench) is what compresses the gasket that you have which might be leaking. The oil filter itself does not hold the cooler line adaptor in place. So, you put a new gasket on, put the adaptor in place, tighten it up with the special hollow nut system, then screw the new filter on like normal. Since the new oil filter screws on to the bottom of that special adaptor nut system, you may have loosened the nut, thus causing the leak you have experienced.
The gasket from any Fram filter which fits the 455 will work just fine. You might want to replace that gasket every 5 years or so, mine must have been the original 30 year old one, from the look of it.
(note to others: lets not re open the debate on Fram vs. other filters here. Change your oil often, and any filter will do just fine. The gasket will too).
Rob Allen
former owner of '76 x-PB
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