- Wed Jun 22, 2016 2:08 pm
#59292
Gaz262 - the bottom filter plate compresses the O-ring but O-rings do deform and go flat so they're best replaced. You can only nip up the two tiny screws as far as the plate makes contact with the casing. The screws are only about 4mm diameter and will be very easy to snap (been there, la la la, drill, anti-tap, pita) using gorilla force with the long spanner, "as tight as is tight and no tighter". It has been leak free for 800 miles since an oil change* but this week I found a tiny weep drip from that plate onto the kitty litter in the shed; the O-rings are shot. I used my little 4-in combination ring spanner and could feel they did not want to be tightened any more than I've got them. The weep has stopped but lost 200ml oil. When I get a tuit I may put a fatter O-ring in there.
* - The extra oil change came about because my plug sooted up and the oil became dirty. I dropped the oil out to examine it for metal bits, fortunately none (meaning soot was not a motor problem). The oil has remained nicely clean ever since fixing the bad-plug issue.
O-ring quality does vary but the best only cost pennies so fit the best e.g. Dowty. Nitrile rubber is oil-proof, cheap ones can turn into used chewing gum.
* - The extra oil change came about because my plug sooted up and the oil became dirty. I dropped the oil out to examine it for metal bits, fortunately none (meaning soot was not a motor problem). The oil has remained nicely clean ever since fixing the bad-plug issue.
O-ring quality does vary but the best only cost pennies so fit the best e.g. Dowty. Nitrile rubber is oil-proof, cheap ones can turn into used chewing gum.
