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[HI2DVY]

Hi Guys,

Can anybody confirm what the torque setting should be used to tighten the cover on the oil filter housing (paper filter type)?

Changing my oil (and filters) at 2000 mile intervals at the moment as it looked like the oil hadnt been changed since the car was built (dealer serviced). But at the weekend I noticed that the cover on the oil filter housing is very clearly marked with a torque setting - 15Nm.  :-?  Strange, I thought - I'm sure the manual I read last time said 25Nm.

Needless to say I torqued it to the setting on the cover - 15Nm. Result - Oil and blue smoke everywhere!  

15Nm is little more than hand tight - and a very slippy oil covered hand at that. Now cranked up to 25Nm - no leaks.  

I'm off to halfrauds in the morning to buy some Gunk driveway cleaner... :-/

[Matchless]

Somethings not right here, the tightening torque does not compress the O ring, it only stops the cap unscrewing.
Did you use a new O ring?
Was the cap really tight when you undid it....could the body have loosened slightly at the time causing a leak between filter body and block?

[Markjay]

It's officially 15NM which is what I use and had no problems. And yes, it is not very tight - but if you think about it, the canister type are hand-tighten only, i.e. no spanner so is probably even less than 15NM. If you over tighten it, you risk getting the whole thing off with the base when trying to undo it as happened to some members here... The drain plug, incidentally, is also 15NM (for drain plug with rubber washer, not copper washer). So if you have oil spillage at 15Nm something is wrong... you have either installed the paper filter element upside down, or used the wrong rubber seal, or your torque wrench is fubar...

[HI2DVY]

New oil filter and O-ring fitted each time and, no, cover wasn't overly tight either. I did notice the first oil seal (supplied with new filter) seemed a bit harder and less flexible than the others but seemed to fit ok and seemed to be ok once given a fine coating of oil though.

However, I have checked the Vx documents again to night and it confirms the torque to be 25Nm not 15...

Quote -

  Install

Attach oil filter housing with new seal ring (6) to cylinder block – tightening torque 45 Nm / 33 lbf. ft.

Attach oil filter housing cover to oil filter housing with new seal ring (2) and new oil filter insert – tightening torque 25 Nm / 18.5 lbf. ft.

Confused or what...? :-/

[Markjay]

That's from TIS2000....?

The cap says 15NM, this is what I use and as I said had no problems....

[Markjay]

You're right... doc number 00025707.... strange. I still go by 15NM....  :-?

[Markjay]

Also doc no 00004304 says 25NM....

[Markjay]

Strange....  :-/

[HI2DVY]

Yup, TIS2000 says 25. Shall we settle for 20Nm?

[Markjay]

Shake  

[Markjay]

Now you made me want to go out there in the dark and check it's not leaking...  

[HI2DVY]

 

[Marks DTM Calib]

Right.......lets put this straight......

The torque used to tighten the cap up has no effect on the oil seal......the oil seal slides between the cap and outer casing and is not squashed in any way by the tightening of the cap....

So, if it was leaking, it has nothing to do with the torque setting......and 15Nm is more than enough to hold the cap securely in place.....

[Markjay]

......and 15Nm is more than enough to hold the cap securely in place.....

I am vindicated  

[HI2DVY]

Just a faulty seal then?

I can see the point of not wanting to torque it too tight for two reasons :-

1. Loosening the casing when removing cover
and
2. Possible compression/damage to seal.

Still don't understand why 15Nm on the cover and 25Nm on TIS though.

Anyway, got my Gunk, now off to clean the driveway! :-/