Hi all!

A few weeks ago, we did an oil change on our 2003 Cooper S. There were issues with the rubber o-ring in the oil filter that was spewing oil, but we got it figured out, checked for leaks to make sure it was all good (there weren't any), test drove it several times to double check, and it all looked great.

Today, we have noticed a leak. The oil isn't low, but the leak is there because I noticed a trail when I started backing out of my parking space. And yep, it was oil. (I suspected one a few days ago, but wasn't sure with the rainy weather) Has anyone had any experience with it leaking a couple weeks post oil change? Thanks for any help or suggestions!

Jenny

 

Was the oil filter housing put back on correctly? It is difficult to keep from cross threading and if you forced it on, then you'd have to replace the whole filter/mounting assembly else oil will leak forever.

 

If there were "issues" with the rubber O-ring that sounds like a good place to start looking for the leak, even if it appeared OK after the change. The only other possibility is a leak at the drain plug which would be readily observable by putting the car on ramps and taking a look. There are torque specs for the filter housing and the drain plug. Did you use a torque wrench?

Too tight could damage the o-ring and it could start leaking later, too loose and it could vibrate loose and begin leaking.

Worse case is probably that you will need to remove the filter housing and recheck the condition of the O-ring, then, carefully re-install the housing making sure it isn't cross-threaded, and tighten it to ....I think this is right but you might want to double check, 15 ft./lbs.

If the S is like my '03 MC, I think you can remove the filter housing without losing much oil because it drains out of the housing and into the oil pan when the engine isn't running.

Good luck.

 

Hey all its Jared

I verified oil is once again leaking from around the oil filter housing. I did check the oil drain plug and its clean as can be. I am so perplexed. After I changed it a couple weekends ago, I ran it in the garage then took it out for a bit of spirited driving and arrived back without any sign of a leak. Not sure what could have happened that would cause the o-ring (my guess) to have started to leak. I re-checked torque and it's still tightened correctly to service manual specs.

I think I nicked the first o-ring by wiggling the housing around trying to get it on (the filter from minimania was not exactly correct I don't think) but I was careful about that too. Guess I will have to go buy another filter and try again. Thanks all for your replies.

Jared

 

Update!

Well after much searching, he determined the oil leak was coming from the housing. The one thing he did notice was the the o-ring seemed to have flattened out just a little bit at one point... So he picked up another oil filter, and switched it out. So far all good. We are going to keep an eye on it for the next couple of weeks to see if it starts doing it again. Talk about weird though!

Thanks again everyone and have a great Monday!

Jenny and Jared

 

filter housings are a PITA... good thing your guy got it fixed

 

I've had that oil filter o ring failure happen to me too....it's anoyoing. I ended up getting one of those kits that eliminates the canister style filter and uses a spin on filter insted. Had it on for 50k and no problems.

 

Paul, can you PM me information on that kit?

I think it is time for me to change from the canister as well.

 

PM sent.....

 

 

How about a common link for posterity?

 

Please share the spin on oil filter info with the rest of us.

 

It was availible through Moss MINI a few years back. It was a device that spun onto where the canister usually would. It was ancored down with small threaded bits. You are then able to use a spin-on oil filter. I need to take a picture of it, but as you could imagine, it's in a hard location to snap!

 

So its basically a threaded adapter? I would potentially interested in this as well. On my first oil change, I knicked the o-ring as well and it dumped 2 quarts on my driveway which I had to hurridly get treatment on to keep the driveway from staining. I am fairly careful, but the location and configuration of that o-ring are very susceptable to damage and that causes big headaches.

 

Keep in mind that this was a few years ago that I purchesed this part from MOSSMINI. It's not availible anymore, why I don't know. Again, I'll try and shoot a pic og it installed on my cooper asap.

 

i remember seeing that before, but i recall it is designed for a cooper and not listed for the S, which is a real shame

 

I am remebering it too...and i was about to buy it back then too...

 

Naw it was ment for both the Cooper and S as they both use the same housing.