Hi All!

Ok, it’s always the simple things!

Has anyone had issues trying to loosen the Oil Filter Housing?

Mine must have been put on by a guerrilla!

I assume that it is normal right hand threads.

Any tips on how to get it off? I have the proper socket.

Thanks,

 

Pretty sure you mean the filter cap and not the entire housing.

Try removing the passenger side wheel, put the car up on jack stands and then you can reach in from below and place a vice grip that has been set to just fit the cap "nut". Had to do this with a friend's car.

 

Thanks r53Coop!

Yes, the oil filter cap.

I will try that for sure!

 

Be sure to double check that the spring check valve/by-pass valve is still in place. Will have to use a mirror to see it. MiniMania has a good picture:

https://new.minimania.com/MINI__02_0...roblem___Hints

 

Will do! Thanks for the tips.

 

Like to think that is what this place is about, MINI people chatting about MINIs and helping other MINI folks out.

Naples hmmmm, how did you weather that recent storm?

 

Overall, I would say lucky.

When I left Naples before the storm I put the GP and my wifes F54 up on 2 lifts about 6ft high.

Then the reports of a 10ft storm surge came in for where I left them

Thought they both were goner’s!

Then, as luck would have it, Naples took a direct hit and that pulled the water from the gulf and drained it. Google Tampa Bay and Irma amd you will see Tampa Bay drained completely.

By having room for the water when the winds changed it had a place to go and we got very little flooding. Nothing like Miami or Jacksonville.

145kts winds, but no real water surge.

Damage to the house roof, but NOT my Mini’s So as you and everyone here would agree... life and mini’s are the important things.

 

Leverage is your friend.
Breaker bar with a cheater bar on it and s-l-o-w-l-y push toward the firewall (lefty loosey)
I don't know if it's the O-ring without enough lube or what, but yes, they do cause much frustration.
FWIW, I wouldn't touch it with a vice grip if you have the right socket.

 

You do not vise the grip down but rather adjust the jaws so that they will rotate the cap.

 

My floor jack handle is 2 pieces. I just slipped half my jack handle over the end of my ratchet. Mine felt extremely tight as well.

I put the new one on until I felt it start to hit the o-ring ring and then went another half turn.

The drain plug felt like it was put on with a impact gun as well.

 

Well....that “wasn’t easy”

Just to followup, I finally was able to get the filter housing off.

There was NO way the 3/8 drive socket was going to work.

I purchased a 1/2 drive - 36mm - 6 point socket amd used a 2 foot breaker and it finally “popped” loose.

The o-ring, threads and housing were in great shape.

It just seems whom ever changed it last must have addeda “0” to the torque and used 180ftlbs ans not the 18ftlbs

Thanks for the advice.

 

The filter housing cap doesn't need to be torqued down at "Gorilla Strength."

What I do, is use a 3/8" drive stubby ratchet with a low-profile 36mm socket and tighten to hand tight, using one hand. The short throw of the stubby ratchet insures that it can't be over tightened.

Also loosens the cap without a struggle at the next oil change.

 

Thanks. I was worried about the next time!

This was the first oil change for me on this car. I was happy to see a filter that wasn’t to bad. I thought I would find a disintegrated filter that hadn’t been change in like forever!

But, it seemed to be changed before and done by a “Gorilla”

 

Replace your stock drain plug with a Fumoto valve (F-106 for the MINI; about $23) and you'll never need to remove the drain plug again. You just open the valve like a faucet, and when all the oil has drained, you close it until the next oil change.

The spring-loaded handle sits in a recess, so it can't be mistakenly opened.

 

AxoMoxoA+!

Thanks! I have that on my airplane and love it! I wasn’t even thinking of doing that, but since you made it easy by giving my the part number I am ordering one asap!

On my airplane I drilled a hole in the silver tab and safety wire it “closed”. I just can’t trust the spring in the air You know...can’t pull off to the side of a cloud

 

I will be most surprised that you can pass airworthiness safety check without the safety wire. It is not like you can just pull over to the side when you think you are low on oil.

 

Thats the beauty of “Experimental Aviation” we can do anything we want to do!

Just have to be sure it is wise and not tooooooo experimental

I just ordered my quick valve and now see Fumoto has a “Plastic Safety Clip”.

I ordered that with my valve. I won’t use it fo the GP, but will on the airplane as a “Second” safety!

 

Have you consider the previous Mini owner just might be a safety conscious pilot, not wanting the oil filter to come undone on cloud 9? Or just a clueless shade tree mechanic that didn't lube the o-ring.

 

I purchased it on consignment, the place selling it was doing work on it as the shop and owner would not sell the car without changing a couple hoses, front struts and oil pan gasket. Good on them!

Honestly, I think they may have rushed the oil gasket and change part and just “honked” in the oil filter too much. It happens. I was glad they were honest enough to change the items they did before I drove it cross country to get it home.

The filter looked like a 5000 mile filter should and the o-ring sure looked oily. It really seemed like they tightened it too much and the little 3/8 socket and breaker bar were never going to budge it.

As for the “safety” - that is on my airplane and not the mini. Everything was normal and not modified. But now I will put a quick drain Fumoto valve on the mini like I have on my airplane.