Expensive Oil Change Question


Specracer

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Nov 28, 2005
7,205
MA
Out of curiosity, why not participate in your own thread?
 

w.a.nelson

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Feb 29, 2008
1,129
Asbury, NJ
'06 Oil Filter Change Problem

Search produced this thread, so I thought I'd give it a try. Need help with '06 oil filter change.

Issue:
- During prior oil change, installing filter cap required really high torque to fully seat,
- This time, removed filter cap - very, very tight. I mean really tight!
- Filter element is "twisted". Pleats are radially displaced by approx. 20 degrees. No tears or other obvious loss of integrity, so I think it was still performing the filtering function.
- Cartridge had been correctly fully inserted (snapped) into cartridge "basket", and cartridge fully pressed on. New o-ring was used.

- Wanting to not duplicate these conditions, before trying to install the new filter, I test fit the cap. Again, VERY hard to fully thread on to housing. Got down to maybe 1/8 inch between face of cap and housing flange and it was so hard to turn that I feared trying to continue. Could still see the o-ring between cap and housing face.

- WHAT AM I DOING WRONG? Can't operate without filter, and weather is turning nice.
 

69b302

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Mar 13, 2021
129
Upstate NY
Probably cross threaded the cap. Should be able to mostly install by hand. I would inspect the threads on the cap.
 

nota4re

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Feb 15, 2006
4,339
The proper process is to take the oil cap off and remove the old oil filter. Next step is to remove the o-ring from the cap and replace it with the new o-ring that comes with a new filter. Make sure you only have 1 o-ring on the cap. Take the new oil filter cartridge and slide it over the plastic cage on the cap until it stops. Here's where I think your problem is. Once the new oil filter cartridge stops sliding on, place the assembly cap down on a workbench and use the heels of your hands to press on the cartridge and it will *snap* down another 1/4 to 1/2". Then you can install it back into the car easy-peasy. Thread the assembly on and then stop when it is seated.
 
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GT@50

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Dec 14, 2019
997
Issaquah
Oil the O ring and threads. When the O ring starts to touch I'll turn L and R to get the O ring past the edge, then continue to tighten to 18# which is basically where it stops/not much