Oil filter seeping oil from seal : Should I change it ?

[Hershey]

It's the TOYOTA ( Denso ) 90915-YZZF2 . Did an oil change few weeks ago and has been seeping since . It leaves a very small amount of fresh oil on a paper towel / napkin . Tightened it a bit more and no difference . Wonder if I should replace it with another Toyota oil filter and top off the oil . These filters are prelubed . Thanks .

[yaris-me]

Make sure the leak is not from another place. Check the filler at the top of the engine to make sure you didn't spill oil there. If it cannot be from another place, then replace filter.

[CTScott]

Usually the cause of a leak there is having two gaskets in place. Sometimes the old gasket stays behind when you remove the filter. If that is the case, it is very dangerous to drive that way, since as the oil heats up the oil will really squirt out between the two gaskets.

[Hershey]

It's definitely the oil filter . The older gasket came off with the other oil filter . Always clean the area where the filter meets the block before installing another .

[CTScott]

In that case, it must be a bad O-ring. I would go ahead and swap out the filter.

[Hershey]

Thanks . Was afraid of that :frown:.

[The Limo]

You can take the filter off and turn the O ring over then put the same filter back on. Sometimes works to stop the leak.
Roy

[craigq]

Hey Hershey, you made the autos.ca review of the 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris ! http://www.autos.ca/used-car-reviews/used-vehicle-review-toyota-yaris-2006-2011

[Hershey]

:biggrin: . It's all true . Not looking for attention . Just trying to get it known . Still have the '08 YARIS sedan and enjoying the gas mileage , ride , etc.. Anyways bought another TOYOTA oil filter and will likely replace it .

[Hershey]

craigq , is the writer a member of YARISWORLD ? See he's from Ottawa :wink: . Let them think what they want .

[craigq]

I don't know if he's a member of YW. The writers who are active in the forums show what cars they own, but I can't recall his profile from the forums...

[Hershey]

Did oil change little while ago and noticed this Toyota oil filter ( 90915-YZZF2 ) is also seeping oil on both sides . The oil level on the dipstick remains at the full mark . Can I let it go until next O.C. which is due in about 2,400 miles ( or a few months ) ? Bought an AC Delco Pureguard ( PF1233 ) oil filter for $4.00 that fits the Yaris and will likely use that instead to see if seeping persists . Reason being the gasket of the AC Delco is wider and thicker than the YZZF2 making for more contact to the block . Last , would a torque wrench possibly help ? The torque for the Toyota oil filter is 9.5 ft.lbs. Would that also apply to the AC Delco oil filter ? Getting rather annoyed with seeping for past few O.C.s . Last , it's not anything else that's leaking . Pics of both filters . Thanks .

[2007yariz]

Once I freaked out when i reached down and felt oil on my Toyota oil filter. But since the oil level was full, i didn't care about it much. I like to fill up my oil filter, maybe some oil got out when i was screwing it back on? Anyways i got a P1 on it now, we'll see how it goes.

Btw i really like the plastic film on the OEM filter.

[Hershey]

Prelubed too . I've been cleaning where the seal meets the block and it keeps coming back with a small amount of fresh oil on a paper towel . Will likely let it go and keep tabs on it . Not long before next O.C.. I also fill the oil filter before installation . Takes about 5 ounces .

[craigq]

I tighten my Yaris oil filter hand-tight, almost to the 3/4 turn past initial contact. No leaks yet. Are all of the leaking oil filters from the same box (assuming you buy by the box of 10 or so, and they are all manufactured sequentially etc)?

[auxmike]

I noticed this last week on my filter too, the oil stain. I'm thinking a groove forms in the aluminum mounting point of the engine everytime you install remove that steel filter due to the very low profile of the gasket design. I've actually seen it as I've wiped down that area during oil changes. Might want to check that one out Hershey..

[Hershey]

I tighten my Yaris oil filter hand-tight, almost to the 3/4 turn past initial contact. No leaks yet. Are all of the leaking oil filters from the same box (assuming you buy by the box of 10 or so, and they are all manufactured sequentially etc)? Do the same with the tightening . 3 filters were bought at one Toyota parts department and the newest installed from another . Defect is possible .

[Hershey]

I noticed this last week on my filter too, the oil stain. I'm thinking a groove forms in the aluminum mounting point of the engine everytime you install remove that steel filter due to the very low profile of the gasket design. I've actually seen it as I've wiped down that area during oil changes. Might want to check that one out Hershey.. Yes , I noticed the same thing 3 oil changes ago . Thought it was some residue left from the rubber seal . So , cleaned it thoroughly with some 90% rubbing alcohol ( amazing what rubbing alcohol will remove ) and it still remains . Maybe with it being aluminum it makes an indentation ( grove ) over time . There's 44,891 miles on the '08 sedan . The indentation / grove is part of the reason for the purchase of the AC DELCO . Thinking the thicker ( taller ) / wider seal would make for better contact . Will see in a month or 2 at next O.C. . Will report back the result .

[Hershey]

Here's a pic side by side where the seals meet a surface . Notice more space between the AC Delco and surface ( block ) . The Toyota less , even with the thin plastic cover .

[Hershey]

There's about 2,800 miles on this seeping oil filter . Will likely monitor it and let it go until 4.900 miles or so . Then get an U.O.A. since it's a fill of Shell full synthetic 5w-20 . Next oil will be Shell full synthetic 5w-30 ( $3.10 a qt. ) along with the AC Delco oil filter ( $4.00 ).

[racerb]

I've run only Fram filters on my Toyotas for years with zero issues. They come with dry square shouldered gaskets that you put a light coat of fresh oil on and then tighten to factory specs. I have also run only straight Valvoline synthetic oil changing every 7,500 miles, more frequently when I tow alot. Try the Fram Extra Guard, mostly since it has a rubber coating at the end for easier grip for installation and removal.

racerb :thumbup:

[Hershey]

As you can see the seeping is minimal . No oil down the sides or at bottom of filter where it would accumulate over time .

[auxmike]

Bit blurry Hershey.
I'm at 50k myself on my '08. My filter was wet on the bottom, but not dripping. I tightened it another 1/8 turn. I gotta check it again... Been using ONLY Thai made OEM the whole way...

[Hershey]

Bit blurry Hershey.
I'm at 50k myself on my '08. My filter was wet on the bottom, but not dripping. I tightened it another 1/8 turn. I gotta check it again... Been using ONLY Thai made OEM the whole way... :biggrin: , sorry not easy to get hands in there for a steady shot . Same here with the YZZF2 up to now . Keep us up to date . Good luck .

[Altitude]

As you can't see the seeping is minimal.

There. I fixed it. :wink:

[Hershey]

Thanks . :smile:

[Hershey]

Did oil change last night at 4.716 miles . Put in Shell synthetic 5w-30 (SN) and installed the AC Delco PF1233 . Went for a 30+ mile drive . Checked the oil filter for any seeping oil after getting back . So far , dry .

[Hershey]

Over 100 miles and no leak . Knock on block .

[craigq]

Bringing this back from the dead. Installed fog lights this afternoon, while under the car I noticed a big blob of oil on the bottom of the filter. Never had this happen before with the Yaris, had to go digging for this thread. It's about 1100 miles since the last oil change, the oil filter is OEM made in Thailand. I did lube the rubber gasket with fresh oil, even though it's pre-lubed from the factory. Will keep an eye on this and report back...

[auxmike]

When that happens to me I just tighten it up a hair . I always use one of those cap shaped tools to torque down the OEM Thai filters. They use a very thin o ring gasket vs the aftermarket that uses those wide, thick gaskets that are more forgiving to being on just hand snug..

[Hershey]

4,300+ miles on the AC Delco and it's clean . Sticking with oil filters with a wider / thicker gasket . Thinking of a HASTINGS , WIX , NAPA Gold , Purolator Pure1 or the AC Delco again .

[Hershey]

Did a oil change yesterday and installed another AC Delco oil filter and that is leaking worse than the Toyota oil filter. I put fresh oil on the gasket and tightened it the same as the AC Delco oil filter used for the previous oil change. That one didn't leak any oil for 4700 plus miles. Should I tightened it more, clean it and recheck?

[Hershey]

Tighten oil filter a little bit. Seems fine for now.

[craigq]

Update to post 29: I did the Yaris' winter oil change today, no further oil detected. Probably from the "oil the seal before installing filter" step in the procedure, this used to happen with my WR250R until the excess oil worked its way out and then it stopped.