strange leak

[Outacontrol]

I noticed the other day when I jacked up the right rear of the car, oil leaks down the side of the oil filter
this is on a 75 914 1.8L
It does not leak when the car is sitting on the ground and running




I am new to 914's
anyone have any ideas??

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Possibly oil spilled when filling the engine.

Possibly oil from the distributor shaft or the oil cooler, dripping down onto the top of the oil filter. Possibly a bad filter seal. (Those would be leaks that are small and slow, and eventually build up enough to drip down the side of the filter when you tilt the car.)

Could probably be other things, but I can't hink of more off the top of my head.

--DD

[Outacontrol]

I first thought of the gasket on the oil filter so I changed the filter.
when I had the filter off, I could not see any signs of leakage around the oil cooler.

It would seem that the oil cooler would leak when under pressure while the engine is running.

there doesn't appear to be any leaks when the engine is running, but yet there is a sizable amount of oil that runs down the filter when you jack it up

thanks for your input

[jamcleod]

oil pressure switch?

[Jason Porter]

You could possibly have a bad sealing surface between the filter and flange. Oil seeps out, and puddles on top of filter. Sit's there and burns off slowly. Then when you jack it up, it spills over the side.

Just a theory.

I think there are some galley plugs near the oil filter switch, if memory serves. They usually don't fail, but you never know.

Just another theory.

The oil cooler seals can be replaced with the engine in the car...I have done it. Tell the people around you to cover their ears if they're easily offended, because you will probably use bad language. They sometimes won't leak when car is running because they get hot and expand.

Just a final theory. Good luck.

[Outacontrol]

thank all of you for your replies.....................can the filter flange get warped somehow?

I have changed filters and it seems to be the same

how much of a pain is it to put new cooler seals in?

[silver2.0]

sometimes the flanges get warped, or are not right to begin with, this is probably pretty rare. The reason I say this is because I have a 2000 gmc truck that leaks around the oil filter unless I give it about 1/4 turn with a filter wrench when tightening it. I know I am not supposed to do that, but unless I do, it leaks. The surface looks perfect to the eye too, but it has a remote mount oil filter and cooler, and probably the tolerances were not kept when it was manufactured. Obviously, this is a far cry from a 914, but maybe the same principles apply. Good luck, hope you find your leak! By the way, I am not an expert on the different years, but did the 1.8s have an oil bath filter? It seems if it did, and you tilted it, it could leak.