Can I change this without draining the oil?

[WidowmakerS2]

Okay, with the engine running okay, I've noticed a bit of a drip from the large screw that goes through the oil filter housing. Seems it is a gasket missing or something. Should it be a copper washer on that one?

Will i be able to unscrew it, fit a washer and get it back together without draining it completely?

[Flat on my back]

.

Think there should be an 'o' ring on the bolt.

Shoudn't lose too much but be quick, you'll need a 'large thumb' to cover the hole and hold the housing while your assistant fits/checks the bolt for the 'o' ring.

[WidowmakerS2]

Hmm, if the O-ring is supposed to go on the outside of the oil filter housing, I might be able to slip the O-ring over the head of the screw without unscrewing it totally.

[WidowmakerS2]

Does anyne know what kind of torque this screw needs? I changed the O-ring a while back, but now it has snapped of, leaving me with 2 liters of oil on the floor.

[UrS4boy]

Not sure what you are talking about. Is it anything in this AAN photo?:

[Jamo]

Think there should be an 'o' ring on the bolt.

Shoudn't lose too much but be quick, you'll need a 'large thumb' to cover the hole and hold the housing while your assistant fits/checks the bolt for the 'o' ring.

Yep there should be an o-ring on the bolt, I wouldn't fancy changing that with the engine full of oil mind, Lucky for me I noticed during my engine build I hadn't got a new one and replaced it before startup.

[Error404]

do you mean the big bolt that attaches the oil thermostat housing?

[Jamo]

Yeah but I just read he snapped the bolt??? whoa

[Acidburn]

Yeah but I just read he snapped the bolt??? whoa

not good

[WidowmakerS2]

Lol, I've been away for a while now and all this is interesting reading

The bolt itself hasnt snapped, the little o-ring has. This happened after changing to a new one the same day. I'm guessing i either over-torqued it or it wasnt sitting right when i tightened it.

It is the big bolt with the 27mm head that is partly covered by the oil cooler hoses on urs4's picture.

Anyways.. I've bought some new oil, going to do a full oil change and change the o-ring again.

[JP]

The o ring sits on the shaft not below the head of the bolt.

[Error404]

I have one on the bench in the garage if as pic would help?

[WidowmakerS2]

Yup, think that would def help.

[WidowmakerS2]

Im really baffled now.
I was pretty sure that the O-ring was the likely culprit, so I got one at the local dealer today. With the O-ring in the right place it didn't drip anything.
I took the car out for a quick spin (1,5 km tops), got back and checked again.
IT F*** LEAKS STILL. And in that, I lost 2liters of oil on my little trip, evenly distributed in a line of drips that i could easily follow with the other car. I could see it dripping from the head of the bolt.

Any ideas?

[AndyP]

2 litres in 1.5km sounds like a lot more than a drip to me! If your sure that where it's coming from you could try putting a copper washer under the bolt head to seal it to the filter housing.