Good morning guys. I need some quick responses if possible. In the past year, 30k, that I've owned my truck. I have let the dealer change the oil on the truck twice. Each time after about the 4,000 miles I've notice the Mopar oil filter loose, about ready to fall off, and an oil mess? Now when I change the oil, I only use Baldwin filters and I have never had a problem with the filter coming loose. Has anyone else ever experienced this with the Mopar filters? Thanks Tye

 

It probably has nothing to do with the filter, and everything to do with the person installing it, as in you are tightening it properly.

 

At least with the fleetguard your suppose to tight 3/4 of turn after the gasket makes contact.

 

Yeah, I did one hand tight once, and it started to come loose. I always tighten it up a little after "hand tight" now. You probably have a somewhat skinny (or at least kinda weak) oil change guy if it's coming loose in only 4k miles.

 

Doing it the way the experts say, mine always leaked some at the top. I now tighten it with a strap wrench, not excessively, but tighter than hand.

 

Got back from the dealer. They re-tightened the filter, topped off, and I'll go back in 2 weeks to have it re-checked. Service manager to re-inspect on return visit.
I've always hand tightened filter and then used a filter wrench to turn it about an 1/8-1/4 of a turn and never had any problems.
My guardian angel was looking out for me. Were leaving Thursday for Disneyland and then up to Las Vegas for a couple of days. Last time this happened I was headed to Utah.

 

I had a customer get towed in. Lost all the oil while pulling his camper. He had done his own oil change and snugged the filter with a strap wrench......and dented it. The filter burst where the dent was. cost him big.

 

Bummer factor would be pretty high there.

 

Judging from that, I guess it would be recommended not to dent the filter. Never liked dented cartridges either....

 

Yeah, I bet the pucker factor was pretty high too after he got the bill!!

 

I use either the Mopar or the Fleetgaurd filters, depending on what I can find, and the cost of a case. I also tighten mine 'hand tight' and never had a problem. In fact, I have had to pull out the BIG Channel Lock pliers several times to get it off when it was time to change it. The question is, "How tight is hand tight?" The guy who does nothing but stand and talk, with his hands in his pocket, all day can put his filter on 'hand tight'. Me being a heavy equip. mech all my life will also put the filter on 'hand tight'. The difference is, who's 'hand tight' do you trust?

 

by the book.... until the gasket touches and then 3/4 turn. Whose hand does not matter.

 

Ive seen most dealer/quicklube shops leave the filter to loose for my taste. It may be per the filter reccomendations, touch down and another 3/4 turn, but??? I use both hands and pretty much crank it down. Typically after 5K of runnin I need a wrench to loosen it a bit before I can get it off. One of my old work buddies had his car dome at Jiffy on grand and the drain plug fell out while on the freeway. The kid was driving and didnt pay attention to the light and smoked the motor.

 

I tighten down pretty good by hand, but changing the oil while the block, oil, etc. is still pretty warm eases the filter change chore. I haven't had to get the wrenches out using the heated oil routine, and I haven't ever had a filter leak or work loose. My dad once didn't inspect the old filter before installing the new one. Oil squirts pretty well from between two oil filter gaskets, no matter how hand tight you get.

 

I normally wipe the sealing lip of the oil filter mount with a rag to be sure there is no bits of gasket or dirt there to cause a leak...

I've heard of the gasket sticking to the mounting... I've never had one happen to stick... But I always check for that too...