Oil filter coming loose on BL sedan

Posts specific to the 2.5 litre NA engine

Oil filter coming loose on BL sedan

Postby Clearlight » Wed Jan 27, 2016 11:33 pm

Gday folks , purchased a BL Liberty from a relative recently and immediately did an oil change .
Noticed some oil dripping off the old filter , and the filter was easy to remove . I just figured
the workshop my relative had used had not tightened it properly , but when I did a second oil
change 5K klms later same thing ; filter was loose again .
I've been doing my own oil for 30 years , never had it happen before any ideas ?
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Re: Oil filter coming loose on BL sedan

Postby bigBADbenny » Thu Jan 28, 2016 8:00 am

I doubt it's coming loose, it's either not tight enough or you have another oil leak.

Iirc the idea is to lube the o ring and get its as hand tight as possible, failing that use the Tq specced in the FSM with the appropriate wrench adapter.
Clean the lower part of the block, eg with a quality degreaser and lots of tooth brush action and rinsing, reinspect it after driving: the underside, to see the source of the leak, eg oil cooler/warmer, sump, valve cover gasket or timing cover.
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Re: Oil filter coming loose on BL sedan

Postby BillyCorgi » Thu Jan 28, 2016 8:06 am

bigBADbenny wrote:I doubt it's coming loose, it's either not tight enough or you have another oil leak.

Iirc the idea is to lube the o ring and get its as hand tight as possible, failing that use the Tq specced in the FSM with the appropriate wrench adapter.
Clean the lower part of the block, eg with a quality degreaser and lots of tooth brush action and rinsing, reinspect it after driving: the underside, to see the source of the leak, eg oil cooler/warmer, sump, valve cover gasket or timing cover.


^ Agree, with bigBADbenny! Filter is usually tight as a fishes whats-is-name
Assuming this is an EJ253 engine? (doesn't say? However 2.5i engine section?)
No.2 Junior had oily oil filter on his car. (MY09 EJ253 engine)
Turned out to be head gaskets.
It is easy to blame the oil filter, as this is where the oil accumulates.
Betcha it is the leaky EJ25 head gaskets. The drivers side (near the oil filter) goes first due to the heat off the exhaust and the Cat Converter
You gotta love those POS Subaru head gaskets in the NA cars!
Service centre cost in the range $1,500 to $2,000, depending on what other parts are changed while the engine is out.
Clean or replace the PCV valve. This will aggravate a head gasket oil leak.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=31384&p=421712&hilit=head+gasket#p421712
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=31397
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Re: Oil filter coming loose on BL sedan

Postby Clearlight » Thu Jan 28, 2016 3:28 pm

Thanks for the replies folks . I Always lube the filter seal . Looks like its the head gasket ; lots of good
info on this site about this problem it seems . I'd like to address the problem with symptomatic band aids
first , I"ll need to save some coin for the head gaskets to be done .

Its a 2.5 n/a engine ; there is no oil in the coolant and the oil leak is the only symptom so far .
Where is the PCV valve located , I'll attend to that asap ? Also is there are type of coolant I should be using
to prolong the inevitable failure ? I have a great workshop to take it to when the time comes , they are Euro
specialists but have a Subaru trained tech on staff who knows his way around the car well .
Thanks for the help , I'm slightly less cranky about my new-ish car now :) .

Must admit , fitting MCA suspension to my BL has encouraged me to probably aggravate the head gasket problem ….
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Re: Oil filter coming loose on BL sedan

Postby BillyCorgi » Thu Jan 28, 2016 4:10 pm

Clearlight wrote:Thanks for the replies folks . I Always lube the filter seal . Looks like its the head gasket ; lots of good
info on this site about this problem it seems . I'd like to address the problem with symptomatic band aids
first , I"ll need to save some coin for the head gaskets to be done .
[BC] Knowing that the HG "failure" on Junior's MY09 was a matter of when, not if, we judiciously purchased low cost items from ebay ahead of time and held them until they were needed.
There are no "band aids", sorry to say.


Its a 2.5 n/a engine ; there is no oil in the coolant and the oil leak is the only symptom so far .
[BC] There will most likely be no oil/coolant mix. The HG failure is not a "blown" head gasket issue. It is a leak from the return oil gallery to the outer edge of the head. Look at the images in the other posts. The coating of the head gasket breaks down, allowing oil to leak out. The break down of the coating is shown in the images.
Where is the PCV valve located , I'll attend to that asap ?
[BC] The PCV valve is located at the rear of the engine block, at the top to the left of the black box on the Air Intake, looking in from the front of the engine. Any excess pressure from a bad PVC valve will help push oil out through the bad head gasket.
Also is there are type of coolant I should be using to prolong the inevitable failure ?
[BC] It is not a coolant issue.
I have a great workshop to take it to when the time comes , they are Euro specialists but have a Subaru trained tech on staff who knows his way around the car well .
[BC}] I am sure they will still relieve you of lots of money?
Thanks for the help , I'm slightly less cranky about my new-ish car now :) .

Must admit , fitting MCA suspension to my BL has encouraged me to probably aggravate the head gasket problem ….
[BC] ?


While the engine is out, consider what else may need attention?

When Junior's engine was out we checked the clutch and replaced it. We took the opportunity to do a full timing belt/idler pulleys and water pump replacement.
The head gaskets and rocker cover seals, etc, were actually the cheaper parts of the exercise.
As said above, we had held all these part pre-purchased and in our stock ready for when they were going to be required, saved many $$$.

BTW, only use the original equipment N/A head gaskets as replacements if you wish to replace them again, a second time.
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Re: Oil filter coming loose on BL sedan

Postby Clearlight » Fri Jan 29, 2016 10:47 pm

Thanks , at least I don't have to worry about a major catastrophe in the short term if its just an oil leak .
Had the cam belts , tensioners , water pump and all the belts changed when I got the BL , so will just be
up for the labour to do the gaskets and maybe give the heads a lick while there off . Looks like STI gaskets
are the go ?
Used to use Reinz competition gaskets when I worked on cars years ago , might look them up .

The comment about the suspension was to say that its got so much grip now with MCA coil overs fitted
that Ive been giving the car a hard time on my favourite windy roads ; much the surprise of the local
' milo tin exhaust ' whistling Datsun enthusiasts ….
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Re: Oil filter coming loose on BL sedan

Postby BillyCorgi » Sat Jan 30, 2016 7:47 am

When we gathered parts for Junior's Engine, we regularly searched ebay for "110044AA642"
We turned up sellers moving the 2.5 Turbo MLS head gaskets and picked our up for 50 Bucks the pair.
You will also need the intake and exhaust gaskets, the rocker cover gaskets and the spark plug tube seals.

Which EJ25 is it? Is it the early series or the later engine with AVLS?
(The two engines use different rocker cover gaskets)
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Re: Oil filter coming loose on BL sedan

Postby Clearlight » Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:04 pm

Its plated 05/05 not sure if thats late or early version ? Had a look underneath again the leak is not getting any worse for now .
From my notes I only added 0.5 litres toward the end of the last oil cycle to bring it up to the full mark . Odo now at 170 k klms
so I'd expect it to consume a little oil at that mileage in addition to the leak .
EDIT ; its an auto if that makes any difference , not my preference but the car was too good to pass up at the price .
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Re: Oil filter coming loose on BL sedan

Postby BillyCorgi » Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:20 pm

Clearlight wrote:Its plated 05/05 not sure if thats late or early version?


May 2005 is the early version engine. It does not have AVLS (Active Valve Lift System)
When you need parts, best to have the VIN with you when you order.
Get your Short Shift Adaptor viewtopic.php?f=68&t=30525
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Want a custom built Brake Cylinder Stopper? viewtopic.php?f=6&t=31321
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Re: Oil filter coming loose on BL sedan

Postby Clearlight » Thu Feb 11, 2016 2:32 am

Thanks Billly , will be repairing the BL soon ; it has got under my skin and I want to keep it for a few years :) .
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