Oil leak !!

[toyroom]

I've got an oil leak from somewhere very near the oil filter on my '97 V8. This only seems to be significant when the engine is running and is coming from the region of the oil filter and the feed pipes to the oil coolers. Are there any common leaks in this area and what is the likely damage...ie..are there any potentially disaterous leaks in this area. Thanks !

[Autocross7]

Not up on the V8 cars per say, but if you will get the motor warm, and spray the general area with simple green (This will not harm paint or aluminum but cuts oil and greese), then wash if off... after everything drys you should be able to pin point the leak.

I have seen dealers etc... spin the filters on cross threaeded to the point of 'seal'. If this happens, the oil with get through the filter seal under pressure but will not always leak otherwise.

Hope you sort it to something simple like this!

Drive topless!!!
Cameron

[kmaier]

It's common for the oil cooler lines to seep if not properly tigtened. I've also seen the oil filter sealing ring leak (as spec is only hand-tight) and I've actually had a Lotus oil filter leak at the roll seam where it's assembled... talk about QC. I use brake cleaner to remove all of the crud in such cases and disassemble everything, clean it and reassemble. Note that the metal couplers for the oil cooler lines might have plumbing putty on them... have seen this on 4 V8 cars... yet the stuff doesn't seem to hold up to oil for long. I would also recommend dumping the original Lotus oil filter in favor of a CM Filter synthetic full-flow alloy spin-on. The CM Filters p/n is 25-262 (cross reference to a Mercedes 190E 2.6). www.cmfilters.com

Regards, KM
2000 V8

[edshum]

My V8 had the same problem, the leak was caused by the poor workmanship of the hose (A082K4264F) from the base of the oil filter to the cooler, the hose was press fitted to a Frange bolt fix ending, it happened that the hose was not tightly press, I can turn and the hose with a bare hand ( the lock nut not moving ). I replaced the hose 3 months ago, the problem was fixed.

Regards,
Edshum (Esprit V8 HK China)