Oil in oil filter

[Odie]

a couple of weeks ago i changed the oil and filter on my 5 and when i took the oil filter off it was empty, I didnt really think anything of it. When I put the new filter on I didn't get a very good seal (it had a slight leak) so this weekend i took the new oil filter off to check the mating surfaces, i was expecting to piss oil everywhere but again the oil filter (this time the new one) was empty (but oil had clearly been getting the to filter or it wouldn't have been leaking). The oil pressure gauge is reading the same as it always has, but the engine seems to be running a little noisier than usual, but their are no strange noises (knocking, grating etc), if i remove the filler cap there seem to be plenty of oil on the cams.

Do i need to worry? What else could I check?

[Quick silver]

Odie said:

a couple of weeks ago i changed the oil and filter on my 5 and when i took the oil filter off it was empty, I didnt really think anything of it. When I put the new filter on I didn't get a very good seal (it had a slight leak) so this weekend i took the new oil filter off to check the mating surfaces, i was expecting to piss oil everywhere but again the oil filter (this time the new one) was empty (but oil had clearly been getting the to filter or it wouldn't have been leaking). The oil pressure gauge is reading the same as it always has, but the engine seems to be running a little noisier than usual, but their are no strange noises (knocking, grating etc), if i remove the filler cap there seem to be plenty of oil on the cams.

Do i need to worry? What else could I check?

I've noticed that very little (almost nothing) comes out of any of my old filters when doing a service, so I wouldn't worry about it.........I can only presume that the oil drains away into the sump, especially when hot as my services always are.


ETA: I moved to Mobil 1 0w-40 fully synth & it cured all HLA rattles.

Edited by Quick silver on Tuesday 15th September 09:51

[dylan0451]

thats reassuring as i thought the same thing when i took mine off this weekend

i just attribute it to the fact the filter sits horizontally on the engine rather than others which sit vertically and remain full when the engine stops

glad the mobil-1 0w-40 seems to quieten things down as thats what i'm just about to put in

20% off at halfords at the mo whiich makes it £38.60 odd - £9 + postage cheaper than mx5parts

[OnlyMX5ives]

I can't explain what you guys are finding...

I've changed countless MX5 filters and they always drop oil all over the front subframe whilst being removed and still have a fair bit left in them when I drain them into the tray.

[Pete Franklin]

or £20 for 4 litres of mobil 1 0w 40 fully synth from costco.

My filter always pisses oil all over the place when i take it off. its a right pain in the ass.

Edited by Pete Franklin on Tuesday 15th September 11:32

[snotrag]

OnlyMX5ives said:

I can't explain what you guys are finding...

Me either.

I get oil all over the place when doing mine, it runs straight out before you've got a chance to turn it the right way up - all over the steering rack and subframe...?

[Odie]

OnlyMX5ives said:

I can't explain what you guys are finding...

I've changed countless MX5 filters and they always drop oil all over the front subframe whilst being removed and still have a fair bit left in them when I drain them into the tray.

Hmm odd, when ive replaced it in the past that has been the case, but last weekend and subsequently when i had the filter off to fix the leak it was empty, maybe its the amount of time it was stood on both occasions.

Edited by Odie on Tuesday 15th September 14:59

[MX-5 Lazza]

I thought the Mazda filter and most quality copies had a valve to stop them draining. Which did you use?

[Quick silver]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I thought the Mazda filter and most quality copies had a valve to stop them draining. Which did you use?

Ah yes - I always use Mazda OEM Filters, they're cheap enough from MX5 Parts.

[MX-5 Lazza]

If the filter has a valve then it should still be full of oil and should cause a mess when rmoving it.
I have a relocated oil filter which hangs downwards so it's always full of oil.

[Odie]

I have an oem one too, maybe they have stopped fitting the valves

[dylan0451]

OnlyMX5ives said:

I can't explain what you guys are finding...

I've changed countless MX5 filters and they always drop oil all over the front subframe whilst being removed and still have a fair bit left in them when I drain them into the tray.

well i did manage to tip oil down the block and over the subframe - there was oil in the filter, just not as much as i was expecting

all oil filters should have a non return valve so as the filter and pump should remain 'primed' but i wonder if when the filter is unscrewed, the non return seal is compromised and oil flows back out

i've been looking for a site somewhere on the web that compares filters

found this:

http://www.corolland.com/oil-filters.html

but its hardly accurate or comparable

[OnlyMX5ives]

Would you believe it...

I changed a Mahle filter today on a 5 and it was empty !

(Well it had a tiny dribble in it) First time I've ever had that.

Looking inside the Mahle the centre was basically empty and all the others I've seen, including Nipparts, Mazda, Halfords etc have a 'finger' sticking up about 15mm in the centre.

HTH

[zac510]

How long had it been sitting (since last startup)?

[OnlyMX5ives]

I drove it onto the ramp so not long at all.

[zac510]

Odd. If the filter had no oil flowing through it the whole engine wouldn't last long so if the engine runs it's probably not a problem really

[OnlyMX5ives]

Yes its clear that some filters don't retain the oil and others (most) do.

[Odie]

Could it be too do with the position of the oil pump?