MR spin on filter woes

[Knightrider]

As I work though my S1 2+2, I decided to install the Martin Robey spin-on filter kit to make future changes a bit easier. Followed the instructions to a T, filled up the engine, and ran it. After about 45 seconds I heard some knocking and quickly killed the engine (<5 secs). Look under the car and there are 8 litres of oil on the garage floor....

A close inspection shows that the rectangular seal had blown out of the small gap between the aluminium disc adapter and the oil filter housing. It seems that this gap is just large enough to allow it to force out and leak.

Has anyone else had this? I'm loathed to try it again and think I might just reinstall the old filter cannister...

I just hope I haven't damaged the engine....

[mgcjag]

I have used very similar but did not purchased from Robeys..did you remove the original seal before fitting a new seal and the adaptor......you also need to ensure the new seal is the correct size

[mgcjag]

When useing the original type filter the element typically comes with 2 different size seals and you need to ensure you fit a correct size one.....Steve

[Knightrider]

Yes original seal was removed. I used the seal that seemed to seat best, but maybe it wasn't properly in there...

[Iansparky]

My experience with the seals supplied with the filters is that the thin one is too small but the larger one is too big to fit in the groove, my solution was to stretch the larger seal over a piece of 3 inch bar, spin this in my lathe and reduce the outer diameter with sand paper till it was a perfect fit in the groove, no more oil on the garage floor.
Ian

[Knightrider]

Extreme. I don't have the luxury of a lathe unfortunately...

[Knightrider]

Managed to finally get the original filter cannister refitted today. I had 5 different seals - none fitted very well... wasted a lot of oil!

[angelw]

Knightrider Wrote:

Extreme. I don't have the luxury of a lathe unfortunately...

Hello Simon,
You shouldn't have to carry out such work on a new product; that comes under the category of "buying a dog and then having to bark for it". I find that many of these so called Uprated components are poorly designed, and clearly, not properly tested. Even just the after market parts, where they should be simply a copy of what worked in the past, are sadly lacking.

If the seal is round in cross section, you can buy this material in long length, in a multitude of diameter, for the purpose of making your own custom seal. The material is cut to the required length and joined using a glue meant for the purpose.

Regards,
Bill

[Paul bow]

I have a spin on oil filter from rob Beere, never had that trouble with the oil seal, seated perfectly, it may be worth a call to him or pop down there (Coventry), carries alot of quality parts ..

[Knightrider]

Thanks. Next time I change it I might have another go... Would be nice to get it permanently sorted and sealed so all I need to do is spin on a new one...

[Knightrider]

Just an update to this - had a helpful chat with a nice chap from Martin Robey earlier, who pointed out that I had mounted the billet section the wrong way round...

In my defence, the diagrams provided on their website are not that clear....

Took me ages to get a good seal with the original canister so It can wait until my next oil change now!