For the third time over the course of 5-6 years the oil filter came loose upon a cold start up. The circumstances were the same each time. Upon start up in the Fall, the oil pressure alarm goes off, I shut down the engine, I look in the engine compartment and discover the oil filter has come free and all the engine oil has blown out and is on its way to the bildge. This just happened for the third time this past October. The oil filter cannot be put back on because the threads are stripped. Once I install a new filter and oil, I’m on my way. The worst part is cleaning up 12 quarts of oil from the bildge. The engine is a 1989 Universal 40. Any ideas what is happening?
Michael Passero, NS 33, #42, Born To Run,
Southeast CT
Mpassero09 (at) gmail.com
This is most likely a Kubota block and would take a Kubota filter. 3/4 - 16 seems to be the tread size. Here is a file of cross references for Kubota to Universal. Head down to your local Kubota dealer and get a new filter.
it is possible the tread on the block is damaged and needs to be re tapped or replaced.
Michael: Upon re-reading this post, are you sure about the amount of oil that engine takes?? 12 qts seems very high and can certainly account for your problem.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
My Westerbeke 58 used five quarts and that seemed like a lot. If you have twelve quarts the oil pressure would be very high and something would have to give. If the oil filer spun off that would be cheapest solution possible.
I’m thinking the 12 quarts was over the three occurrences. I doubt that you could physically put 12 quarts in and even a couple of quarts excess would likely cause a runaway engine as the crankcase breather started feeding combustion.
Getting back to your original problem, the oil filter coming loose.
You mentioned that this has happened three times, and that, “The oil filter cannot be put back on because the threads are stripped.”
I’m assuming you mean the oil filter’s threads are stripped?
If so, have you checked the condition of the threads on the engine side? That happened to a friend’s Westerbeke, that the threads on the engine side got damaged.
Is it possible that they’re not holding filters properly?
Bear in mind that While Imperial quarts are bigger than U. S. Quarts, U.S. oz are bigger than Imperial oz. Just over 38 u.S. oz in an Imperial quart. Starts to make the metric system look good. But as Thor pointed out dirty oil in the bilges is not good whether it is u.S, Inperial or metric.
Mark Powers
Thanks Bob. After the second time it happened, my yard mechanic changed the threaded piece on the engine block. That is essentially brand new. Also, there is no problem tightening a new filter. The mechanic thinks that the filter is vibrating loose and comes off the next time the engine is started. I’m skeptical. But you can bet I’ll be checking the tightness before each start in the future. BTW, I don’t recall exactly how many quarts of oil but I fill to the dip stick mark. That is not an issue.
Born To Run
There is no way the engine will vibrate an oil filter loose unless it’s not properly tightened or the threads are somehow incorrect.
One thing to check though a rubber filter gasket gets stuck to the block and you end up with 2 gaskets in place. That could also cause it to come loose as it will feel tight but the extra gasket will cause it to loosen. Can be hard to see and even feel on engines where they are out of direct sight.
Over filling the engine wit oil will not cause any significant change in the oil pressure. If the threads on the oil filter mount have been checked and there aren’t two gaskets there I would bet on a stuck oil pressure relief valve. The bypass is typically part of the oil pump and serviceable. This valve is specifically there to keep the oil filter from blowing off or splitting open.
Mike: I believe that Bill has a point about the bypass valve. I can’t say I’ve seen that happen in the 32 years I owned a garage, but it’s possible. I think that overfilling can cause your problem. However, and I should have thought of this before, your oil pressure gauge should be way off the scale plus oil would be coming out of a lot of places on the engine. In addition, some oil filters have their own bypass valve.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
Mike, have you noticed if it’s really after cold days when this happens, like 40º not 60º.Because the problem is intermittent the oil pump will need a really careful visual inspection as just replacing the parts to the bypass valve might not fix it. The only things that will change the oil pressure prior to the oil getting whipped into mayonnaise are changing the temperature of the oil or the volume the pump is moving and the latter is impossible. Careful visual inspection is always step one in the service manual and I have to often seen this step overlooked by technicians.
Joe is right about overfilling increasing the oil pressure. I was curious how that could be as the rotor pump these engines have can only move a fixed volume of oil.. The reason is that the crankshaft hitting the overfilled sump whips the oil into mayonnaise that has a much higher viscosity. I have seen numerous cars way overfilled with oil and there was always other symptoms that made it obvious, not the oil filters blowing off as this condition will also open the bypass valve. I have seen a bypass valve stuck open but never shut, not to say it can’t happen.
If you over fill the engine will “knock” and you will hear it . Most engines are on a angle with the dip stick in the middle of the pan so any measurable overfill is likely more than is indicated.
Do you have a pressure gauge or just an indicator light? Changing the oil pressure relief valve is not difficult. But it’s a boat remember
