Thread: Serious oil filter adapter problems

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I wanted to clean out all the leaks on my shop truck Rufus a 1999 Sonoma 4.3 stick shift.So because it in overall a good running truck and I have grown to really like it,the job I started was to replace the rad from a cob job rad repair,replace the oil cooler lines and replace the gaskets on the oil filter adapter that the oil cooler lines run to.The Fel-Pro gasket kit for it is ES70016.I got it back together and it was just dripping alittle off the oil filter and it was really late on a really long day.I thought I had over tighten the Wix oil filter and wanted to drive back home from the shop with the intention of getting another filter in the morning and some more oil.(kind of embarrassing rookie mistake) I make a judgement call that all I would have to do in put in the spare quart of oil I had based on it was only a small drip.I watched the oil pressure all the way back and it maintained about 40 psi.I stopped to get gas and checked the dip stick and much to my horror there was nothing showing.Still no knocks or issues.Put in the spare Qt of oil and nursed it to the parking lot of the parts store about a mile down the road and coasted into the parking lot as the pressure went to 0 and I shut it down.Scared that I had ruined the engine and it would be a total lost over night I had it towed back to my shop the next day.Still thinking it was the oil filter I got another one and some more oil.Got it up on jack stands and replaced the oil filter and filled it with oil.With my heart in my throat turned it over and it built normal oil pressure ran normal.Just for a second it squeaked on the start up.I sat there for a minute thanking god that I didn't ruin the engine.Thought I would rev it up to see if the pressure went up,but then thought first I should check for leaks.While it had just a drip before I drove it home I did check threw the wheel well that oil filter adapter and it looked dry.Well I checked to see if it was still leaking and much to my regret I saw about 3 qt's of oil on the shop floor and shut it off.Damm!!

So with this background it certainly is the adapter leaking where the gaskets go on.It's really hard to see up there.I had to use some Fel-Pro tacky gasket cement on the center gasket and the O ring just sets in a groove around the outside of the adapter.It's really hard to get up there or see so I used a long phillips screw driver in one hole to help guide it while having the 40 mm socket and extension on one of the bolts to get it started.I called Fel-Pro tech to confirm I had the right gasket set and ask them how to hold the O-ring in place while I reattach the adapter.The center gasket really I don't think is a issue.They told me it was the right set and really nothing for the use of the rubber O-ring could be used.Especially do not use silicone.

So sorry about the long intro in the background of this.My question is how to hold the O-ring in place??. Second to that I can't keep trial and error this loosing oil on the shop floor and chance losing a truck that I really like.

I come to you guys with hat in hand hoping that after I take it part the next time with a fresh gasket set it will be fixed.Please help.Got some bill paying to do today and I will check back later.

Thank You.

I'd put a dab of gasgacinch in the groove in two or three places, let it tack and then set the super clean o-ring in place. If I didn't have gasgacinch I'd do the same thing using a tiny dab of non-hardening permatex form-a-gasket.

Gary, I like to use a little vaseline rubbed on the o-ring, just enough 'sticky' to hold it in the groove.

Mike

Originally Posted by Mike52

Gary, I like to use a little vaseline rubbed on the o-ring, just enough 'sticky' to hold it in the groove.

Mike

Ooooh, I like Mike's idea even better! Nothing to keep the o-ring from seating, but enough to keep it in place.

Yeah guys I have some at the shop too.Man I wish I knew what size the attaching bolts where.Then I could get some threaded rod to use as guides and thread some nuts on it to hold it in place while I thread one bolt at a time.All I know is it's a T-40 socket.

A set of these gauges is a very handy thing to have in a drawer - Thexton Manufacturing 432 - Universal Thread Gauges They sell them at NAPA, too, but I could not get them to pop up with a search.

Originally Posted by 1gary

Man I wish I knew what size the attaching bolts where.

Gary, glad I'm still at the office, I have access to the info you need. The bolt for the 2WD 4.3 oil filter adapter is 5/16-18 x 3", the 4WD 4.3 uses the same thread pitch but the length is 3 1/4". This should get you the threaded rod you need.

Mike

4.3 oil filter adapter.gif

Wow that is too cool.Thank You very much.I do like the Vaseline suggestion because it is neutral if some of it gets into the oil.I don't think it would end up clogging a oil passage.

As usually you guys are just the best!!.

Gary, the vaseline will not cause an issue clogging an oil passage, once it heats up it will become a liquid.

Roger, I have a set of those type thread gauges, a neighbor let me borrow a set once and I tried to buy them from him, that didn't work out as I hoped but I found a set on ebay.


Mike

Originally Posted by Mike52

Gary, the vaseline will not cause an issue clogging an oil passage, once it heats up it will become a liquid.

Roger, I have a set of those type thread gauges, a neighbor let me borrow a set once and I tried to buy them from him, that didn't work out as I hoped but I found a set on ebay.


Mike

Yeah Mike I am agreeing with you.

Roger I have a size gauge that is a simple white card. I don't remember where I got it.I think it was a box store like Lowes.My shop is aways away from my house in really the middle of no where.I don't have it back apart yet so to have the threaded rod size and then get the threaded rod to take with me to the shop is surely saving me some gas money.I am driving the RV that doesn't pass many gas stations.This across the road at my shop.

Originally Posted by Mike52

Gary, the vaseline will not cause an issue clogging an oil passage, once it heats up it will become a liquid.

Roger, I have a set of those type thread gauges, a neighbor let me borrow a set once and I tried to buy them from him, that didn't work out as I hoped but I found a set on ebay.


Mike

Yeah Mike I am agreeing with you.

Roger I have a size gauge that is a simple white card. I don't remember where I got it.I think it was a box store like Lowes.My shop is aways away from my house in really the middle of no where.I don't have it back apart yet so to have the threaded rod size and then get the threaded rod to take with me to the shop is surely saving me some gas money.I am driving the RV that doesn't pass many gas stations.This across the road at my shop.

Gary, you won't have to make a special trip for threaded rod if you have a spare bolt collection like most of us. Find a 5/16-18 bolt with the appropriate length and cut the head off, then cut a slot into the end that fits your favorite screwdriver with a die grinder or dremel. You only need to screw it in finger tight but the slot makes it easier to remove. Here's a couple of 1/4-20 bolts I've used on Harleys. Bolts modified like these come in handy for lots of uses like oil pans, front timing covers, bellhousing to engine, etc. Hope this helps.

Mike

Modified Bolts.JPG

Yeah Mike I have those to guide on trannies onto engines.The same thing.I think yrs ago it was a tip in a Hot Rod magazine article.I cut the heads off the longer starter bolts.

Double check that the old oil filter didn't leave it's o ring behind, sticking to the block.

First off I want to thank all of you for your useful support and info.Sure enough because I couldn't see it the O-ring wasn't seated properly.Once I got it apart one side of the O-ring was caught or blew-out leaving the adapter bolts barely finger tight.I got me to thinking.Compare the size of O-ring to the rubber gasket on the oil filter. Well that is a no brainier.The phooey size of O-ring size just doesn't compare.Likely the reason why the leak over the long term.I am not one to give up on a mechanical challenge,but if it doesn't make sense in a bad design then what's the sense in trying to get over that and risk a engine to boot.

So I did a oil cooler delete unscrewing the threaded center with I think it was a 10mm Allen socket and screwing it back on the block and then just reattaching the oil filter.I think I got it now.I ran it until at operating temps while it was still on the jackstands and the oil filter was dry.The truck is so soaked in oil that it has drips for now.So I will be driving by dipstick for now until I figure a way to take it to a coin car wash and clean the bottom without taking a bath in water/oil.

Now I don't know how the aftermarket oil cooler adapters are.Hopefully they have a wider rubber gasket than the ones that where built by GM with that dumb O-ring.I would think that small of a O-ring wouldn't fair well with a high pressure oil pump.

Hey Jerry or Pat-could you machine the groove wider on these GM adapters so they would end up with a rubber gasket in size similar to the wide flat rubber gasket on oil filters??.