Oil leak from oil filter area...with pic

[camrycoupe95]

95 Camry, 2.2L, Automatic, 145,000 miles...

Oil is slowly dripping from the filter area. Thought it could be the valve cover gasket but there is no oil from up there, it's definately coming from the filter. What sucks is the oil drips down on the hot exhaust manifold creating smelly white smoke.

There are 2 hoses that lead to the right side of the base of where the filter screws on to, is that for an oil cooler? Those hoses look fine, could there something else in there that is causing the leak? Thanks...

[Curry]

I had this problem before and it turned out to be the oil filter.

Did this just start happening out of nowhere or did you just put a new filter on?

[camrycoupe95]

It's been leaking for a couple oil and filter changes. The filter is screwed down tight.

[rholzboog]

did you clean the filter hub and rub oil around the filter gasket

[karl_karl]

I had the same problem with my 94 5FSE. I cleaned up the filter area and bought a better filter and screwed it down tighter. No more leaks.
Does the leak leave tiny drip marks underneath where you park?

[camrycoupe95]

Yeah, there are a few drops on the driveway after I drive it. I'll have to check for crap left on the filter hub. The last couple oil changes I had done at a quick lube place since I don't have somewhere to do it myself anymore. It's possible that the guy didn't rub oil on the gasket.

Hopefully it's just something as simple as improper filter installation. It just seemed too simple to be that, thought it had to be something bigger. Thanks for the help.

[OEMonkey]

Check exactly where it's leaking. Might just be the filter. Might just be residue fr last oil change. Only other oil leak source directly below the filter would be the oil cooler. Either the cooler needs a new gasket and oring or it has come loose.

Remove the oil filter and see if the big nut is tight on the relief valve(this is where you screw in the oil filter.) If it's loose, it'll leak oil around the oil cooler. Tighten it if it's loose. You'll need a big socket, forget what size.

When the oil filter is overtightened, the big nut on the relief valve will loosen when you remove the oil filter during oil changes. Those quick lube places tend to overtighten oil filters and strip drain plugs.

[Qslim]

Originally Posted by camrycoupe95

95 Camry, 2.2L, Automatic, 145,000 miles...

Oil is slowly dripping from the filter area. Thought it could be the valve cover gasket but there is no oil from up there, it's definately coming from the filter. What sucks is the oil drips down on the hot exhaust manifold creating smelly white smoke.

There are 2 hoses that lead to the right side of the base of where the filter screws on to, is that for an oil cooler? Those hoses look fine, could there something else in there that is causing the leak? Thanks...

The oil cooler has an o-ring that wears out after a while, it's a pretty straight forward job. Pick one of from the dealer for a few bucks and change it.

[rebel8ball]

had an old transam that had that happen to it, turns out i had put the new filter on over the oring from the old filter...

[eddie926]

Do you use crush washers when you put your filters on? If not, you might try using those. You'll get a better seal.

[unkit]

I had the same problem a while back in my 94 5s -fe.... it was the o ring.....

[Kep]

You asked about the two hoses going to the base of the oil filter. These supply engine coolant to the oil cooler (the hub at the base of the oil filter).

Since this began happening after you began taking it to a lube center I would encourage you to find a place where you can do it yourself once more and see if they have damaged something or just didn't do the job right. However, I suspect qslim's evaluation is more likely since the base of your filter doesn't appear very oily, just the top of the engine.

Kep