Oil filter change leaks oil onto exhaust pipe header

[TMack409]

Any ideas on preventing the oil from leaking down all over the exhaust pipe when spinning off the old filter? I realize that synthetic oil (which I use faithfully) is part of the problem - it never seems to burn off!

Phew!

[Qslim]

Originally Posted by TMack409

Any ideas on preventing the oil from leaking down all over the exhaust pipe when spinning off the old filter? I realize that synthetic oil (which I use faithfully) is part of the problem - it never seems to burn off!

Phew!

Buy a can of brake cleaner at the parts store and empty it on the front of the engine and exhaust after you put the new filter on (not when the pipe is hot, obviously). It'll cut the oil and leave everything dry as a bone.

[aigochamaloh]

Yea, Toyota didn't think that one through. They fixed it though with the later 1MZ-FE engines. The motor mount now has a drain hole, so it goes straight to the floor. If you have shot motor mounts, just use the new ones and you won't have that problem.

[Joon525]

My Prelude had this problem.
I just got a sheet of aluminum foil and wrapped the header before the oil change. Then I just threw it away when I was done.

[TMack409]

Originally Posted by aigochamaloh

Yea, Toyota didn't think that one through. They fixed it though with the later 1MZ-FE engines. The motor mount now has a drain hole, so it goes straight to the floor. If you have shot motor mounts, just use the new ones and you won't have that problem.

My mount does have the drain hole in it that you mention - but that's not the problem's total solution.....Here's what I've done to hopefully cure the pesky leak.....

I still couldn't account for oil that kept appearing after I'd clean everything off and wait a couple of days....So out of frustration, today I removed the motor mount's upper bracket and just as I pulled it loose from the engine -out flowed several tablespoons of trapped oil down the front of the engine. (If you want the step-by-step removal process, feel free to ask me how to do this in toto - but it's pretty obvious once you get going with the job....)

What's happening is the upper mounting bracket (for the big rubber thingy) is itself flush (at the very bottom) against the engine block. This creates a pocket 'tween the mount and the engine block - that's what's holding oil in there. This pocket isn't perfectly sealed as given enough time, synthetic oil will find its way down thru any small passage - even though very slowly in this case. With everything cleaned off, it usually took a couple of days for oil to leach out and down....onto the exhaust header.

Once I got everything out of the car and cleaned up...using a round rat tailed file, I created a small path in the upper motor mount bracket - centered, down a the very bottom where it fits flush against the block - for trapped oil to drain out.
I also cleaned the area behind the mount - it was positively nasty and then put it all back together. We'll see, next time I change oil if this cures the problem once and for all!!! But I have to believe that was it....

[csaxon]

Has anyone tried this oil catch and pouring spout from the FJ Cruiser?

[aigochamaloh]

I saw that on my buddy's Tacoma, 1GR-FE if I remember correctly. Made changing the oil a lot better. Unfortunately I did not have a tube to drain the oil out, so I had to put a cup under it, but it still worked.

[TMack409]

Originally Posted by aigochamaloh

I saw that on my buddy's Tacoma, 1GR-FE if I remember correctly. Made changing the oil a lot better. Unfortunately I did not have a tube to drain the oil out, so I had to put a cup under it, but it still worked.

Is it a permanent fixture? Or is it slotted - to be slid in place only when removing filter?