Really cold and oil leakage

[Doug_Fraser]

We took my wife's 07 Honda CRV to the ski hill last week.

It was very cold -29°C (-20°F). We did not have the block heater plugged in. Car started OK but I noticed about 1/2 cup of oil under the car right below the oil filter.

The vehicle has a Amsoil EAO 13 filter and Amsoil Signature Series 0w30 oil (both replaced about 7000 miles ago). From the best I can tell the oil seems to have been forced through the seal between the filter and the engine. I wiped down the filter and waited for more oil leakage. So far so good - no leakage. On subsequent days it was about 10° warmer and no problems. I also checked the filter for tightness and it was quite tight (hard to turn).

Has anyone had this happen to them?

Do you think it was because it was so cold that the oil could not go through the filter and was forced out?

Doug

 

[demarpaint]

I never had that happen. Are you 100% certain that you removed the old gasket with the filter when you did the last OC? There is a possibility that you have two filter gaskets, and that's why you have the leak.

Frank D

 

[hate2work]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I never had that happen. Are you 100% certain that you removed the old gasket with the filter when you did the last OC? There is a possibility that you have two filter gaskets, and that's why you have the leak.

Frank D


Yeah, but wouldn't the leak show up before now? He said he had 7000 miles on the oil, and it just started leaking, so I'm thinking it's something else.

I've never heard of cold weather causing a leak around the filter, although it's possible I guess.

 

[tuckman]

I had it happen to my truck at -37C on an unaided start with 0w30 XD3

what i believe is that the oil was forced out the front crank seal. cold oil in the oil pump can only move so fast and the full pump still wants to move its normal volume. so right off the start what was in the pump pushed out the seal due to the cold oil restriction (well some of it). then after the first few rotations the cold oil will only go into the pump so fast. the suction rate is now closer to the discharge rate at the reduced oil temp.

All of the vehicles that were started that day at my place had the little oil spot under them (nothing was plugged in...lol).

I would not worry about it just try to plug the block heater in when possible.

If this really bothers you try a magnetic oil pan heater.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: hate2work
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I never had that happen. Are you 100% certain that you removed the old gasket with the filter when you did the last OC? There is a possibility that you have two filter gaskets, and that's why you have the leak.

Frank D


Yeah, but wouldn't the leak show up before now? He said he had 7000 miles on the oil, and it just started leaking, so I'm thinking it's something else.

I've never heard of cold weather causing a leak around the filter, although it's possible I guess.



I see what you're saying, my thinking was the oil finally found a way out and that's what he was seeing. A double gasket won't always leak immediately, although most times they do. I remember only one time I ran a double gasket and lucked out, since then I make sure a gasket comes off with the filter. That trick was learned about 30 years ago.

Since I don't live where it gets insanely cold I never experienced the problem he's having due to it being very cold. The few times my vehicles were exposed to -30* F I was running synthetic oil and had no problems. Something new to add to the memory bank.

Frank D

 

[Doug_Fraser]

Thanks for the comments.

I am sure that there are NOT 2 gaskets and the one from the old filter was removed with the filter.

It has still be quite cold here so I have not had an opportunity to crawl underneath and take a good look around to see if there are any other seals in the vicinity of the leak.

I am hoping it was a situation like Tuckman described above. At least this is some evidence that cold oil can be forced out in an extreme cold start situation.

Thanks
Doug

 

[kingrob]

I've had some Wix filters start to seep around the seam near the gasket. I've never had it happen on another brand. It was driving me crazy trying to figure out where the oil was leaking out of, until I finally pin-pointed it. I thought it was just a bad batch, but I had one purchased from another state a couple of years down the line and it did the same.

 

[Carzzz]

Doug, you are not alone. I notice a really slow leak on my EaO too. I put about 13,000 km/8000 miles in 9 months. There were a couple drops of oil on the drive-way and oil filter is greasy. I tried to tighten the filter, but it was tight. The temperature was quite cold over the past few weeks (-15C). It continues to leak slowly (greasy filter) despite of warmer temperature (around 0C). I think the extreme temperature in Canada causes the metal contracts in cold temperature and the gasket could not "seal" entirely. Hence, causes the leak?

 

[Gary Allan]

Seems that enough Canadians have noted the secret leak. It would be nice to have a couple from just south of the border for added validation.

 

[fred]

I have had my semi leak oil out the filter. THe filters where fleetguard and wix. The only time they leaked was when it was below -25, and yes the truck was pluged in.

 

[Gary Allan]

Now we're talking. Broader incidence of gasket leakage in extreme cold.

It's not just for Canadians

 

[kingrob]

I'd like to add that my bleeding Wix filters did it in cold NJ winters, but nowhere as extreme as -29 degrees.