8ba oil filter top,cant cure BAD leak

[37coop]

Hi guys .My rebuilt 8ba engine to my 51 F1. on first starting it leaked badly from the top of the oil filter housing ,I put new a new gasket and used it for a while without a problem,i went on holiday for a month ,on my return I starting it the oil pours out of the top again ,its fully tightened and the replacement gasket was off a new filter.i havnt got an oil peressure gauge working on the truck so I don't know what the oil pressure is although I doubt if that would be relevant (its a fully rebuilt engine with new oil pump) ,the oil pours out so its not a small weep. a bit frustrating and any advice would be grateful , thanks Jim.

[TomO]

You may not have the restricted fitting on the input to the filter. The input fitting should have a small passage to restrict the oil flow.

[37coop]

Originally Posted by TomO

You may not have the restricted fitting on the input to the filter. The input fitting should have a small passage to restrict the oil flow.

Thanks Tom...im not sure what the fitting you mentioned is,I have put the system back exactly as I removed it after cleaning etc ,the filter lid is biting into the gasket and shows no obvious sign of a break in the gasket ,a mystery to me , thanks Jim.

[51 MERC-CT]

Without the gasket in place, install the cover and see if it tightens to the housing. ( This checks to see if the center bolt bottoms out before tightening )
Also, I have seen new filters that provided two gaskets, one narrow and one wide.
The wide one is the one to use and should fill the entire width of the flat on the filter cover.

[TomO]

Remove the input line from the side of the filter, and then the brass fitting that screws into the filter housing. The fitting should only have about .040" opening for the oil flow.

[Barry-ct]

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The oil line coming up off the block in the back that goes to the canister, has a fitting or elbow that screwed into the canister and has the oil pressure sending unit threaded into it also. Some had it at the block. The end where the line goes in has restriction with a small hole drilled thru to restrict the flow. I believe it's a .60 thous hole. Without it, it's putting too much oil into the filter canister and the return line can't handle it, thus it pushes out at the weak point, the gasket. Do what 51 Merc says to eliminate that possibility. Look for that fitting, if it is there, remove the line and make sure it has the small hole in it. if not, you need that fitting.

[HCO41]

If you find that you need the restricted fitting, try this source:
http://www.frantzoil.com/catalog/ite...17/8845153.htm

Howard

[Kube]

Originally Posted by TomO

Remove the input line from the side of the filter, and then the brass fitting that screws into the filter housing. The fitting should only have about .040" opening for the oil flow.

Guys, the restricted fitting is to maintain pressure. Pressure has nothing to do with volume in the filter housing.
The absence of the restriction would not effect the leak issue. If anything, the reduced pressure from not having the restricted fitting would slow the leak.
It didn't leak before and now it does... gasket.
By the way, the restricted fitting is .055" - .060 per Ford specification.

[HCO41]

At the risk of highjacking the original question, I have run into several different filter housings used on Ford and Mercury engines. The two main differences are how they mount, (some years use head bolts, some bolt to head using 3/8-16 threaded holes).
Another difference I've found is the different size NPT threads at input fitting of the canister. Some are 1/8-27 NPT, others are 1/4-18 NPT.
There were also two different "T" fittings used when the OP sending unit was moved from the back of engine to the input side of the canister, one for each size pipe fitting described above.
Were these differences between the two different makes or is it the "luck of the draw"? Near as I can find, the OP sending unit was moved to the housing in '51, at least on the Fords.
Can anyone clear this up?
For what it's worth, I've found the "T" fitting to be handy for a place to put an under hood OP gauge, leaving the OP sender on the back of the engine.
Howard

[51 MERC-CT]

48' truck, 49' and perhaps some early 50's used the head bolts to mount filter.

[37coop]

thanks Fellas, as Kube has said I reckon it must be the gasket and I,m sure 50 Merc ,s answer could well sort it as I couldn't tighten it more even a touch,i will try tomorrow .Again tomorrow I will check restricted fitting but from memory I,m pretty certain it has one fitted. many thanks to all for your advice .If I,m not on the barn again before, a happy Christmas and a healthy and safe new year , cheers Jim.

[charles in east texas]

Sounds like it might be striped threads inside the filter housing or the bolt itself. Charles

[Brian]

You did dig out the old o ring before fitting the new one didn't you?

[supereal]

The restrictor doesn't affect pressure, just volume. I use a Teflon washer under the cap bolt. You can snug it down enough to prevent the leaks from fiber or rubber washers.

[Binx]

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

Without the gasket in place, install the cover and see if it tightens to the housing. ( This checks to see if the center bolt bottoms out before tightening )

Do this as 51 MERC-CT describes. Your bolt may be bottoming-out before the cap is sealing.

Lonnie

[49r]

There are two restrictor holes in the oil filter exiting tube so I'm trying to understand why there needs to be a restrictor going into the filter as well. I have no restrictor going into my 8BA filter and there is no noticeable difference in oil pressure whether or not a filter is fitted.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by Kube

Guys, the restricted fitting is to maintain pressure. Pressure has nothing to do with volume in the filter housing.
The absence of the restriction would not effect the leak issue. If anything, the reduced pressure from not having the restricted fitting would slow the leak.
It didn't leak before and now it does... gasket.
By the way, the restricted fitting is .055" - .060 per Ford specification.

If the restrictor was mistakenly installed on the return line, the canister would then have full pressure.

[37coop]

Originally Posted by Brian

You did dig out the old o ring before fitting the new one didn't you?

Yup, sure did .

[51 MERC-CT]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

If the restrictor was mistakenly installed on the return line, the canister would then have full pressure.

Although not full pressure ( maybe a little less ) there is pressure in the canister even with the primary restrictor not in place and is controlled by these two holes in the exit tube.

[George/Maine]

Could it be the return line is plugged or kink in line.