Triumphrat

2522

Ok,..This is not about bikes of any kind, BUT I have a story to tell.

It has been very cold here in Calgary (-36 C) approx -33 F. Yesterday, my wife starts her car to warm it up before coming home at the end of the day. She can see her vehicle from her desk. After warming up for about 10 min. the vehicle shuts off. She puts on her coat and goes to the vehicle to restart it. At that point she notices a pool of oil under her car.

One of the guys that work in the warehouse comes to her aid and finds the oil filter has come loose. He tightens the filter. He says it took more than 2 turns (This is a clue I didn't pick up on).

I "assume" ( Ya,.. Ya,.. I know there is that word again) That because of the extreme cold the filter loosened and allowed the oil to escape. WRONG!!

I am worried at this point that the engine pumped it's oil out and seized. WRONG AGAIN!!

I turn the key, and the engine attempts to start??? I realize there is little or no oil in the engine so I discontinue trying to start and come back today with a new filter and 4 L of 10W30. I attach the booster cables from my truck to the car's battery and attempt to start the car after filling the oil to the required level and replacing the filter.

It fires up on the second attempt. It runs for about 20 sec. The idle rises slightly (due to the cold but to a normal level) there is a loud "clunk" sound and the engine shuts down!!

I look under the hood and the fresh 4 L of 10W30 are on top of the previous 4 L of 10W30 on the pavement. The oil filter has literally blown off the bracket and is sitting on the pavement in a pool of oil!!

I pick up the filter and screw it back on as tight as I can turn it.

NOW LISTEN TO THIS!!! I get back in the car, while the guy from the warehouse watches the oil filter area, I turn the key for about 3 sec. and without starting it BLOWS THE FILTER OFF AGAIN!!!

I dunno!!! I have never seen anything like this before. I think it's got to be something really simple. e.g. A piece of foil from the seal of an oil bottle stuck in the worst place possible.??

Any Ideas??

I've rebuilt many engines. I've raced for 15 years. I have never seen an engine blow a filter off without starting.

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Asphalt is My Airbag

HtownCruiser

Jimi X:

Had me scratching my head, then found this on web (Google search):

"Well, I almost did it. By 1:00am on May 11, I juiced up the battery, turned on the ignition, and started up the engine for the first time in a year! But only for 3 or 4 seconds. Then I heard a large “pop” and engine oil unceremoniously dumped all over the floor. The oil filter had blown off.

It took 2 hours to clean up this mess with kitty litter I went out and got at the 24-hour Safeway, but reinstalling the oil filter tighter resulted in the same result and now the oil filter assembly’s threads were stripped. I would have to attend the car show without my car.

It turned out the oil pressure relief valve was stuck and not replaced by the shop. It was a cheap part (just looked like a hollowed out bullet), but was very difficult to remove with the engine in place. This is because the valve was embedded into the engine with limited clearance, and since it was perfectly smooth (and stuck), how was one to get it out? Ultimately, I came up with an ingenious solution–I went to Orchard Supply, bought a 1/2″-diameter tap for $5, and “threaded” it into the valve. The tap “bit” into the valve wonderfully and I was able to remove it. Reinstalling a new valve and its spring was a bear but just took a little bit of persistence.

I’d ultimately get Goldie back on the road on June 26, 11:50pm–which just so happened to be my birthday. It was a great birthday present."

Let us know what you find was the cause or your problem. Good luck!

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Terry
2006 SpeedMaster Black/Sunset Red, Staintunes, Floor Boards, Light Kit, Roadster Windscreen, A/I removed, 135 main jets, K&N filter

burmbuster

every crank case has to have a a way of venting pressure. As the crank, rods, and everything else moves, friction occurs, which causes heat, which causes everything to expand. The old carburated vehicles use to have vents in the valve covers. The newer vehicles vary. It's rare but what you speak of does happen from time to time.

Wombat

That is what PCV valves are for, to release pressure in the crank case.

I have seen a case where the PCV Valve stuck closed and the pressure build up in the crank case built up to the point where the oil was pushed out the dip-stick tube.

Htowns story about the oil pressure relief valve being stuck, sounds real plausible to me.

But then I am not a mechanic, I just pretend to be one under a shade tree.

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Bob

Click to see My Photo Album

Age is of no importance, unless you are a cheese.

Scud

I had a friend loose the top of his oil pressure sending unit in his Audi one aJanuary a couple of years back, during a spell of really cold weather. He saved the engine 'cause he's a helocopter pilot, and has trained himself to watch his oiI pressure whenever he starts an engine.

I wonder if the oil viscosity has something to do with it? Checkvalves not opening 'cause they are cold or something?

S.

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"Life is life, and fun is fun, but it's all so quiet when the goldfish die..."

2522

Thanks for the responses. I believe the pressure bypass valve is frozen. It's the only thing that makes sense. The oil is cold plus I think there could be condensation. Thick oil and ice is probably my enemy.

I will probably have to replace the bracket which the filter screws on. The threads are probably worn or near stripped after blowing 2 filters off, (one twice).

I will have it towed to a heated garage and do repairs to the bracket. Hopefully all will be OK after everything warms up.

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Asphalt is My Airbag

alfacliff

a friend of mine had a slightly different problem, after starting his car, the distributor cap came off. it turns out his float had stuck in the carb and raw gas in the crankcase made it into the distributor, the spark did its thing and blew off the dist cap.
cliff

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2006 Bonnie Black
1980 Yamaha xs650 sold 4-30-2011

Baltobonneville

I believe that all of Canada is frozen.

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Marty
2005 Bonneville Blue 790cc, AI removed, Staintunes RC, Unifilter, no snorkel, 118/40/Thrux needle/1 shim/3 turns, tachometer, Ikon 7610s in back, Ricor Intiminators in front, Pirelli Sport Demons, D9 gauge panel.

mistermellow001

I doubt the oil filter flange and threads are hurt. The filter's threads will strip first. I agree about oil viscosity and pressure by-pass, or release, valve. Crankcase gas pressure is another story. That'll blow seals, but not oil filters.

Water in the oil could be a problem, but if there was so much water that it would freeze inside the valve, then you have a problem. It's worth checking, however. If you've got a mound of lightly colored goop inside your oil fill cover and spout, then I'd have the block leak checked.

Also, depending on the vehicle's maintenance record, the oil passages could be so filled with sludge as to contribute to the problem. Doubt this, however, but I'm just adding a possible exacerbating factor. I still vote for replacing the valve and going to a low-viscosity winter oil.

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Guy

"Always be yourself... unless you suck"
~ Joss Whedon

Major Kong

I think I'd check the PCV valve first. It's easier than dropping the oil pan. With the cold, condensed water in the valve could freeze and cause pressure to build behind the pistons. I vote for Wombat's idea.

Kong

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"Only by challenging and questioning our beliefs can we come to the point of ownership of those beliefs."