Why does my external oil cooler filter keep coming loose?

I have a type 1, 2L motor with an external JK oil filtered and radiator. I fired it up the other morning and oil poured out of the external oil filter gasket around 2/3L of oil filled the drive.
I finally got round to dropping the oil and replacing the filter today, which was secured well. I then began to run it and warm it up to re check the oil levels and filter came loose again, the thread seems fine and so does the gasket, what could cause this?
The kit is only available form JK and is currently on back order so replacement parts are unavailable.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

Too much oil pressure when the engine is cold?What oil type are you using.

 

Just a cheap 20/50

 

There's your answer

 

I agree, not my Best Buy to date

 

We live and learn. What exactly is coming undone?

 

The external oil filter which is mounted under the battery tray.

 

Is it on a screw-on filter head?

 

You should be tightening the filter 3/4 turn by hand after first contact with the filter head.

Dont listen to the chorus telling you that 20W/50 is the cause of your woes. Oil pressure cannot unscrew a filter: pop a seal, yes, burst it, perhaps. Unscrewing takes a lot of torque if you put it on properly in the first case. Why we all end up with filter wrenches.

Mine never undid at over 105PSI..and always 20W/50 over about 75000 miles.

First FRAM HP-1 then Mann W719/5.

Ate you sure the screw thread on the filter head exactly matches the filter ?

 

Is the filter unscrewing or is the seal blowing out? Whatever it is JK supplied they wouldn’t have made it and it will probably be available elsewhere, what is the part number?

Although it’s not the cause of the problem 20w50 is too thick, especially in the winter, use 15w40.

 

I would think the thread is the problem

 

Not sure what pressure it runs at but I’ve always used the same filter and matched the numbers up each time, I think it’s a Polo part.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone, I will check the thread and part number again tomorrow.

I have used the same oil for the past three years without it happening, and it was recommended by the engine builder Robert Parry, so not sure that’s a problem.

Could it be the release valve sticking?

 

I think the filter heads are usually made by EMPI if sold by JK. Unless it has a crack in it, it is unlikely to leak, although when I first bought mine, I felt I had to sandpaper out some fairly deep scratches that seeped oil (wet and dry on a piece of 13mm plywood to make a flat surface)


The pressure relief valve in the engine block does stick. At around freezing, there can then be very high pressure there, especially with a new pump.

If what is actually happening is the seal is blowing out, then the filter will not be held as securely as the square oil filter seal pops out.

Also be aware also that the threaded tube the filter fits on is a separate component that can unscrew, and may be leaving only a few threads engaged, if you dont do it up tightly against the filter head before fitting the filter.

The Mann filters I use come from GSF and were originally Golf filters.

 

That is odd. Can't remember what the thread pitch is, but it's one that discourages the filter from unscrewing. Only thing I can think of is that the threaded bit has become wonky, and the seal's not sealing.

 

After market Marmite

 

It’s probably this EMPI part https://www.justkampers.com/1159244-remote-oil-filter-head.html also available from VWH https://www.vwheritage.com/ac1159244-oil-filter-head-ports-left-vw-spare

Thread size will be ¾ x 16 UNF.

 

Is it possible the oil pressure valve could have froze, if it has is this an easy fix and if so where can I find it ?

 

It’s possible but, you still haven’t answered if the filter is unscrewing or the seal is blowing out.

I don’t mean to be insulting but with a non-standard 2.0l Type 1 engine with a non-standard oil system you really should know where the valve is. Pic borrowed from Headflowmasters.com

 

Its also possible that the flow through the oil filter is piped backwards and that is preventing the relief valve in the oil filter from opening and therefore producing a pressure surge with cold oil which may also be crushing the filter element ...
Warm oil warm weather less pressure surge.

EMPI filter heads have arrows showing flow direction. The engine block filter adaptor platw should also have flow markings or the words IN and OUT ..
The oil loop goes OUT to IN in one hose and IN to OUT on the other..