Best of the worst

Topic: Best of the worst (Read 938 times) previous topic - next topic

Best of the worst

September 29, 2020, 09:27:28 pm

Home safe from South Dakota and find this.

I'm guessing the gasket has let go in that filter.

Question is how much fluid (mess) will I have to contend with when dropping the filter to replace it?

Best of the worst because we're home safe.

Thanks

Frank

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #1 – September 29, 2020, 09:42:47 pm

One way to have no mess is to punch a hole in the bottom of the filter and let it drain in a bucket. When it drains take the filter off.
I always fill the filter which makes it a little harder to install but I don't like running the engine dry.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #2 – September 29, 2020, 09:57:03 pm

Oldguy thanks, will that work on the transmission filter? I don't know why it wouldn't.
The fluid looks gold on the filter but it's pink on the ground in a puddle.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #3 – September 29, 2020, 10:01:14 pm

I believe the trans filter is inside the pan and the pan needs to be drained and then removed and the filters can be removed.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #4 – September 29, 2020, 10:04:14 pm

Then I may have a larger problem.....
Getting out the manual tomorrow

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #5 – September 29, 2020, 10:08:58 pm

I am not familiar with the 93, but recently changed the tranny oil and filters on a 1997. The instructions received indicated the filters could be changed without completely draining the transmission and yes, the filters (two of them) are inside the transmission housing.

Having said that, the filter shown in the picture certainly looks like the engine oil filter. If the fluid on the ground is pink, is there a chance it is anti-freeze?

If you confirm it is the oil filter leaking and decide to remove it, you might want to check to see if there are two gaskets installed. Sometimes the old gasket gets stuck to the housing and if the tech does not remove it, you end up with two gaskets.....which eventually will result in a leak.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #6 – September 29, 2020, 10:09:59 pm

Just relooked at your pictures, the one with all the oil coming down it, that oil is not engine oil, it looks more like hydraulic oil.
Have you been looking at the leak while the engine is running to be certain as to where it is coming from.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #7 – September 29, 2020, 10:27:42 pm

Coming back when it's daylight for a better look.

Daydreamer my antifreeze is green, plain old green.

Oldguy my hydraulic fluid is Delo 400 10W40, definitely not pink.

Thanks, more tomorrow!

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #8 – September 29, 2020, 11:29:50 pm

Granted, our coach is older, a different model, and a different drive train, but I do have a screw on transmission cartridge filter right behind the passenger duals.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #9 – September 30, 2020, 09:27:46 am

Looking at my filter list I have listed an AC HD223 external transmission filter, hoping this is my problem.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #10 – September 30, 2020, 10:21:05 am

That filter style does look similar to a engine oil filter. Hope it is just a filter gasket leaking. Maybe little messy, but an easy fix.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #11 – September 30, 2020, 10:31:13 am

My expierience with spin-on filters is,if it does not leak in the first 10 minutes it's on for good,would be surprized if the filter gasket was the problem,looks like in the one picture there is oil and black oily grease above the housing,if it were mine I would degrease
the engine and get it clean so you can see better,if you have air a syphon gun and mineral spirits works great,if not use a water soluable degreaser.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #12 – September 30, 2020, 10:38:52 am

Frank, can you wipe the filter off and get a number? If so, that may help you figure out what it is for. If I was going to change it, I would put a pan underneath it, then poke a hole in the bottom and let it drain.

Before I did that, though, I'd try to wipe everything off as much as possible, then take the coach out for a drive, and see what I see after that. Park in a different spot so that you can tell what is a new drip and what is an old one. With a leak like that, are you seeing any of the levels down?

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #13 – September 30, 2020, 01:52:18 pm

Thanks for all the input.
An oil leak was identified at the last servicing (2 weeks ago) and is scheduled to be fixed after harvest, so there is that.
Back under it with better light after work, clean off and degrease best I can, gather more information.
Better conditions getting under there with things cooled down.

The clean spot on the filter is where I wiped it off to get a strap wrench on it, turned 1/4 turn rather easy.
Leak worsened.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #14 – September 30, 2020, 04:30:01 pm

Before you "poke" a hole in any filter you want to change, make absolutely sure you have the right replacement in your slippery, oily paws.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #15 – September 30, 2020, 08:16:57 pm

Degreased that area, it is the external transmission filter NAPA 1632.
Currently in a holding pattern till new filter arrives.
Red circle is rubber gasket material, suspect the shop that did the work didn't notice the old gasket before installing the new filter.
Find out for sure when I pull it.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #16 – September 30, 2020, 08:42:48 pm

Quote from: nitehawk – September 30, 2020, 04:30:01 pm

Before you "poke" a hole in any filter you want to change, make absolutely sure you have the right replacement in your slippery, oily paws.

Also may not be relevant here but before you poke a hole in the filter to drain it put the strap wrench on it and turn it just a little to make sure it's free and will come off.. wouldn't be good if you drained the filter and then couldn't get the filter off.

Keith

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #17 – September 30, 2020, 08:52:38 pm

Quote from: hdff – September 30, 2020, 08:42:48 pm

Also may not be relevant here but before you poke a hole in the filter to drain it put the strap wrench on it and turn it just a little to make sure it's free and will come off.. wouldn't be good if you drained the filter and then couldn't get the filter off.
Keith

Yes but with a good strap wrench combined with a ratchet will take off the most stubborn filter and won't slip. See my previous post.

Without the good strap wrench, a hammer and large screwdriver will give the leverage. But drain the filter first.

Pierce

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #18 – September 30, 2020, 09:32:37 pm

Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart – September 30, 2020, 08:52:38 pm

Yes but with a good strap wrench combined with a ratchet will take off the most stubborn filter and won't slip. See my previous post.

Without the good strap wrench, a hammer and large screwdriver will give the leverage. But drain the filter first.

Pierce

That's the one I bought, best strap wrench I have.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #19 – September 30, 2020, 11:38:29 pm

When we were in Stromsburg, NE on our way to Texas I had an algae problem plugging our fuel filters. Went to Napa and requested the best filter wrench they had. Got two different ones and then went to the village CG. Broke their best wrench and the other one was wrong size. Took both wrenches back, got our $$ back. Then went to the local hardware store and explained our problem. I told the elderly gentleman my problem and that I was needing their "biggest" Channellocks pliers. He said to take it and bring it back when I was done. No deposit, didn't know us from Adam. I used it, got the two filters off, cleaned the Channellocks and returned them. Then I turned around and bought them. They have resided in the coach tool box ever since, and another pair I bought way back in 1962 (to close the top on my 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 convertible) is in my large toolbox here at home.
Both Channellocks get used. The coach one has been called in to play to loosen the Valterra connection on the dump valve.
I have about four or five different filter removal tools in the garage but the Channellocks is #1 best "filter wrench"of them all.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #20 – September 30, 2020, 11:56:34 pm

I purchased this Strap Wrench. and it works well paired with a pull bar and extensions as needed.. I have broken others, but do not think I have enough in me to break this one. Channellock pliers are great too, but sometime there is just not enough room to get them on or maneuver them.

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Re: Best of the worst

Reply #21 – October 01, 2020, 12:00:13 am

I'm lucky. All three of my filters (2 fuel line & 1 trans) are accessible with my Channellocks.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #22 – October 05, 2020, 09:12:08 pm

To answer my own question, about 1/2 a qt of fluid loss (mess) upon dropping the filter.
Not sure how much we kitty littered up but it was quite a bit.
New filter installed, trans fluid just a tick over the add mark on the stick.

Interesting this filter lasted about 13 months before showing itself.
Could be someone was making sure we got home safe, I don't discount such possibilities.

Should be good for our next adventure. NC here we come.

Re: Best of the worst

Reply #23 – October 05, 2020, 10:44:41 pm

Quote from: Phranko – October 05, 2020, 09:12:08 pm

To answer my own question, about 1/2 a qt of fluid loss (mess) upon dropping the filter.
Not sure how much we kitty littered up but it was quite a bit.
New filter installed, trans fluid just a tick over the add mark on the stick.

Interesting this filter lasted about 13 months before showing itself.
Could be someone was making sure we got home safe, I don't discount such possibilities.

Should be good for our next adventure. NC here we come.

Glad you made it home and we didn't have to do surgery in Custer sp

Keith

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