Oil filter housing leak.

[dot4x4]

Ok, so the filter housing on my 2012 keeps leaking. My Sonic, 1.8L Auto, LS (Betty) has been into the dealership now FOUR times.

first trip, "Oh they didn't tighten the filter cap all the way"

Second trip, They cleaned everything and blamed it on residual oil from the last trip.

Third trip, they finally put in dye, and verified that the oil cap was faulty and it was leaking. Ordered new part, and I ended up spending 50 dollars out of pocket for a rental car "deposit", and it didn't leak and cause a horrid burning smell anymore. :banana:

Today the FOURTH trip into the dealership, less than 6 months since the new part, and NO OIL CHANGES. They said it was leaking AGAIN and they put a new O-ring and new filter in it.

Drive across town, and guess what, I smell oil burning AGAIN

Is anyone else having issues like this ? I am giving them the benefit of the doubt and driving it to work 70 miles round trip. IF I still have any oil smell what should be my next step ? This makes four trips into the dealership for the same problem. I believe this is a safety issue as the oil is leaking out of the filter housing and onto the exhaust manifold. Can you say engine fire?

I really like my Sonic but my Wife refuses to drive it as she had an engine oil fire several years ago. This is very dissapointing on my new less than 35,000 mile car.

 

[$ub$onic]

That is strange. I can understand once ,but a couple times?

I change my o-ring like every other oil change.


Maybe they are putting the cap on to tight and cracking it?

Are you able to post a picture of where it is leaking?

 

[dot4x4]

It was leaking at the base and the top of the filter housing where it connects to the engine block. (I was told they replaced the whole unit including the cap) That was replaced but now it is leaking at the cap; since it's where they replaced the O-ring.

I agree that to have so many leaks is confusing to me. Having one or even two issues I can have no issue with. That is the nature of mechanics. What bothers me is that even if the oil cap was overtightened, I have around 5000 miles since the last oil change. My driving is allot of highway miles so after the first oil change, I run between 6500-7500 miles between oil changes.

My concern is how this has affected the engine. And of course why I am having repeat issues with the oiling system.

 

[$ub$onic]

I also drive 70 miles a day so I know your concern.

I would have them check the cap again.

If they do not fix it this time.

A) try another dealer
b) fix it yourself.

 

[dot4x4]

Anybody else having problems like this ?

After driving another 140 miles I can still smell burning oil.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

dot4x4,

We can certainly reach out to your dealership on your behalf. Please private message me your name, VIN, phone number, mileage, and dealership. Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Erica Tiffany
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[dot4x4]

Thank you Erica Tiffany. I just PM'd you and with the title, "Dot4x4 info". Thank you again for watching this forum. Definately a bright spot on the Customer Service from Chevrolet.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

We got it! Erica will respond to your concern when she gets back in to the office at 8am EST. We are glad that we can provide you with assistance.

Jackie
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[Lowside]

Oil Filter Housing leaking

The other morning after I remote started my car. The Temperature here in Michigan had been hovering around zero all week, so when I came outside there was a big puddle of Engine Oil under my car and the check engine light was on. So I took it to the dealer they said because it was outside my 36000 mile warranty they would have to charge me to replace the part.

 

[$ub$onic]

36 is the bumper to bumper, the power train has 100k miles...... Last time I checked the body does by use oil, so it has to be power train. Tell them to fix it

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Hi Lowside,

I am sorry to hear that you are having this problem with your vehicle. I understand that you have gone to the dealership for this concern. Please feel free to send us a private message with your VIN so that I could look further into this for you. We look forward to hearing from you!

Kristen A.
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[c-lo]

this post might help others...but i went to a local shop (not dealer) to do an oil change for me. he didn't use OEM filter gasket and as a result my oil filter cap leaked.

i just replaced the filter/seal with an OEM and the leaking stopped. Definitely a difference between the two. OEM is round, aftermarket was flat.

 

[Dirkdaddy]

FWIW, the type of cap and oring used does not typically need replacing very often if at all in my opinion. Also the cap doesn't have to be very tight as the oring seal is on the bore, and torque of the cap has zero effect on the seal. I owned a Olds Intrigue with an admittedly thicker and double row of o-rings on the filter compartment, but I never changed the orings and drove it for 200,000 miles. Often the OE orings are very high quality and ones with filters are crap, thus another reason for my recommendation of not replacing.

 

[ChrisJ]

FWIW, the type of cap and oring used does not typically need replacing very often if at all in my opinion. Also the cap doesn't have to be very tight as the oring seal is on the bore, and torque of the cap has zero effect on the seal. I owned a Olds Intrigue with an admittedly thicker and double row of o-rings on the filter compartment, but I never changed the orings and drove it for 200,000 miles. Often the OE orings are very high quality and ones with filters are crap, thus another reason for my recommendation of not replacing.

I buy OEM filters and the o-rings that come with them look identical to what was originally there.

Also, GM says to change it every time, and they supply it, so I do.

Never had a leak.


Seems kind of odd to go against the manufacturer's instructions on something so silly?

 

[5.0]

Agreed. The filters come with the O-ring so it makes no sense not to change it. You're paying for it anyway, might as well use it.

I use aftermarket filters(FRAM, Purolator,) changed the O-ring every time, never had a leak.