Hello all,

Has anyone come across a lower oil filter cover bolt that's damp? I did an oil and filter change, swapped o-rings, cleaned up, and thought all was well.

However, the low bolt head is damp. I find this odd. I don't dare tighten any more for fear of stripping a stud and it's simply an o-ring that I need to compress so I may be over right now anyway. The bolts are as firm as I dare.

I cleaned again,  drove 6k rpm for a couple miles; dry.

This AM when I noticed the issue I had driven 40 miles on the freeway though.

I'm wondering if it's time to redo the instal with a fresh o-ring and/or have the studs changed; could over tightening cause my problem? And why is the bolt head moist but not the mating surface between the cover and the engine?

Am I overthinking some residual moisture?

It's probably just residue, I get the same thing when I do a change. Keep an eye on it for a couple of days.

I've haven't had a leak from over-torquing, but I have snapped a stud off. You only need a firm grip to tighten the nuts.

I hope you're right. Next time I'll not torque so much! Thanks for the response!

I wonder how many of us have snapped studs. I snapped my first a week ago. Picked up a 4" 6mm threaded rod to replace it. Cut it down and it still sticks out a good 1.5" , but I don't care since the fairings cover it all up. Those studs are so weak. 

Quote from: Supa on June 16, 2015, 06:39:37 AM
I wonder how many of us have snapped studs. I snapped my first a week ago. Picked up a 4" 6mm threaded rod to replace it. Cut it down and it still sticks out a good 1.5" , but I don't care since the fairings cover it all up. Those studs are so weak. 

Careful there, if that rod is much stronger than the factory stud, next time you apply a bit too much force you will rip the thread out of the engine

The rod is definitely stronger which is nice. I left the other two studs in there though so that I know not to overtorque it. I tried running a smaller nut on it, but the threads on it were too weak to hold at all. I also threw on a washer which helps a bit from overtorquing it. I'm definitely hesitant after snapping that one stud. Almost too hesitant. I ended up not tightening my drain plug enough and it was fairly loose when I checked it last night. Glad I did.

Maybe put a small o-ring behind the nut, should seal any leakage. Even a new oring will only take up so much slop between two surfaces. Could be the filter housing is warped slightly, allowing a small amount of oil past the ring and out the stud holes.

Thanks again to all.

I could think of no way that the bolt itself would be damp rather than the mating surface below the bolt. In any case, I got away with tightening everything up almost to the point of murder yesterday, and today the bolt is dry despite some marginally antisocial RPMs I sustained intentionally on the way to work.

Of course I don't know whether I was simply seeing residue, whether the gorilla-ing on the bolts with the wrench last night fixed a minor leak, both, or neither; however, I've bought myself time till the next oil change. At that point, I will try FINGER TIGHT PLUS A TOUCH!!!! only and see if that makes a difference (in any case I'll try not to wreck the studs more than I have already...).

Thanks again to all!

I think that gorilla-ing the nuts would only make the seal weaker. I checked my studs after I broke mine and the threads were all worn.

I get at least a good drop of oil forming on a few nuts every time I change oil, but I'm sloppy with my pour and tend to spill quite a bit.

Tip when replacing studs: tighten the acorn nut down onto a 10mm nut over the stud bolt. That way you can undo the nuts after you tighten the stud bolt.

Great tip. With any luck I will never do this again and the studs will survive the next oil change. Fingers crossed.

Ok so suggenly this AM I got a leak, apparently from the o-ring or lower bolt. I can't tell which since the housing was all moist (even up top) and the lower bolt is a low point so oil would accumulate there anyway. I'm going to change the o-ring Sunday.

Anyone experience this?

I've had trouble with the seal not mating properly and letting oil seep through, although the oil flow is a little more obvious (and messy). I simply removed the cover, reset the seal and tightened up again. Sealed!

I hope it is that easy for you. Good luck.

Thanks. I'd not had a leak since I started the thread in June and am wondering " why now?"

In case I need studs for the filter cap bolts, can I order those online? Thanks!