Oil Change, I made a mess

[spanky1]

Been changing my own oil for over 30 years, including the last 15 on a '03 TDi Jetta. Decided to finally change the oil in my '12 TDI Jetta(just got in a few months ago).

I have an oil extractor that I occasionally use. I generally use it every other time, so that I can occasionally take a look up under the car. Anyway, on Saturday evening, I evacuated the oil while I did some other chores. After the extractor began to suck air, I decided to remove the filter. I assumed it was similar to the '03. I was surprised when I saw that it was much a much tighter area than my old Jetta. After struggling for a bit, I realized that I was going to have to get a 32mm socket. After waiting overnight, I bought a socket an got the filter housing cap off, and removed the filter. After sucking the oil out of the filter area, I replaced the filter and added a quart of oil to the filter area, and replaced the housing cap. I didn't have a torque wrench, but tightened it pretty snugly(it seemed).

I drove the car around some last night, and all was well. When I moved the car this morning, I saw a wet spot the size of a baseball, and several other quarter sized spots. I backed the car up to apply some powder to the spots. About 5 minutes later, I moved the car again, and saw more smaller spots.

I didn't remove the drainplug, and the oil cap as well as the dipstick were still in place. I pulled the cover off of the engine and used my socket wrench to tighten the housing cap some more. I really felt that it was tight, since I've always used the rule of tightening until contact, and then 3/4 turn.

after tightening the housing I added oil. I know there was quite a bit of oil on the skidplate/cover. After driving 70 miles round trip to work, I still see drops after the car is parked. I know that I got the new gasket on the housing. How much pressure is in the engine? Will a slightly loose filter cap allow significant oil loss?

I will add that the filter placement isn't particularly user-friendly. Those filters will always drip, and there's not much room for clean-up.

 

[pebjr]

I've been changing my oil on my 09 Jetta and 15 Golf every 10,000 miles and never had an issue. I always drain the oil from underneath. I always use a torque wrench and torque both the drain plug and oil filter housing to specification.

Did you replace the oil filter housing O-ring?

Also is it possible that you crossed thread the filter housing?

 

[spanky1]

I've been changing my oil on my 09 Jetta and 15 Golf every 10,000 miles and never had an issue. I always drain the oil from underneath. I always use a torque wrench and torque both the drain plug and oil filter housing to specification.

Did you replace the oil filter housing O-ring?

Also is it possible that you crossed thread the filter housing?

I did replace the o-ring. I don't think I cross threaded it because it spun quite freely for a few turns. My '03 would tighten freely, but once it slowed, I had to turn it a few more rotations. Even if it was not completely tightened, is there enough pressure to blow the oil out?

 

[CheapBastard]

I don’t use a torque wrench but If I recall once that filter cap is bottomed out and snugged down there’s really not much more it can take.

 

[spanky1]

I don’t use a torque wrench but If I recall once that filter cap is bottomed out and snugged down there’s really not much more it can take.

That's what I recall from the '03. I've never used a wrench to put an oil filter back on. That is why I was hesitant to tighten this one too much. I'm absolutely astonished that the oil would blow out around the cap unless it was terribly loose.

I'm going to take it off again tomorrow I guess. I'll jack the car up and remove the plastic skidplate to clean the oil off. Maybe all of the oil is oil that is still standing in the tray. I wonder how low the oil has to be before the oil warning light goes off?

 

[KITEWAGON]

Make sure the O-ring is in the groove. I once had a similar experience with our last JSW. I thought I did the job perfectly but it turned out that I had the O-ring up against the top lip of the cover not in the groove that is a little bit lower. Definitely remove the cover again to check it out.

In my case the car was driven for a few days or week I think and lost over a quart of oil. It was a terrible mess, although I guess I got a free oil undercoating.

 

[spanky1]

Make sure the O-ring is in the groove. I once had a similar experience with our last JSW. I thought I did the job perfectly but it turned out that I had the O-ring up against the top lip of the cover not in the groove that is a little bit lower. Definitely remove the cover again to check it out.
In my case the car was driven for a few days or week I think and lost over a quart of oil. It was a terrible mess, although I guess I got a free oil undercoating.

That actually makes a lot of sense. Missing the groove with the O-ring would have allowed the housing to spin on With no resistance along the way. I think you’ve probably identified my issue.

 

[spanky1]

Make sure the O-ring is in the groove. I once had a similar experience with our last JSW. I thought I did the job perfectly but it turned out that I had the O-ring up against the top lip of the cover not in the groove that is a little bit lower. Definitely remove the cover again to check it out.
In my case the car was driven for a few days or week I think and lost over a quart of oil. It was a terrible mess, although I guess I got a free oil undercoating.

Looks as if that may have been the issue. I removed the assembly, and the o-ring was pushed to the top. I either didn't lubricate the o-ring lubricated completely, or I spun it on too quickly(probably the former).

Here's a few things that I've found out/or was reminded of in this whole mess:
-The plastic skid plate holds a lot of oil.
-The newer cars have a soft cover that goes around the oil pan. It will hold
quite a bit of oil.
-There is a lot of places for oil to hide as it runs down from the filter area.
-The air from driving and the DPF fan will cause this oil to dribble down for
several miles.
-Diesel oil is particularly black, even when it's only been run for a couple of
minutes.
-This forum is great.

Thanks for all of the comments/advice.

 

[KITEWAGON]

Looks as if that may have been the issue. I removed the assembly, and the o-ring was pushed to the top. I either didn't lubricate the o-ring lubricated completely, or I spun it on too quickly(probably the former).

Here's a few things that I've found out/or was reminded of in this whole mess:
-The plastic skid plate holds a lot of oil.
-The newer cars have a soft cover that goes around the oil pan. It will hold
quite a bit of oil.
-There is a lot of places for oil to hide as it runs down from the filter area.
-The air from driving and the DPF fan will cause this oil to dribble down for
several miles.
-Diesel oil is particularly black, even when it's only been run for a couple of
minutes.
-This forum is great.

Thanks for all of the comments/advice.

Ha! Glad you found the issue. I recall having quite a mess to clean up as well. I've been very careful to seat the O-ring ever since my mistake.

 

[CheapBastard]

Only changed the oil 1 time on the TDI but multiple times on the TSI, I didn’t think the o ring could get out of the groove, seemed to be in there once in there, I’ll analyze it more next time because I sure don’t want any messes