Blowing Oil Filter Gaskets
 

I just had two gaskets blow, on two different oil filters, two brands. The first to go was an STP filter that had been on the car for about 2 months. The second to go was a Wix filter. I'm thinking there may be a problem with the oprv? Anybody else have a similar experience?

RE: Blowing Oil Filter Gaskets
 

Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk... Please tell me you are joking, Kevin! STP and Wix? Get a Mahle OC-41 oil filter and see if the problem goes away.

I personally know of a guy who blew up the engine on his 944 due to a faulty Wix oil filter. Friends don't let friends use Wix... Mahle OC-41's cost less than $5 is you shop around and are the right oil filter for our cars. Wix doesn't have the check valve in it, so your oil drains out after you turn of the car, which means that you are starting your engine "dry" and thats aVERY bad thing.

The problem may be your opvr, its easy enough to pull and replace if thats the case, but I would start with the oil filters.

Regards,

RE: Blowing Oil Filter Gaskets
 

The wix filter appears to have a check valve inside. Checked the oprv, by taking it out (it is a one piece) and cleaning it up, piston travels freely. Put it back in, put on another wix filter, and the pressure is still pegging the gauge, at least this time it didn't belch all the oil all over.

RE: Blowing Oil Filter Gaskets
 

Hey Kev, I thought the gauge on the oil pressure was always suppose to be pegged. Mine's been like that ever since I bought it 7 years ago (or is it 8). It moves down a bit at idle, but it's pegged for the most part all the time. I've got several of the Mahl filters in the garage if you need one.

RE: Blowing Oil Filter Gaskets
 

Mine usuall runs just under 5 at freeway speed, but, we are talking 5++++ at 1500 rpm. FWIW I bought 4 filters, 1 STP (1st to go) and then a Wix, next a Wix that is currently installed and it held while I drove the car into the garage (I'm STILL trying to clean up the oil) so I'm not pushing my luck. Number 4 I bought from the local dealer, here's the kicker, the Wix filters were 11.48 apiece, the one from the dealer was 6.50 and included the crush washer for the drain plug. Guess what? They are the SAME filter. As the canister is the same, the gaskets are the same, right down to the stampings on the canister and markings on the gasket.

RE: Blowing Oil Filter Gaskets
 

...and everybody went hmmmm. [sm=WTFsgign.gif]
I'm more surprised that they were less expensive at the dealer than I am that the filters match.

RE: Blowing Oil Filter Gaskets
 

If your dealership is selling Wix, I would be very scared. Mahle is the only Factory authorized oil filter, if I recall correctly. I know for a fact that a Wix filter without a check valve on a 944 that caused the engine to eat its bearings, altho I did not check to make sure it was the right part number on the Wix so its possible the guy installed the wrong one. I do know that under no circumstances will I run anything other than Mahle, but thats just me after seeing enough broke engines with Fram, Walmart, Wix etc filters on them. Others may have better results.

Regards,

RE: Blowing Oil Filter Gaskets
 

OK with the factory filter, here are the numbers right off the filter LS154 and below the orignal Porsche script 944.107.201.08

RE: Blowing Oil Filter Gaskets
 

I read your post on Rennlist. How "milkshakey" is your oil? A lot, or just a little? Its not *that* bad a job to do your oil cooler seals, so if you are suspecting it, I'd say o for it. I would think that thinning your oil with coolant would make th eoil pressure drop, not increase tho.

I have an extra OPVR out of an '87 951 and have a spare OPVR out of an '83 944, if you want to try one of those first, before buying. I can't vouch for the condition of the one out of the '83, it came from a parts car, but the 951 was working fine.

Time for a wrenching party in Houston? :)

Regards,

RE: Blowing Oil Filter Gaskets
 

we use K&N with no probs.