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Perkins oil filter leak

rickdowe2

Richard Dowe
IMG_1159.JPG I am hoping someone might have a idea. The remote spin-on oil filter leaks at the mounting flange. After 50 hours of use the split line leaks, I have tried 3 or 4 different gaskets and different thicknesses. I have tried sealant with the gaskets and it still leaks at 50 hours. I don't have a differential pressure gauge across the filter so I do not know if it is getting dirty enough to cause excessive pressure. The engine pressure is 40-60 psi.
The contact area is only a 1/4 inch where it leaks. Any thoughts? I am using a NAPA 1806 filter.
 
Rick
Does the amount of time that the engine is running have an effect on the leak? Could it be a high temperature that causes the mounting flange to distort and leak? Years ago I had a VW diesel Rabbit with an aluminum head. Over time the head expanded causing the head gasket to leak. Ruined the engine.

Jim
 
Jim,
It does seems to appear after motoring for a whole day. I have looked into that possibility and the cooler seems to be doing its job,but not as much cooling as I thought would happen. The heat exchanger for the oil is small and it is capable of cooling two different liquids it has two paths but only one is used. I thought about looping the output of the cooler back to the other path to see if I can get more cooling action. When I rebuilt the engine I flushed out the cooler.
Does anyone have any measurements of the oil cooler inlet and outlet temperatures?
 
Rick, a couple thoughts:
Have you put a straight edge across the two clean flange surfaces to see if there is warpage. Shine a flash light on the back side of the straight edge
Inspected for cracks? There is a multi step spray dye test available. Welding supply house might have it.
It looks like you replaced the oil lines. Any possibility those brass adaptors extend too far and are causing a pressure build up at that point? You should be able to feel it with your finger or a probe.
You said you don't think you're getting enough cooling or flow through the cooler. Why? Are you monitoring oil temperature? There might be a spec in the shop manual for oil temp.

The Perkins engineers were pretty smart, built tens of thousands of the 104-8 that lived long productive lives. Look for something that is NOT OEM that might be causing the leak.
 
Oil temps should stay in the low 200sF.
250-275 deg. is dangerously high as it breaks down the oil.
 
If everything seems ok as far as good straight mating surfaces. I have a suggestion. I'm not sure this will help, but as a sealant we use a product called "The Right Stuff". Black, RTV-ish stuff. Comes in short tubes for caulking gun type things or in smaller tubes too I believe. Not cheap, but very effective.
It has been really reliable for many applications in engine builds for us. I use it almost exclusively in my shop/business. We race a Land Speed Roadster at Bonneville where everything must be right, and I build and restore cars. Most normal engine gaskets get a light smear as we are putting things together. Take it for what its worth, my 2 cents.
Good luck, I understand your frustration.
Mitchell
 
Morning Dave, while the boat is out of the water and preparing it for splashing I will remove the filter assembly and check for flatness. The temperature question comes from me with a infrared gun looking at different points on the cooling system. Just didn’t seem that much difference in temperatures, maybe 10degrees but I can’t remember what the temperature was. Definitely anything above 240 degrees is bad ,synthetic oil we use on turbines will shut down above 240. When I rebuilt the engine I installed a new oil pump because the oil one was out of spec. The pressure seems normal and does not increase with use.

Mitchell, good deal, if I can’t find anything wrong I will try it!
 
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