Oil Filter Change WARNING

Hey guys, I just wanted to give you guys a heads up when replacing the oil filter. I changed my motor oil and everything was fine. But when I was doing my sister's oil, I took off the oil filter but didn't realize that the stupid seal came off and was stuck on the knob "screwy thing" on the car still. Well, because the seal was still there, the new filter wouldn't hold any oil when the car is on (I'm assuming because of the pressure). So yeah, all the freakin' oil like came out when my sister, gf, and cousin drove off. Damn, I was so freakin' mad when I saw the puddle of oil when I came out of the house. So yeah, just wanted to give you guys a heads up when changing your oil. Make sure the seal is still on the filter when you take it off.



By the way, they drove about 15-20 miles like that....how bad do you think the car is? We redid everything and the car was smoking on the way home but that's probably because of the oil that splashed on the engine. I hope it's okay....we're leaving for school in about a week. Not a good time for problems.... :(

how did the seal come off the filter? Anyways, make sure you can see the bottom of the oil filter bracket if you scared of a seal coming off, i've never had a problem like that before. Anyways, your engine will be fine with oil on it, it will eventually all burn off in which it'll smoke for a few days. Or, you can just spray the crap out of your engine with a hose and use some engine degreaser to get it all off. I've had an ATF leak in my cooler house and had ATF all over my engine bay, needless to say, a week later the engine bay was back to normal. Just remember, on our cars when changing the oil, use only the mitsubishi oil filter. All the other oil filters of the same size are too restrictive. If you've never compared our oil filter to other cars' oil filters, ours are small, so use mitsubishi, i tried a fram once, and uhmm, car didnt sound too good. Fram is good for domestics

OH SH*T! I used a Fram Double Guard filter. Damnit....I was thinking that the Mitsubishi filters would be "worser" than other filters so I was staying away from them. But yeah, I'll go with them next time....but do you have to go to a dealer to get a Mitsubishi oil filter?

As far as the seal coming off the old filter, I have no idea. I even looked at the knob "screwy thing" to clean it off before I put the new filter on and didn't notice any seal. But yeah, my uncle, a mechanic, said that it's happened to him before too so I don't feel as bad as I would have. Hehe

But yeah, Hotshot8792, so the oil on the engine will burn off in a couple of days but how about the engine itself since it was pretty much running without oil? Do you think it'll be okay as well? Thanks for all the help.

as long as your gauge still had oil pressure, your car should be fine. If something is wrong with your motor, you will hear something going on down there besides the normal annoying lifter tick. As for the oil filter, yes you get them from the dealership. They're like 6 bucks each, i know with my discount i get them for like 4 each, but some dealerships run specials where if you buy 3 or more at a time, you get them for cheaper. I would check out mitsupartsdirect.com, and tell them that your a 3SI member, and you'll get them at a nice price, plus they'll ship it to your house.

Hmm....do they really check the 3SI membership thingy? Hehe ;o|

i doubt it, just call them up or send them an e-mail

I bought a $2 STP and put it in, is it realy worth it to go to the dealer and spend that extra $4? Seems like a filter is a filter as long as it has a brand name on it. The one on there was a fram and the STP filter + Mobile 1 combination made the lifter tick and everything else sound alot quieter and more smooth.

I've been reading you guys talk a lot about the lifter ticking and I'll have to be honest that I have no idea what that is. LOL Could someone explain it to me please!?! :biggrin:

It sounds like this, Tick, tick, tick, tick..... in rapid sucession and is louder with less lubrication lol.

LOL Uh, ok....so what's it supposed to do or be?

i'd really recommend spending the extra $4 to get the mitsubishi oil filter. Tons of people who dont work at mitsubishi have always told me to do so.

LOL Uh, ok....so what's it supposed to do or be?


its a noise you get from our famous hydraulic tappets which are located in the cylinder head above the valves. you have one of these noisy buggers per valve they are supposed to be quiet but unfortunately mitsubishi didn't get the design right on them until the last 3kt came out in 99. they make a loud ticking noise in the top of the engine which normally comes and goes. aparantly the 99 lifters have a larger hole in them which doesnt get blocked up with a laquer build up or clogged hence them being much better and far quieter.

im a bit of a stickler for noises and squeeks and i can safely say my lifters drive me absolutely bonkers, ive tried everything to keep them quiet all the time but to no avail.......... :banghead:

when im feeling flush its gonna be 99 lifter time. :naughty: