Oil Filter Handhole Gasket: Will it Leak?

Tom Bowman · Jan 19, 2014

I know the photo isn't the greatest, but it looks like there's a little gap between the gasket and the oil pan.

The oil filter didn't fit as far over the center tube as I thought it would, and the screen was down below the oil pan a little on one side. (The cover and screen seemed to suck up pretty well when I tightened the center bolt - I tried not to overdo it.)

I'm a little concerned, because when I dropped the oil pan for the first time, I discovered that a Previous Owner had installed the filter cover and screen upside down, and had used the wrong filter. (The spring and felt washers were also missing.)

I thought maybe the P.O. was trying to deal with problems with the fit of the screen, filter and cover.

Do I just need to add a little oil, and see if it leaks?

Bruce(OR) · Jan 19, 2014

There is also a possiility that the center tube has come loose from the engine. Drop the oil filter cover and see if you can screw the tube into the engine. Now reassemble and check again. Add a 1/2 qt of oil and look for seepage.

Tom Bowman · Jan 20, 2014

(quoted from post at 19:57:36 01/19/14) There is also a possiility that the center tube has come loose from the engine. Drop the oil filter cover and see if you can screw the tube into the engine. Now reassemble and check again. Add a 1/2 qt of oil and look for seepage.

Thanks. Bruce.

The tubes look OK - I checked them while I had the oil pan off.

I know that RTV, etc. aren't usually recommended, but the original owner's manual calls for "shellac" on this gasket: would some kind of sealer be a good idea?

This tractor won't get a lot of use, so if I can get this gasket on [i:16045bcc4b][b:16045bcc4b]once[/b:16045bcc4b][/i:16045bcc4b],with no leaks, I won't need to worry about it for a [i:16045bcc4b][b:16045bcc4b]long[/b:16045bcc4b][/i:16045bcc4b] time.

Jason S. · Jan 20, 2014

Did you make sure the flange in the pan was perfectly flat? I wouldn't use RTV on it. If I had to I would use some indian head shellac on one side of it.

Bruce(OR) · Jan 20, 2014

"looked good" Did you grab ahold of it and try to
turn it? I had the same problem. Added oil,
dripped all over the ground, dropped the center
cover, twisted the tube, reassemble and no more
problem.
Gasket shellac (Indian head shellac) I believe is
still made. I did not use it. Gray RTV is good for
oil pans. Gaskacinch is another option. I believe
I wiped the "O" ring down with a thin coat of oil
and assembled.

Tom Bowman · Jan 20, 2014

I guess "looked" wasn't the right term, Bruce: I unscrewed the tubed, and screwed them back in tight.

Jason, the flange on the pan "looks" straight, with no signs of trauma.

Tom Bowman · Jan 25, 2014

Permatex Indian Head Gasket Shellac is indeed still made, and I used some on the gasket.

Bruce, I added a pint of oil, and no leaks from the gasket, or the center tube, but I am getting a drip from the drain plug.

The old copper washer on the drain plug was in pretty bad shape, so I replaced the washer. (The new one is dripping.)

Is there a good fix for the drain plug?

I hadn't used Gasket Shellac before, so I didn't know what to expect: it looked, smelled and acted like pine tar.

Thanks again.

Jason S. · Jan 25, 2014

Indian head is good stuff. I know of many VW engines running around with Indian head between the case halves to seal the engine and they do not leak. Actually most guys I know that build those engines say to use Indian head and not rtv. Take your old washer and go to the autoparts store and get a drain plug gasket that has rubber in the center to help it seal or go to a local home supply and get a rubber or fibrous washer of the same size. That"s what I did on my Super A and the power steering pump on my MF 175 and neither of those leak with the fibrous washers.

Tom Bowman · Jan 25, 2014

Thanks, Jason.

The Indian Head was still tacky when I installed the gasket and cover, and it squeezed out just a little, nice and even, all around the gasket.

It may be tough to remove when it's time to change the filter, but I'll worry about that when the time comes.

I also used a little Indian Head on the inside of the valve cover, to hold the gasket in place - worked fine.

Oil Filter Handhole Gasket: Will it Leak?

Tom Bowman

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Bruce(OR)

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Tom Bowman

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Jason S.

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Bruce(OR)

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Tom Bowman

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Tom Bowman

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Jason S.

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Tom Bowman

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