pictures of my greasy, oily Oil Filter housing...

[Ghost-Flame]

4 Freakin' hours ...

....and I still couldn't get the power steering pump bolt off that is behind the pulley. I got frustrated and said the hoses must go and I'm yanking the whole thing out. the PSF needed changing anyway.






Any doubt this has been leaking? 2qts per week for the last month



Hard as a rock and gasket is really stuck in there. any way to soften it up for removal?

[petener999]

What engine do you have? Thanks

[phil47]

Originally Posted by Ghost-Flame

Hard as a rock and gasket is really stuck in there. any way to soften it up for removal?

Maybe try brake cleaner...it'll melt plastic it's so aggressive...

[TwinsPoppa]

Try PMing StartX5. He recently replaced the oil filter housing gasket in his 3.0.

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by phil47

Maybe try brake cleaner...it'll melt plastic it's so aggressive...

That's what I need something to melt the plastic... I want to get all medieval on the gasket!! How about light passes with a torch.?

[mrbmwx5]

$5.99 part 4 hours job...i used the plastic flat head and push it out little by little.

[StartX5]

Oh no - this happened to me and i fixed it during thanksgiving weekend. To remove the gasket you need a small flat philipp screw driver. Take time to romove gasket out of oil housing and using alcohol to clean it before installing new gasket.
I only removed oil filter housing and alternator, disconnected wire and battery cable that attached in the back of alternator. To avoid electric shock don't forget to use electrical black tape to tape the positive cable right after you disconnect it from alternator.

I found this leaking after replacing belt and tensioner/pulley. I have to add 3/4 quart of oil after completed this project.
If you need help, PM me. I think you are not far away from my place.

Yes Tom, this gasket is only $8.99 at dealer but it took me 3 hours to replace it.

[StartX5]

GF: Your is 4.4? mine is 3.0 - Look at the picture you attached here, you don't have to remove the power steering bolt behind the pulley. All you need to remove: 5 bolts of oil filter housing (1 of them is longer than others and position on top) and 2 bolts to remove the alternator, one of them is a longer bolt and you have to remove the pulley cap to see this bolt.
Disconnecting 1 wire and 1 red batter cable of alternator: you are done.

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by mrbmwx5

$5.99 part 4 hours job...i used the plastic flat head and push it out little by little.

Mrbmwx5, that's just to remove it. 1 hour to remove gasket and clean surface. 1 hour so far reinstalling. I expect at least 2 more hours. and I haven't cleaned the bottom of the engine. I'm thinking of taking it to a shop for degreasing maybe treat my self and get it professionally detailed.

I'm figuring 8 hrs start to finish. broken up over 3 days. I can see why the shop wanted so much. I got a quote for the valve cover gasket and canister gasket of close to $2000.

[StartX5]

valve cover gasket and canister gasket ~ $2000? My valve cover gasket shipping is on the way. I will replace valve cover gasket this weekend.