I had re-manufactured motor installed about 2800.

Tiny
ANONYMOUS
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 FORD WINDSTAR
  • 138,000 MILES
I had re-manufactured motor installed about 2800 miles ago and changed the oil twice. It developed a small leak so I took it back to the shop, and they replaced the valve cover gaskets. On the way home the engine stopped - seized. It was towed back and they looked at it and said the Fram oil filter failed - gasket is pushed out like a V. They are telling me that I have to file a claim with Fram.

Have you ever seen an oil filter fail and and a claim being filed? What would they cover?
Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 AT 7:04 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
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This is too common and it has happened to all of us sooner or later. It's called "double-gasketing" and is a result of the old filter gasket sticking to the engine and not being noticed. That is the mechanic's fault, not Fram's. The pressure pushes it out and you have a major leak. I doubt you'll have any luck with a claim because you had warnings something was wrong. The low oil pressure light would have turned on and you would have had plenty of time to stop the engine before serious damage occurred. The engine will not seize up instantly either. I've done this to my own cars, and after I clean up the mess, I just removed that overlooked second gasket, filled the oil, and drove away.
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Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 AT 10:17 PM
Tiny
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I am usually pretty good about that (take old one off, if no gasket pluck it off before putting new filter on) but will know more when I get to the shop. As far as the light coming on, I was on the freeway and within 1.5 miles from time I saw light to when the engine stopped running as I was making it to shoulder. Sucks. Thanks for the response.
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Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 AT 11:24 PM
Tiny
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1.5 miles is way too long to keep driving. By that time all the oil was pumped out onto the ground. It's critical enough to shift to neutral, turn the ignition switch off, and coast down the road without power steering.

If the filter was not double-gasketed or loose, I've never seen one fail except a few that exploded due to a stuck pressure relief valve in the oil pump, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. At any rate, I suspect you're looking at an engine repair, not a total engine replacement or rebuild. The bearings and pistons are what will be damaged, not the cylinder heads and valves, and most likely not the camshaft and oil pump.
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Thursday, December 6th, 2012 AT 1:42 AM

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