c5 2ltr hdi 2006 Baffled !

[dowen]

I've been tearing my hair out, Changed oil and filter, straight forward so I thought! 5 ltrs best oil and new filter.
Started it up, oil everywhere ! Must be the filter rubber, I've done enough oil changes in my time. No, filter top on just about hand tight.

Took the whole filter assembly off, check it was fitting correctly on the block, every thing checks out fine.
Put It all back together checked and double checked .
More oil.
Started it again. Exactly the same. It threw the whole contents of the sump out in a few seconds, and it seems to be coming from the back of the alternator.So Ive femoved the fuel filter, I want to look behind the altenator ! But I'm sure there is no oil lines behind.
Can anyone throw a suggestion at me?

Dave

[Stewart(oily)]

Old filter rubber stuck to the block?

[dowen]

No I took it all off, rubber good nick! oil seems to be coming from behind alternator, but that's impossible isn't it?

[Stewart(oily)]

not sure about your engine, but on some the oil filter screws onto a hollow bolt that also holds an oil cooler on there, if that came loose when you took the old filter off it could produce the leak you describe.

[Estately]

That is really annoying more so when you are used to doing the job.

Could you have put a hair line crack in the black plastic cover which then opens up under pressure and leaks?
Normally use a 26mm socket etc. to remove and retighten, I worry that anything else would stress and break the cover.

I thought only I got this type of world impossibility / mystery.

Good luck with it.

[dowen]

I had to use the socket to loosen the plastic filter cover it was very tight! and I was concerned about breaking it.
The puzzling thing is the oil seems to be coming from under the ALTERNATOR !! How can that be?

[Stewart(oily)]

My apologies, I had a Xantia in mind, I dont like those plastic filter bodies, they always seem a little delicate to me, it must be to do with the filter though, it is unlikely to pump out that fast otherwise, it can squirt some distance from the leak, where are you ?

[dowen]

I'm in Halesowen. the mess on the drive is appalling! Ill take the filter body off again today, it has to be the problem, I wonder what Citroen charge for a new one?

[dowen]

I found the problem. How could I be so stupid! Ide put the rubber oil filter seal at the end of the cover! looking closely, there is a groove about 5mm from the end, where the rubber slots into! The amount of oil that came out under pressure was enormous! Making me think the worst!
Many thanks for all your help.

[Hell Razor5543]

Well you live and learn. You have learnt to be more observant.