4.6 motor oil filter housing defect

[Dean peulen]

I had oil leaking from my 2002 4.6 Ford explorer oil filter housing this is a common failure by what I have read . I changed the gasket and found the to centre bolts bottom out before they engage the housing and there is ruffly a 2 mm gap very hard to see because of there position. The two outer bolts pull down correctly . I believe this is a factory fault that has caused the constant failure of these gaskets . I asked for a response from Ford Australia only to be sent a picture of the oil housing and no comment on my technical queries . Can forum members please keep a eye out for this fault and see if it is a universal problem. If so Ford sould be responsible for rectifying this fault. I placed washers under the two centre bolt heads . Two required on each bolt to get them to engage the housing and gasket.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I had oil leaking from my 2002 4.6 Ford explorer oil filter housing this is a common failure by what I have read . I changed the gasket and found the to centre bolts bottom out before they engage the housing and there is ruffly a 2 mm gap very hard to see because of there position. The two outer bolts pull down correctly . I believe this is a factory fault that has caused the constant failure of these gaskets . I asked for a response from Ford Australia only to be sent a picture of the oil housing and no comment on my technical queries . Can forum members please keep a eye out for this fault and see if it is a universal problem. If so Ford sould be responsible for rectifying this fault. I placed washers under the two centre bolt heads . Two required on each bolt to get them to engage the housing and gasket.

havent ever heard of that before. but maybe it is who knows! thats for sharing!

 

[Mbrooks420]

I don’t think this is a big problem, as I’ve never seen it mentioned here. It’s far more likely your truck has an issue, and it’s not common on the 4.6. If the bolts were too short they never would have sealed from the factory.

 

[Bazz270]

Sure about the right bolts installed there?never heard about that...

 

[Turdle]

I think he's saying 2 bolts are too long, bottoming out, washer allowed bolts to cinch tight. Could be someone lost the correct ones and found close looking replacements.

 

[Dean peulen]

I don’t think this is a big problem, as I’ve never seen it mentioned here. It’s far more likely your truck has an issue, and it’s not common on the 4.6. If the bolts were too short they never would have sealed from the factory.

Very common fault for these to leak

 

[Mbrooks420]

I doubt it’s because the bolts are too long. The factory gasket was likely just thicker. If the bolts were bottomed out, and not snug on the gasket, it’d have leaked from day one.

 

[Bazz270]

Very common fault for these to leak

Very common fault for what mileage?
Ford engineers not so stuped for too short gasket threads.think about that.

 

[Dean peulen]

Very common fault for what mileage?
Ford engineers not so stuped for too short gasket threads.think about that.

I have owned jeeps Toyotas and Mazda 4×4s the Ford explorer the worst I have ever owned . Hate to pop your bubble.

 

[Bazz270]

Are you 100% sure about the bolts are factory equipped and the gasket was never replaced before?might be someone's mistake during a years of maintanance.