Oil filter fell off while driving!

So i was heading to get some breakfast with a buddy on a nice fall morning. There is a place a couple miles away, so we jumped in the truck and took off. A few blocks later I saw something bouncing on the road in the rearview... huh it looked like a coffee cup or something, but I didn't even see it on the road! ooops! I was talking about the menu and must have been distracted. About 10 blocks later I notice the oil light was on. That's weird, so at the red light I shut off the engine and started it back up to see if it resets. It didn't reset, but we were close to the place so I'd check the oil level when we get there. I had to get back to work in an hour anyway.

Well 2 blocks from breakdast, heading up a little hill, I felt the engine sieze up and stop. I coasted to a stop and pulled over. Said immediately "*#@$& we just blew the engine.." Checked the dipstick and it was wet. Wiped if off and checked again and it was dry all the way. Had to call home and get a ride after breakfast, and started looking under the truck. The front suspension was dripping with oil. Looked up to see the oil filter was gone!

I bought a new filter and 4 quarts of 5W-30, topped it off and it started up fine. What a relief! I can't tell if its an illusion or not, but might have lost a little torque. I'd check the compression if I were more concerned, but this probably wore down the rings a bit. 202,000 miles... so far!

Here is a picture of where about 4 quarts of oil began streaking down the road.

 

Sounds like whoever put the filter on should be dragged into the street and curb stomped. Maybe the gasket was installed dry and didn’t get enough torque or just wasn’t tightened enough.. good thing it runs!!

 

You may have dodged a bullet. But your comment "sieze and stop" may dictate otherwise shortly.

 

iffy lube strikes again

I tell people if they change your oil in 15 min thats a problem

 

Is this real life?

 

Ok.

Who did the filter install at the last change? And how long ago was that?

 

Wow, that sucks man! All the more reason I’ve been doing all my own oil changes since i was 16 lol. No excuse for a filter just falling off like that smh.

 

Sounds like you watch too many movies, killer.

 

I'm confused. It would take some time for a loose filter to works it's way off. It would be leaking way before then.....especially under pressure with the engine running

 

Sorry to hear about that. Hope your engine survives it. Good lesson for the rest of us though. Low oil pressure light= stop and check level immediately.

 

Where were they mentioned?

And how do we know he didn't do his own as well?

Now stop with your practical self. This is a shot at an early-in-the-week Friday thread!

 

That's what I was thinking. Should have seen oil pool in the driveway or where ever the truck sits at night but I guess if it's blacktop you wouldn't notice oil pooling as easily as on cement. Heavy ticking is usually a sign it's getting low. Must be a new Tik Tok to loosen oil filters like the lugs.

 

this is the work of iffy lube, you like iffy lube?

 

Where is that written?

I'm not saying I like them, but I'm also weary of misinformation.

 

This.

Seems like I dump a quart of oil when I'm unscrewing the filter by hand which only takes a couple seconds, and that's not under pressure either.

I just don't see how the filter could vibrate loose that quickly.

Only thing I could think that would cause such a quick and catastrophic failure is if the threads were completely stripped and it blew off. That's like a 1 in a million shot though.

I'd also put in more than 4 quarts if I were you...

 

nowhere im just saying it your honor

 

Safety wire. Everything!

 

No no this wasn't Jiffy Lube, I thoguht I'd take it to a local garage instead. I took in early this year in I think February for lube and spark plugs and brake pads, etc. I usually always do my own work, but this time I wanted to just spend some money on the truck for its 200,000 mile service. Treat it to kind of like a birthday present.

The filter was loose enough to start spraying oil about 2 blocks before it actually fell off. They point straight down, so with oil pressure it must have just worked loose. Good questions.

 

Wait. You have to change the oil?