Nearly blew my engine today!!

[Nikhil Pali]

Something stupid happened today. I broke the engine oil filter cover and dumped all my oil on the road. I think it was cold weather and over torquing the oil cover (my fault) that caused this nearly catastrophic failure. I lost over 3liters in less than 100 meter.

Started my car to go on lunch from work. As I exited the parking, stepped on gas and I started hearing weird sound. Oil light in the dash came on. Thought "thr goes my engine". Turned around and came back to find belly of the car drenched in oil. Couldn't figure out from where all this oil was leaking as I though I blew a hole in the crankcase or something. Finally cracked cover caught my eyes.

Luckily I work at motorsport company and we had tools and guys to help me out. Called the only local Mazda in Woodstock and luckily they had last one in stock, jumped in companies truck and grabbed cover for 40$. Changed the filter, broken cover and put in fresh oil.

I crossed my figures and started the engine. It started and I let it idle for few minutes. No funny noise. Hopefully I haven't damaged anything internally. I still have to drive it home 70kms away. Its gonna be a long slow drive.

Anyone know if I can buy spin-on oil filter conversion for 2.3 engine locally in Toronto or kw region.

So here is the pic of the broken cover. It was in one piece and as I put the wrench on it, it broke. Plastic was too brittle and I was able to break it with my hands.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg310/nikhilpali_88/photo2.jpg (http://s251.photobucket.com/user/nikhilpali_88/media/photo2.jpg.html)

Thin black curved line in the middle of the parking lot is the oil I dumped.
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg310/nikhilpali_88/photo1.jpg (http://s251.photobucket.com/user/nikhilpali_88/media/photo1.jpg.html)

[Cab0oze]

Can't see the pics cus I'm at work but sounds like a real close call... there have been a few stories like this over the years. Sounds like you were relatively lucky I suppose, could have been a lot worse!! (situation and outcome)

[r4mi5awi]

Hope nothing serious happens. Times like this where an analog engine temp gauge comes in handy. Due to the cold weather now, leave a little extra time tomorrow morning to idle the engine from a cold start.

[Stathakos]

just visit a junkyard for the spin on conversion

[silverstarmazda]

just visit a junkyard for the spin on conversion

and have chum li give you shit about not warning them about taking engine stuff from a self picking yard LOL

[Stathakos]

and have chum li give you shit about not warning them about taking engine stuff from a self picking yard LOL

I literally thought of this exact thing when I saw that he wanted a spin off conversion

[Nikhil Pali]

Thanks guys. Made it home and car happy to back in warm cozy garage. Still need to clean the oil from under the car before it turns into gunk.


just visit a junkyard for the spin on conversion
Thanks. It cost 40-50 bucks new, I might grab new instead on getting messy under some car in junkyard on these increasingly colder days.

[kimchisoup]

That plastic housing looks (and probably is) very fragile.
Often going over high snow/ice and kicking up gravel, I wonder how it stays intact...

then it occurs to me, they put the oil filter hole in shield in wrong place... to protect the filter ! ?

[JPJPJP]

looks like you caught a big break.. Similar thing happened to me on my motorcycle.. Except I was actually riding on the highway, and my engine actually blew :( thank god I pulled in the clutch when I did and rolled to a stop when the tires locked up.

ps. that shelby in your work parking lot looks beastly :hawt

[Nikhil Pali]

ps. that shelby in your work parking lot looks beastly :hawt

It is definitely a beast. Came in for Super Snake conversion. Putting over 800hp at the wheels.