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Old 09-01-2009, 08:53 AM
pselaphid pselaphid is offline
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 214
I've done the oil filter housing on three vehicles. As Dieseldan mentioned, you need to grind off the short part of the L on an allen hex about an eighth inch or a bit more to squeeze it into one of the bolt heads that's blocked by the steering box. Do a good degreasing of the area before starting. The bolt heads should be very clean to seat the hex. Then use a short cheater bar on the hex to loosen the bolts. I was afraid I'd break the hex key, but they all unscrewed ok. With the bolts loose, the rest of the oil will spill out and collect on your face. After that, you'll be able to pull the housing loose enough to barely get to the gasket surfaces and scrape them off and clean them as best you can. I sprayed brake cleaner on the assembly and surfaces, but wear googles, try not to breath it, and let it dry thoroughly. Then wipe it down.

Fit the new gasket into the gap so that the bolt holes line up and put it back together. Its a PITA, but a very rewarding leak repair when finally done.

Edit: Its only slightly more work to go ahead and replace that gasket if you are to the point of turning the hex bolts. Also, simply tightening bolts risks making them even more difficult to get off if you end up having to do that.

This is a common leak and I think all 616-7s eventually have to be done.
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