Spin on oil filter busted at the seams

[woodman86]

Recently, I change my oil and use the tempest spin on oil filter as I start it up my 1964M 20 C I didn’t realize but the filter had split open and pumped all the oil out onto the ground, I called the manufacture, and they said it Was an underlying problem of the aircraft. I’ve change the oil four times since I’ve had the plane  and never had an issue now I’m worried about cold starts. He also mentioned alaskin cold starts. I’m in Northern California and it was 70° + . I can’t imagine the problem but as it gets colder in the winter I’m looking at getting oil sump  heater, can I get recommendations for the correct glue on external  heater probably from aircraft spruce thank you 

Edited September 30, 2023 by woodman86
Added picture and spelling error

[Ragsf15e]

48 minutes ago, woodman86 said:

Recently, I change my oil and use the tempest spin on oil filter as I start it up my 1964M 20 C I didn’t realize but the filter had split open and pumped all the oil out onto the ground, I called the manufacture, and they said it Was an underlying problem of the aircraft. I’ve change the oil four times since I’ve had the plane  and never had an issue now I’m worried about cold starts. He also mentioned alaskin cold starts. I’m in Northern California and it was 70°. I can’t imagine the problem but as it gets colder in the winter I’m looking at getting oil dump heater, can I get recommendations for the correct glue on external sup heater probably from aircraft spruce thank you 

Generally preheat below 40deg f.  Lyc actually says below 20 deg f.  Preheat vs not is not going to result in a cracked oil filter especially in California!  Was it torqued right and the gasket was good?

[dzeleski]

49 minutes ago, woodman86 said:

Recently, I change my oil and use the tempest spin on oil filter as I start it up my 1964M 20 C I didn’t realize but the filter had split open and pumped all the oil out onto the ground, I called the manufacture, and they said it Was an underlying problem of the aircraft. I’ve change the oil four times since I’ve had the plane  and never had an issue now I’m worried about cold starts. He also mentioned alaskin cold starts. I’m in Northern California and it was 70°. I can’t imagine the problem but as it gets colder in the winter I’m looking at getting oil dump heater, can I get recommendations for the correct glue on external sup heater probably from aircraft spruce thank you 

Do you have pictures of the filter? I can’t imagine a situation in which a “problem with the aircraft” causes a filter to rupture.  Many of these support reps are clueless and are just reading a script. In many cases you will need to ask for an escalation.

[DXB]

46 minutes ago, woodman86 said:

Recently, I change my oil and use the tempest spin on oil filter as I start it up my 1964M 20 C I didn’t realize but the filter had split open and pumped all the oil out onto the ground, I called the manufacture, and they said it Was an underlying problem of the aircraft. I’ve change the oil four times since I’ve had the plane  and never had an issue now I’m worried about cold starts. He also mentioned alaskin cold starts. I’m in Northern California and it was 70°. I can’t imagine the problem but as it gets colder in the winter I’m looking at getting oil dump heater, can I get recommendations for the correct glue on external sup heater probably from aircraft spruce thank you 

How in the world would that be an “underlying problem of the aircraft”??   Also I’d imagine the extreme oil pressure needed to break the housing of a (non-defective) filter would damage other components as well.  And why would it ever happen at 70F ??   

Also if you’re getting an engine heater for really cold days, get a Rieff or Tanis heater that heats both the sump and the cylinders - much better for the engine, worth the added expense.

[N201MKTurbo]

The IO-360 A3B6D has a pressure bypass for the oil filter if it is is clogged. I don’t think the O-360 has one. Some oil filters have an internal bypass. But if the pressure regulator stuck closed, it may make enough pressure to rupture the filter. And there is no bypass other than the pressure regulator to release that pressure.

Do you have a recording engine monitor by any chance? It would be good to look at the oil pressure graph.

[N201MKTurbo]

https://tempestplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SB006-Remote-Oil-Filter.pdf

[Skates97]

1 hour ago, woodman86 said:

I can’t imagine the problem but as it gets colder in the winter I’m looking at getting oil dump heater, can I get recommendations for the correct glue on external sup heater probably from aircraft spruce thank you 

42 minutes ago, DXB said:

Also if you’re getting an engine heater for really cold days, get a Rieff or Tanis heater that heats both the sump and the cylinders - much better for the engine, worth the added expense.

I put a Rieff on ours for when we fly to CO in the winter for ski trips. It comes with the adhesive to attach the heating element to the oil sump. I would recommend spending the extra to also get the heating element for the oil cooler. It's worth the extra money to me knowing I don't have warm oil getting slowed down and building up pressure in the oil cooler because that oil is still at 10-15° F.

[N201MKTurbo]

7 minutes ago, Skates97 said:

I put a Rieff on ours for when we fly to CO in the winter for ski trips. It comes with the adhesive to attach the heating element to the oil sump. I would recommend spending the extra to also get the heating element for the oil cooler. It's worth the extra money to me knowing I don't have warm oil getting slowed down and building up pressure in the oil cooler because that oil is still at 10-15° F.

The Vernatherm has an over pressure relief function that will bypass the cooler if it is blocked. When it is that cold, it should be completely open anyway.

[EricJ]

21 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

Some oil filters have an internal bypass.

I think they all do these days.   When you cut it apart the little spring in the bottom (either a coil spring or a leaf spring) holds the media against the inlet, but if the pressure drop across the media gets too large it moves the media off the seat against the spring and allows bypass.   I can't remember cutting a filter that didn't have that, but maybe some don't.

I'd think the gasket would rupture before the case, too, but who knows.

[Fly Boomer]

7 hours ago, woodman86 said:

Recently, I change my oil and use the tempest spin on oil filter as I start it up my 1964M 20 C I didn’t realize but the filter had split open and pumped all the oil out onto the ground, I called the manufacture, and they said it Was an underlying problem of the aircraft. I’ve change the oil four times since I’ve had the plane  and never had an issue now I’m worried about cold starts. He also mentioned alaskin cold starts. I’m in Northern California and it was 70°. I can’t imagine the problem but as it gets colder in the winter I’m looking at getting oil dump heater, can I get recommendations for the correct glue on external sup heater probably from aircraft spruce thank you 

Champion advertises "Increased lid thickness - increased thickness of seaming lid by approximately 35%, which subsequently provided for higher burst and impulse testing".

[RLCarter]

That is a manufacturing issue, I’ve seen several filters fail because of insufficient material being crimped together, granted the ones I’ve seen were Fram motorcycle spin on filters, but the failure was identical. Fram also had an issue with their cartridge type filters where the adhesive that sealed the filter media to the end caps would break off and go through the motor. I’ve also seen a Fram filter that wasn’t crimped all the way around right out of the box. I would send photos and contact them again, Fram denied it had an issue but ended up paying for a lot of motors. Oil starvation in the air could get very expensive real quick 

[1980Mooney]

14 hours ago, woodman86 said:

Recently, I change my oil and use the tempest spin on oil filter as I start it up my 1964M 20 C I didn’t realize but the filter had split open and pumped all the oil out onto the ground, I called the manufacture, and they said it Was an underlying problem of the aircraft. I’ve change the oil four times since I’ve had the plane  and never had an issue now I’m worried about cold starts. He also mentioned alaskin cold starts. I’m in Northern California and it was 70°. I can’t imagine the problem but as it gets colder in the winter I’m looking at getting oil dump heater, can I get recommendations for the correct glue on external sup heater probably from aircraft spruce thank you 

 

25 minutes ago, RLCarter said:

That is a manufacturing issue, I’ve seen several filters fail because of insufficient material being crimped together, granted the ones I’ve seen were Fram motorcycle spin on filters, but the failure was identical. Fram also had an issue with their cartridge type filters where the adhesive that sealed the filter media to the end caps would break off and go through the motor. I’ve also seen a Fram filter that wasn’t crimped all the way around right out of the box. I would send photos and contact them again, Fram denied it had an issue but ended up paying for a lot of motors. Oil starvation in the air could get very expensive real quick 

 

6 hours ago, Fly Boomer said:

Champion advertises "Increased lid thickness - increased thickness of seaming lid by approximately 35%, which subsequently provided for higher burst and impulse testing".

Right - the Tempest filter is structurally inferior to the Champion filter.  But it still takes about 500 psi for 2 minutes to deform the Tempest filter (assuming it was manufactured to their normal spec).

• It is almost inconceivable to believe that your engine oil pump was at 500 psi for several minutes.  That would mean you have a total solid blockage somewhere.
• More likely @RLCarter is right and it is just poor quality control in manufacturing at Tempest.
  • Beechtalk noticed this before also over the last few years: BeechTalk - BT - Oil seeping at oil filter seam / crimp

[1980Mooney]

15 hours ago, woodman86 said:

...the tempest spin on oil filter as I start it up my 1964M 20 C I didn’t realize but the filter had split open and pumped all the oil out onto the ground, I called the manufacture, and they said it Was an underlying problem of the aircraft. ...

It hasn't been mentioned but imagine if the seam/crimp let go as you were taking off or in some miserable IFR conditions.  You might not be here to make this post.

I find the initial response from Tempest to be unprofessional and irresponsible.  Rather than dismiss it as "your problem", they should have been all over it and should have offered to pay you to send the burst filter to them for examination.  If they have a manufacturing quality control issue, which they are failing to investigate even after being warned of premature failures, and it results in a crash then there will be a mega lawsuit. 

And this potentially isn't just a "Vintage Mooney's (pre J)" category issue.  We should be reading about this on the next to last page of "Aviation Safety" in the "Squawk Box".

Edited September 29, 2023 by 1980Mooney

[DXB]

19 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

https://tempestplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/SB006-Remote-Oil-Filter.pdf

Then again, @woodman86 it certainly sounds like it could be this issue! I’ll stop freaking out for the moment.  

[N201MKTurbo]

It would be good to see a picture of the filter that failed. If it had the domed top, than it failed from over pressure. The filter cannot create the over pressure, just the engine. The tests referenced above showed the Tempest failed at 5 times the normal working pressure of our oil systems. How much safety margin do you want? In an over pressure scenario, something has to give. If the oil filter didn’t rupture, what would be next? Shearing the gears in the oil pump? That doesn’t sound like a better outcome. The real question here isn’t why the oil filter burst, but why did he have the over pressure? The document referenced says reverse flow can cause it. But that can only happen if you have a remote filter and connect the oil lines backwards. I’m not sure how that works with an adapter mounted to the engine to replace the screen unless it was designed wrong. If that was the case, they should have all been taken out of service years ago by AD. I don’t think we know the root cause of this failure yet. Blaming the filter doesn’t seem like the answer. There would need to be three simultaneous failures for it to be the filter’s fault. The filter would need to clog, the filter’s internal bypass would need to fail and the engine’s pressure regulator would need to fail.

One thing I need to re-check is the position in the system of the oil pressure regulator. Is it before or after the oil filter? The more I think about it, I think it is after the filter. If so, an un-bypassed clog in the filter could cause the overpressure. But the only way the bypass would fail is if the flow was reversed. Either way, it seems like there should be an AD about this. Once the root cause is determined. 
 

Oh, I see the picture now, it is a remote filter. Most likely the oil lines are backwards. The thing is, it could run this way for years without issue. As it seemed to do.

[DXB]

Thank goodness this didn’t happen in flight no easy landing spot at hand.  I’d be pretty peeved at the person who installed the remote filter adapter if the hoses are indeed backwards.  Agree this thread belongs in the safety section, and everyone with one of these remote adapters should check the hose setup.  I imagine this hose reversal also makes to check the wrong side of the filter element for debris, and I wonder if it reduces filtration efficiency.

[Fly Boomer]

20 hours ago, Skates97 said:

I would recommend spending the extra to also get the heating element for the oil cooler. It's worth the extra money to me knowing I don't have warm oil getting slowed down and building up pressure in the oil cooler because that oil is still at 10-15° F.

Yep.  This is what cold oil can do on startup:

 

[woodman86]

Thanks everybody your replies and information are greatly appreciated.
This is a remote firewall mounted filter. The hoses have never been removed. The oil has been changed four times since I owned The aircraft the filter was installed by hand and then I added 3/4. Turn. Oil type shell 100 plus we just open the last two filters that were used in the last 50 hr of flight they were the same tempest filter no issues and no residue I have flown that plane in the morning with temperatures 30° cooler than the day that filter burst with no oil preheat.

[philiplane]

Have you verified that the oil hoses are connected correctly? I also ran across one that had been installed wrong, and had been that way for two years before the plane came to me. I only noticed that when I went to cut the filter open, and the pleats were totally clean on the outside. They were using a long 48109 filter, so it never overpressurized.

[N231BN]

I have also found remote oil filters plumbed backwards.

[N201MKTurbo]

3 hours ago, Fly Boomer said:

Yep.  This is what cold oil can do on startup:

 

What engine was that on? I don't think that could happen on a Lycoming.

[Fly Boomer]

Just now, N201MKTurbo said:

What engine was that on? I don't think that could happen on a Lycoming.

No idea.  I just grabbed the pic because it was so startling.  Encourages me to pre-heat at higher trmps than most.

[N201MKTurbo]

2 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

No idea.  I just grabbed the pic because it was so startling.  Encourages me to pre-heat at higher trmps than most.

Never hurts.

[vik]

5 hours ago, woodman86 said:

Thanks everybody your replies and information are greatly appreciated.
This is a remote firewall mounted filter. The hoses have never been removed. The oil has been changed four times since I owned The aircraft the filter was installed by hand and then I added 3/4. Turn. Oil type shell 100 plus we just open the last two filters that were used in the last 50 hr of flight they were the same tempest filter no issues and no residue I have flown that plane in the morning with temperatures 30° cooler than the day that filter burst with no oil preheat.

Stop guessing and file SDR right away and let FAA determine the cause: https://sdrs.faa.gov/

There might be other cases of the filter failure and FAA will take the appropriate action.

Vik

 

[woodman86]

Thank you to everyone for responding to my problem. One thing it really helped out a lot was the graph that showed. The temp is filters bursting at a lower pressure than the champion which I use now and I was able to actually get a little larger capacity one to fit perfect. And by the way, the STC by Airwolf requires that you run the champion. Filter with the firewall mounted remote filter position. One person in the thread mentioned that he had bought a plane and I don’t know how long he flew it for but the hoses he found out later we’re backwards.. well guess what we did a test to find out where the flow was coming from by removing the filter and just turning over the engine and those lines were reversed still seems the filter is a little weak in that the oil pump only puts out 76 psi cold, but with the lines reversed, the spring loaded relief valve will not work Thanks again Mooney space great info helping out the community.