My Napa Platinum oil filter leaks on cold start

I'm running 0w-20 synthetic and a Napa Platinum filter. I've been owning and maintaining vehicles since about 1986 and this is a new problem to me. I'm on my second oil change now and second new filter, and the problem remains. I get a few drops of oil from the bottom of the filter on cold start-up. (minus 20's to minus 40 but warmed by block and pan heaters for a few hours usually if it's real cold)

I've tightened the filter a little more than is required and no change. I suspect that the cold oil vs. the filtering ability of the synthetic filter media is creating a very temporary high pressure condition that pushes a little oil past the gasket. That's just my own weak theory.

What I don't understand is why the oil pressure relief valve at the pump or within the filter itself isn't relieving the pressure before it leaks. This isn't a big deal, but damn..my 250,000 mile Chevy doesn't leak and my 'new' Tacoma does!!

I wonder if super efficient filters aren't so good for cold climates.

(also leaking coolant past the shitty block heater but that's a separate problem)

 

Which Napa Platinum filter are you running? Maybe the seal ID or OD isn't matching up well. If that isn't the case, look at the seal surface on the filter, when you take it off, to see is there is some anomaly that may cause a leak. Also, inspect the mating surface of the filter mount on the engine for scratches or machining marks. Other than that, I'm stumped. I've never seen this, but I don't live in a super cold area either. Keep us posted..

 

seal or mating surface

 

Are you sure the old gasket still isn’t there stacked with the new one?

 

It's a 41348. I didn't verify that the gasket is flat as it should be so I guess that's a possibility if it's a recurring problem with those filters. I wiped the mounting base clean as always and didn't notice anything wrong there.

I do know that last night it was minus 27 and the truck was plugged in all night, and didn't leak this morning when I started it. So apparently the warmed up oil passes through the filter without building up enough pressure to push past the seal.

 

Yes, I'm sure that isn't the problem. I have an old habit of always checking that since the first time I heard about an engine failure as a result of an old gasket being left on there.

 

I kinda figured you’d check that, but had it happen to me at an oil change place many years ago. I fortunately only drove a short distance after the oil change and noticed an expanding puddle of oil under my car after I had parked.

 

Every time I've changed my oil I coating the oil filter gasket with a thin coating of oil, after cleaning the mating surface and making sure the old oil filter gasket isn't sticking to that mating surface. ~ Good luck, Mark

 

on the 2.7l the oil filter hangs vertical and probably holds at least 1/2 quart or more of oil when the engine is off, I'd highly suspect the leak being the o ring gasket or maybe not fully tightened filter where the oil finds its way out when you turn on the engine and the engine pressure forces the oil out somewhere on the gasket

 

I'll be extra careful and inspect the next one. I think this problem is going to go away with winter pretty soon. I've been keeping it plugged in at home and work and as long as the oil is warmed a bit...no leak.