Kansas to Prince Rupert, BC, Canada or Bust!

Just me, I never torque my drain plug after reading all the horror stories, but do replace crush washer every change

 

From member "trchidester":
Another K&N Oil Filter Leak Story

Discovered several threads on K&N oil filter leaks in both cars and motorcyles after an experience last weekend.

I changed oil and installed K&N oil filter two weeks ago Sunday, started it up, no leaks, drove to gas station and filled up. No problems.

Last Saturday, rode to Pops in Arcadia, OK to meet up with friends to ride to the Rock Cafe in Stroud. No leaks at Pop's.

Arriving in Stroud, I notice a cloud of white smoke behind me. As we pull into the Rock, I have a massive oil leak. It's coming from the seal around the filter.

Fortunately, one of the riders has a trailer. He rides home after lunch and trailers us home 3 hours later. I'm buying dinner on the 27th.

This Saturday, I redo the oil change with a Honda filter. Before installing, I pull out my caliper and measure the Honda versus K&N filter, attached. Notice that the seals and filters are not the same diameter!

So here's my working theory. If you install the K&N with grandfather's advice to tighten one-quarter turn beyond hand tight, everything is fine.

But if you apply the Honda specification of tightening to 20 ft. lbs. of torque to the K&N filter, the outside ring of the filter makes contact with the filter sealing surface. When it expands after heating, the filter deforms and the seal breaks and you get a massive oil leak.

Me, I'm going back to grandfather's specification!"
(Honda filter on left, K&N on right)
​

 

No matter what, she keeps on smiling !

 

Yay!!!! Very good to see you being taken care of, boy does that stretch of hiway looks awfully familiar. Sspeaking off looking, just look at that line of Oil, Wow!! Now Looking at that 8th gen woulds ya

 

She sure does! Been one heck of an EPIC journey, I give her props!!

 

She's lucky she didn't go down. Been there, done that (luckily not my oil)

 

Yeah, looking at that oil trail in post #482 things could have gotten very ugly!

 

I have seen quite a few threads on K&N filters on CBR forums, all the same problem. The caliper photos speak volumes.

 

Why, doesn't anyone believe in Genuine Honda Filters? Never had an issue w/them! Glad to hear you're o.k. A.M.! Maybe they could spend an hour or two looking at your electrical?

 

So yes the oil filter is the culprit?.....you definitely had an guardian angle watching your hiney....that could of turned out horrible.

 

I'm sure the engine is fine, probably had plenty of oil in it. AM is it the spot weld for the nut that was leaking? K&N should get another ear full from this incident, not that they will do anything about it other than send you a new 204 paperweight.

 

Oh man, my heart went out for you, Randy, as I know what it feels like when I've done something for someone, and then there's an issue! Even though it had nothing to do w/me! Nice to see it was the filter!

 

What brand filter was it?? K&N?
I always run Honda, except for that one Purolator stuka sent me....

 

Yah, K&N.

 

Geez, Ive always scoffed at Roadside Assistance, until I've seen it in action for A.M.. They came and helped in frickin' Vegreville Ab., even, like desolate Praries. Sagebrush and tumbleweeds blowing through, a scary kind of wind blowing and howling, and it was a nice day!