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View Full Version : SR20DET Oil Filter Block cracked and spewing oil

Nikzilla
05-09-2014, 11:09 PM
So I was just finishing my first 250 mile oil cycle on my freshly rebuilt (top end only) 1998 SR20DET Blacktop. When I arrived home I noticed my engine has been spewing oil for a couple of miles (oil level only dropped by a quart) and there was a large pool of oil under the car.

After spending many hours trying to find the source of the oil, I discovered that my oil block has cracked all the way through the oil pressure switch spring housing. The crack is very thin, but under pressure it opens up and jets ridiculous amount of oil.

Here are some pics.

http://i.imgur.com/lovA0LE.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/26xQ8K3.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/OxXbh6U.jpg

My question is, has this ever happened to anyone?

What could have caused this to happen?

I'm lucky I caught it before it drained too much oil out, so I didn't loose oil pressure. I would like to prevent this from ever happening again.
fliprayzin240sx
05-09-2014, 11:41 PM
Never seen it crack before...who ever owned it before might have torqued on the living crap out of the sensor.
cotbu
05-10-2014, 06:50 AM
I cracked mine 10yrs ago during a sensor change, it made a loud pop, I knew it was cracked but started the engine anyway way and oil sprayed everywhere. I found someone parting out, in the market place and just bought a used one. You can oem replace or upgrade with relocation as an option

Sent from my Highly Tuned Galaxy S3.4!!!
Nikzilla
05-10-2014, 02:09 PM
I cracked mine 10yrs ago during a sensor change, it made a loud pop, I knew it was cracked but started the engine anyway way and oil sprayed everywhere. I found someone parting out, in the market place and just bought a used one. You can oem replace or upgrade with relocation as an option

Sent from my Highly Tuned Galaxy S3.4!!!

Hmm. I wonder what it's made of to crack so easily.

Yeah I'm either gunna get an OEM used one from a partout or go with a Tomei block and a relocate.
jr_ss
05-10-2014, 05:36 PM
It's aluminum and aluminum is a very soft metal. Threading steel into aluminum too tightly and you see these results. Replace with a new or used OEM piece or go for a Billet aluminum piece and relocate the filter.
Nikzilla
05-10-2014, 07:31 PM
It's aluminum and aluminum is a very soft metal. Threading steel into aluminum too tightly and you see these results. Replace with a new or used OEM piece or go for a Billet aluminum piece and relocate the filter.

Yep that explains it.

I'll be going for a Tomei block and greddy filter housing with built in thermostat and ports for an oil cooler for the future.