Oil filter hard to get off

ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may need to replace the oil cap o-ring. If you haven’t done this before there are two O-rings to replace; a small green one on the base of the filter cap stem and the large black one that seals the filter cap (which seems to be the one you are having issues with). The large O-ring sits in a small square-shaped groove that is at the base of the oil filter cap. It is very easy to not properly seat the large O-ring because the threads for the oil cap are quite large and will accept the O-ring if you are not careful. I would suggest having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle.

ANSWER : Unless there is an imperfection (e.g., serious pitting or irregularities) on the engine mounting base for the filter gasket, the leak is probably not at the filter. There are other adjacent potential leak spots such as the oil pan gasket, oil pressure sending unit and so forth. If the leak is significant at all, merely thoroughly cleaning the suspect area and running the engine while looking for the leak should be sufficient. If you still can’t find the leak origin, a UV visible dye can be added to the engine oil which will then make the leak point visible using a detection light. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an oil leak diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : The fuel pump will not stay on if you loose oil pressure. This is why it is shutting off. The loss of oil pressure may be from bad crankshaft bearings or camshaft bearings. The engine oil pan should be removed and the oil pump needs to be checked to ensure that you put in the pick up tube seal to the pump and connected the pump to the block. Then remove at least one main bearing cap and inspect the bearings for excessive wear and crankshaft damage. If you need some help with this, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help diagnose the issue with your oil pressure firsthand and help you fix it accordingly.

ANSWER : If the filter is not tightened properly the vibrations of engine can work the filter loose over time. If you tightened the filter and it was still leaking that means that there was a problem with the seal on the filter. If you would like, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to definitively diagnose the oil leak and make necessary repairs.

ANSWER : You are using the correct filter. I looked at the photos that you sent but the photos do not show the entirety of the threads. Even if such are shown "clearly", when it comes to threaded parts, it only takes a fairly minor defect in threads to make assembly difficult. If you cannot visually detect any gross amount of damage to the threads, the thing to do is manipulate the oil filter as you attempt to thread it on. That usually works. Given your description, in your case, it would appear that there is some very minor defect, perhaps a metal splinter or the like, that is preventing the engagement of the first thread in the filter. That is not exceptional (it happens) and thus to get it to engage you will just have to inspect and try again. Don’t force it though. With reasonable measures, if you truly cannot get the filter to engage, the external threads will have to be restored. If you have enough access, you can gently use a thread file or use the appropriate die. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an oil filter base repair/installation and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : It is possible that they put in the wrong viscosity oil. In rare instances, a defective filter will also cause low pressure. If there is too much oil, it will aerate and cause low pressure. Be sure the oil level is really not above "max". The P2187 code will appear if the oil fill cap is not tight but it will also appear due to a myriad of causes because that code only "generally" identifies a lean running condition. Consequently, numerous parts would have to be tested including the O2 sensor, gas cap seal, manifold air leaks, any vacuum leak anywhere including PCV and EVAP systems, exhaust leaks, and fuel system faults such as failing fuel pump, clogged filter and more. Since the car has relatively low mileage, you would not expect a failed oil pump, although the pressure sensor (or switch) could be bad. However, the occurrence of the oil pressure warning light is quite coincidental to the oil change, thus I would suggest bringing the car back and asking them to redo with a new filter and double check the viscosity of the new oil that they use. If the problem persists after that, you will have to test actual operating oil pressure (at idle for instance) as well as the oil pressure switch. Finally, if the oil pressure warning light comes on continuously, unless the warning circuit itself is malfunctioning, that means the oil pressure is too low to operate the engine without damaging it. Anytime the light comes on for more than literally an instant, you should shut down the car and thus an issue like this obviously has to be repaired.

If you’d like, a YourMechanic certified mechanic can come to your home or place of business to inspect the vehicle and perform an oil pressure light is on inspection to diagnose the vehicle and suggest potential repairs.

ANSWER : Try checking all of the fittings near and around the oil filter housing as well as the oil pump. Check to be sure the correct O-ring is sealing correctly when the oil filter is screwed on as this is a common problem many experience when the O-ring gets smashed or does not seal correctly. If there the O-ring is non-existent as you mention, then this could likely be the source of this issue. If you need to have this taken care of, a qualified professional from YourMechanic can diagnose the oil leak and replace the O-ring for you if needed.

ANSWER : Hi there:

It’s really difficult to tell you for certain what’s wrong with your Saturn without completing a visual inspection. However, if you had to add half of a gallon of oil, that’s not a good indication that internal components were not unharmed. I’d recommend that you contact a local professional mechanic as soon as possible to complete an engine inspection to determine of damage that has been sustained.