A cautionary tale.

[Doug McLaren]

I had to move my DL650 yesterday so that I could get my Ducati out to take it for MOT.

Started it up to get it out of the way and within a couple of seconds there was a veritable stream of oil pouring out of the oil filter casing. It's been on a year and it had corroded and perforated. Luckily it happened in my garage and not out on the road somewhere. Never had that happen before, I usually do oil and filter at this time of year anyway but I prefer to choose myself when to do it rather than have it sprung upon me.

For those interested the filter is a Hiflo.

[Ianmc]

Just a quick question Doug.Is the filter the normal type or the one with a welded on nut for fitting and removing.? Also do you have a bashplate or a mudguard-xtender on the bike.I am asking because the filter with the welded on “nut” have a reputation for corroding behind it and leaking.

[Doug McLaren]

Hi Ian. The filter is just the normal fluted type, no nut on the end. No bashplate but I do have a mudguard-extender fitted.

[Ianmc]

Thanks Doug, that's a first for me.Perhaps you have been unlucky and had a heavy “ding” from a sharp stone and its let the salt in to corrode it enough to leak.As you say, you are lucky it didn’t happen on the road.With me living in Derbyshire, my bike gets plastered in crud and the filter always gets it even though I have a mudguard-extender and a bash plate.I have been looking at making a slip on cover of some sort.

[UK_Vstrom650]

You were lucky it didn't go on a run out.
As mentioned above, I'd think about getting a bash plate or something to reduce the chances of an impact on the oil filter. I have Suzuki's plastic sump fairing which is always covered in crap despite a front mudguard extender.
I've just replaced my filter with another Hiflo filter so am keeping my fingers crossed this is a one off.

[sillyboy]

wrap gaffer tape around it?

[Doug McLaren]

I'm sure it's a one off, I've used Hiflo for quite a few years in my bikes and I've just replaced the leaky one in my V Strom with the same.
Usually I give my bike a good covering of Waxoyl at the start of the winter and I degrease it at this time of year when I do the annual oil and filter change. I spray Waxoyl everywhere onto every exposed surface, wheels, forks and engine get a good dose, brakes excepted of course.
This year I didn't do that, so I suppose I only have myself to blame.

[Gert]

Did you perhaps take a pix of the oil filter, to show where the corrosion leak took place? I've been using HiFlo filters on my bikes and cars for a long time, without the filter failing. I wonder whether there was a recent change in either the quality / supplier of their casing or the casing construction or the material composition?

[Doug McLaren]

Hi Gert. For your information, the filter casing failed at the 12 o'clock position.

[Gert]

On the front rounded section or on the side wall, where a tightening strap could have caused a weakness or removed protective paint layer?

[Doug McLaren]

At the top of the outside wall, I don't use a strapwrench to tighten. It's hand tight then grip harder and turn it until I fart.

[Gert]

Thanks, I'll keep a look out in future for any corroding in the general area on the oil filter. Had a good old laugh, when reading about your death grip on hand tighten the oil filter.

[Ianmc]

I don’t think you will have any corrosion problems Gert, I bet you don’t get any salt on the roads in winter where you live.Unless of course the filter is left on for several years.

[Gert]

Not on our public roads, no. Sometimes crossing though the salt water on the less traveled routes, along a stretch of the wild coast. There is a ban on riding on the beaches over here, but there are couple of inlets that we cross, when following a trail on a private farm that I visit.