my jeep had a very bad day yesterday. it developed 2 problems (i dont know if they are related). while driving i noticed the power started to drop and the further i went the worse it got. it is backfiring through the carb. not just a little bit, but constantly. now the second problem developed when i got it pulled back in the shop. i left the motor running and opened the hood to look things over. while i was standing there the oil filter o-ring blew and it started pumping all the oil on the groud. i replaced the filter and started the engine. before i could walk back around the jeep it had all ready blown the seal on the new filter.

if anyone can point me in the right direction it would be much appriciated.
thanks

Surely it would be a huge help to know what it is you have there... V-8? 6cyl? 4banger? Carbed? Fuelie?
The backfireing can be caused by the timing slipping..
Or a badly burnt valve.. Or several other things.
The oil seal leaking.. Are you sure it is the filter seal? Or perhaps the gasket between the block and the filter bracket?
I feel sure the two problems are not connected.
Big JIm
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when it started to lose power it could be the catatlytic converter. might be something to look at. with that clogged the exhaust would have nowhere go so that might be blowing the seal??

The cat could be causing the loss of power...maybe even the backfiring.. But NOT the oil leak.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

oops! forgot to give the specs of the jeep. sorry. its a 1986 cj six clyd carb. the cat converter was done away with long ago. the o ring rubber gasket attached to the filter is definitly where the oil is coming from. it blows this o ring out to the side. my guess is none of the oil is making it past this leak. it pretty much emptied the crank case in a minute or two.

i think one of you mentioned a slip in the timing. if it did jump time can i twist the distributer to correct it or am i looking at taking the engine apart? (really dont want to)

Before you start taking things apart yu need to get the oil to stay in the engine.. When was the first filter put on there? The oil pump has a bypass spring in it maybe it hung up and will not open.. I think I would double check the leak and MAKE sure it is blowing out the rubber.. When it does that how high is the pressure on the guage?
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

I recently repaired a 4 cyl yj. the guy was concerned of the oil leaking out of the dip stick, so he plugged the dipstick with a rubber grommet and a hose clamp. it then started to leak from the drain plug and filter, when I looked at it, I tried to blow air in his pcv hose and found that it was clogged. severe carbon build up, I unclogged the plastic hose and waalaaa! no mas oil leak. check your pcv hose on top of the valve cover.... couldn't hurt to check

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the first filter was put on in the summer at the last oil change. it is definitly blowing out the rubber. as for the gauge pressure i cant be sure, depends on how quick it is blowing after i turn the key (havent had anyone to help watch as i start it). as for the bypass spring, where is it? do i need to remove hte pump to find it?
the pvc valve seems to be working fine, makes alot of suction against my thumb.

again
thanks for the help

Blowby in the engine is not gonna cause the oil leak where you say it is. So don't worry about that.
You have a real mystery... to me anyways. I just cannot imagine THAT rubber seal giving way. I can put that filter on there where it will hold 120lbs pressure! Is there any chance you are screwing the WRONG filter on it?
The bad running is something we can get to when your engine will hold it's oil inside..
Big Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

i use the filters that napa gives me and the first filter held for several months and the one before that never gave me a problem. all that aside i think i have come up with a possible cause for the filter leak. tell me what you think about this ---- when the motor is backfiring its shakin something terrible. maybe the shaking is hitting the filter against the frame mount or frame and bending it slightly, just enough to take pressure off of one side of the rubber allowing the pressurized oil to blow out past the seal. how bout that?!?!?

just a theory that just popped in my head. im going to inspect the filters for any warping right now. ill keep you posted.