Anyone identify this mystery spring?

[mrshannon]

I recently replaced my sump oil, gearbox oil and oil filter. When it came to drain the collecting tray into bottles I found this spring (along with various shards of steel) at the bottom. Does anyone have any ideas? My guess is it's part of the large bolt that keeps the oil filter in place....[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

Exactly - it's the spring that holds the filter element up against the top plate - there must be a steel plate (often dished) on the base of the filter - the spring pushes against this. Sooooo - do you have that plate - or did you throw it away with the old filter??? Meantime your oil is not being filtered - I suggest you don't run the engine until you get this sorted out......

[mrshannon]

Aaahhhh. In that case I better get it back in.

I imagine I'll lose a little bit of oil when I release the filter but it's more up a top up rather than a complete refill?

Wish I known that before I did a 300 mile round trip

[bmcecosse]

Indeed - best change the oil again then - but do you have that plate ? And indeed - there should be a little seal and a washer with the plate.......
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... exID=20548 Item 128/129

[mrshannon]

From memory I replaced the filter with the plate in place so fingers crossed it should all be there...

[mike.perry]

You would have thought that someone would have invented a hole through the bolt with a split pin to hold it all together

[bmcecosse]

Indeed - the same system in other cars (ie my TR7) does exactly have that........

[mrshannon]

So it turns out I don't have that little plate. Thanks for the link Brian. I guess i better keep her rested until the replacement arrives. 13.95 for a plate!!!!

[bmcecosse]

It was probably stuck to the base of the old filter - do you not still have it - perhaps in the bin ?

[mrshannon]

Yup, exactly. And no I chucked them all in the bin. Lesson learnt is to check out the exploded diagram next time.