Onan 7000. Performing the season-end oil change yesterday, the oil filter was really hard to get off, had to use a breaker-bar on the oil-filter socket to break the filter loose. That's a really bad omen. Instead of spinning right off, I had to really work to unscrew the filter. Once the filter was removed, I had a look at the threaded mount on the generator: all the threads are damaged and the tip, with the last couple of threads, was missing. Looked into the oil filter and there's the broken section stuck in the oil filter threads.I am assuming that I've run into the age-old problem of dis-similar metals fusing together - the steel threads on the oil filter bonding to the aluminum threads on the generator. In any case: now what? The generator has to come out so I can get at the damaged filter mount. But then what? If there is enough material left I might be able to clean up the remaining threads with a die. Maybe.Has anyone had this issue? How did you fix it? can it be repaired?

What are model number and spec for your Onan?

Use a flash light and look closely at the threaded portion. It should be an adapter screwed into the block. I could not find exact parts breakdown. Would need engine model and spec number. Should be available without too much problem. Getting it out took a deep socket.Mine was a Emerald 4000. Got piece from Onan/ Cummins in Renton, WA

Dis-similar metals fusing together usually occurs only after a prolonged period of contact - like YEARS.

Thanks for the replies already.wolfe10: I'll get the part and model number, all I know off the top is that it's an Onan Emerald 7000 in my 1994 Bounder.enblethen: I'm hoping it's an adapter screwed into the block. With a flashlight yesterday it looked like aluminum threads and didn't look like an adapter. I'll remove the generator and take off all the shrouds, it's about time for an out-of-vehicle service anyway. I'll probably wait for next Spring: our winter weather arrived with a vengeance this morning and we're expecting at least 2 inches of rain a day for the next several days. After that it'll just be regular rain for the next 6 months.We cant Wait: 'Dis-similar metals fusing together usually occurs only after a prolonged period of contact - like YEARS' I agree with you. I don't use the generator much but do change the oil/filter once a year. I've never seen anything like it.

Maybe you could try some great or anti-seize on the threads when you get it repaired.And maybe it was just a bad piece of metal that finally failed.It is an unusual situation. I've never had a problem with my Onan 5500.

Onan oil filter threads damaged | Good Sam Community

Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Nov 20, 2015
topflite51 wrote:
Not a penny difference between oil or grease on the gasket. Most people who have trouble removing the filter over tightened them in the first place. Therein lies their problem.
And we have a WINNER!:B
Sully2
Explorer
Nov 19, 2015
mike brez wrote:
Sully2 wrote:

Horse Manure. The gasket or the gasket surface can be rubbed with EITHER a high temp grease or motoroil

ROTFLMAO Sully I gotta have a beer with you some day.

Make it soon. Im not long for this place
Sully2
Explorer
Nov 19, 2015
topflite51 wrote:
Not a penny difference between oil or grease on the gasket. Most people who have trouble removing the filter over tightened them in the first place. Therein lies their problem.

BINGO!!
topflite51
Explorer
Nov 19, 2015
Not a penny difference between oil or grease on the gasket. Most people who have trouble removing the filter over tightened them in the first place. Therein lies their problem.
WILDEBILL308
Explorer II
Nov 17, 2015
mike brez wrote:
Sully2 wrote:
rgatijnet1 wrote:
When installing any spin on oil filter, always coat the gasket surface with wheel bearing grease, NOT oil. Oil will tend to harden from the heat and make the filter difficult to remove. Wheel bearing grease can handle the heat and will allow for easy removal when the time comes.

Horse Manure. The gasket or the gasket surface can be rubbed with EITHER a high temp grease or motoroil

ROTFLMAO Sully I gotta have a beer with you some day.

You can use grease or oil but only if they are synthetic. :B:W
I just had to say that.
Bill
mike_brez
Explorer
Nov 17, 2015
Sully2 wrote:
rgatijnet1 wrote:
When installing any spin on oil filter, always coat the gasket surface with wheel bearing grease, NOT oil. Oil will tend to harden from the heat and make the filter difficult to remove. Wheel bearing grease can handle the heat and will allow for easy removal when the time comes.

Horse Manure. The gasket or the gasket surface can be rubbed with EITHER a high temp grease or motoroil

ROTFLMAO Sully I gotta have a beer with you some day.
jwmII
Explorer
Nov 17, 2015
rgatijnet1 wrote:
Sully2 wrote:
rgatijnet1 wrote:
When installing any spin on oil filter, always coat the gasket surface with wheel bearing grease, NOT oil. Oil will tend to harden from the heat and make the filter difficult to remove. Wheel bearing grease can handle the heat and will allow for easy removal when the time comes.

Horse Manure. The gasket or the gasket surface can be rubbed with EITHER a high temp grease or motoroil

Well horse manure right back at you. :R
How many times have you read on this forum about people having trouble removing their oil filters? I'm sure not one of them used wheel bearing grease. They used the motor oil that they all had been taught a long long time ago.

Done it both ways. Not a nickels worth of difference either way and further more if you have burned oil on the filter gasket you have way more serious problems than a tight filter.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Nov 16, 2015
Sully2 wrote:
rgatijnet1 wrote:
When installing any spin on oil filter, always coat the gasket surface with wheel bearing grease, NOT oil. Oil will tend to harden from the heat and make the filter difficult to remove. Wheel bearing grease can handle the heat and will allow for easy removal when the time comes.

Horse Manure. The gasket or the gasket surface can be rubbed with EITHER a high temp grease or motoroil

Well horse manure right back at you. :R
How many times have you read on this forum about people having trouble removing their oil filters? I'm sure not one of them used wheel bearing grease. They used the motor oil that they all had been taught a long long time ago.
jwmII
Explorer
Nov 16, 2015
427435 wrote:
If it spun on by hand, it didn't have the wrong threads.

I'm not sure that grease would be better than oil----------at least not if it was a synthetic oil that handles higher temps. At least, that's all I've ever put on the filter gasket before installing. No issues taking them off, but I have the various cups to fit the various filters I deal with.

Yes it did have the wrong threads, although they matched closely enough to work on the filter and did not bind up due to the short thread length on the filter. They did bind when the filter was hand torqued. The filter did its job and upon the attempt to remove the mismatched threads acted like a crossed thread causing the hard removal of the filter.
Sully2
Explorer
Nov 16, 2015
rgatijnet1 wrote:
When installing any spin on oil filter, always coat the gasket surface with wheel bearing grease, NOT oil. Oil will tend to harden from the heat and make the filter difficult to remove. Wheel bearing grease can handle the heat and will allow for easy removal when the time comes.

Horse Manure. The gasket or the gasket surface can be rubbed with EITHER a high temp grease or motoroil

Forum Discussion

Onan oil filter threads damaged

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

SRW Picture Thread

COG educational thread

Berkey filters

Suspension damage

Recently Removed Thread