K & N Oil Filter Welded Nut Leak | Cleaning, Oil, Maint. (2024)

A friend of mine sent me the below picture of a K & N oil filter that is leaking at the welded nut seam. I know that this is not a new issue and that K & N has previously issued a recall for this very problem.

He contacted K & N. They replied to him that this oil filter was not included in the recall. They also stated that the recall did not affect any filters manufactured after 2016. This filter was put on this engine at the most recent oil change. The leak in the picture was after idling the engine for a few minutes only.

The possibility exists that this problem has resurfaced.

I didn't bother to ask what part number K & N oil filter it was because the message is simple;
If you are using a K & N oil filter that employs a nut welded on to the end cap, keep an eye on it.

bdalameda said:

On one occasion the leaking filter oiled up my rear tire ......

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That's what happened with this one- the rear tire was oil coated. The rider was lucky the rear end didn't slide out on him.

What you see in the picture was after cleaning everything up and idling the engine only for a few minutes.

Realistically, given how many oil filters are manufactured, and where they are shipped, it is very probable not all of the defective filters were sent back, and some are still in the supply chain. And, as you pointed out, Andrew, the defect may have returned.

Since the consequences of a well lubed rear wheel are nasty, and it's hard to keep an eye on the filter while tooling along, it's probably wiser to avoid these filters.

skidgillen said:

Has anyone ever seen this with the HifloFiltro RC oil filters?

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They are the ones who make the K&N filters.

RaYzerman said:

I'm not a K&N filter fan either, but while not exactly clearly stated on the box, one should not use that nut to install the filter and risk compromising those projection welds. The nut is there only for removal. Meanwhile, there's plenty of good filters out there...........

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Who reads directions ? like tighten oil filter 3/4 turn after contact not as tight as you can get it and then some just to be sure it does't come loose.

Igofar said:

They are the ones who make the K&N filters.

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Igofar is correct - the K&N automotive filters are not the same manufacturer as the powersport K&N filters and both types have leaked at the welds.

skidgillen said:

Has anyone ever seen this with the HifloFiltro RC oil filters?

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Yes, that's what I use.
I try to use the end nut when "removing" the filter only . Tighten by hand has always worked for me.
These filters are harder to acces so I "may" have used the nut portion to tighten another 3/4 turn after contact....

I use HifloFiltro filters on my bike but not the ones with the nut welded on them. No issues so far. They also make filters for BMW (some are the same model number as mine... HF164). Again, without the nut though some model numbers may have it.
I've often read that the nut is never to be used to install the filter, only remove it, for exactly this issue. And also that is the recommendation of K&N as well. I can also see how the assembly process could result in a bad weld allowing a leaky filter.

I prefer to use a cap style filter wrench anyway. No worries about bad welds and it's easy to use my ratchet socket handle with it.