Bolt broke in oil filter housing. Help!

[MikeK]

Hi,

After 2 hours draining and disassembling the engine to get to the oil filter housing the top left bolt broke.
And it broke in the most inconvenient spot. I cannot weld on top of it because the hole is too small and I need a long and thin drill bit to extract it.
Every mechanic in Stoke-on-Trent is busy until next week and I am lost.
Can is dry sitting on ramps and the plan is to get some long thin drill bits tomorrow and try make a clear hole before using the extractor.
But I have to use the extractor at an angle anyways... And it doesn't seem to work.
For now it's sitting with a lot of WD40 in there.

If I could I would break the bolt in two so I can have access and then extract one half from the housing and the other from the engine.
I don't want to put a screwdriver between the engine and the housing to try and brake them apart with the screw in case I damage the surface and end up with leaks.

I am lost. Thanks for any help.

 

[t-tony]

Has the bolt broken off near to the block Mike? I can’t see it in the “slot” in the housing. I would try to lift the housing gently with a pry bar at the bottom, if you can get a small gap then try tapping the housing at the bottom towards the front of the engine to “rotate” it on the broken bit of bolt. Give the hole a soaking of penetrating oil over night.

Tony.

 

[gookah]

The housing looks like it is ready to come off, and then you can get mole grips on the broken bolt.
The housing probably just needs a few taps with a rubber mallet or a block of wood and a hammer to break the seal

 

[MikeK]

The housing looks like it is ready to come off, and then you can get mole grips on the broken bolt.
The housing probably just needs a few taps with a rubber mallet or a block of wood and a hammer to break the seal

I tried but the bolt is a bit too strong. I thinking i could cut the housing with an angle grinder, remove the bolt and buy a new housing.
But ill try using a bit more force maybe that will help.

 

[colb]

Give it a good tap all round, its going to be easier to get at whats left of the bolt with it off and out of the way, no point having a struggle with drills and an extractor with it still in place.

 

[MikeK]

Has the bolt broken off near to the block Mike? I can’t see it in the “slot” in the housing. I would try to lift the housing gently with a pry bar at the bottom, if you can get a small gap then try tapping the housing at the bottom towards the front of the engine to “rotate” it on the broken bit of bolt. Give the hole a soaking of penetrating oil over night.

Tony.

It is broken near the block. Its only a few threads that hold the housing.

 

[t-tony]

It is broken near the block. Its only a few threads that hold the housing.

Thats what I thought, so try to break the seal by lifting the housing at the bottom as I mentioned.

Tony.

 

[MikeK]

Thats what I thought, so try to break the seal by lifting the housing at the bottom as I mentioned.

Tony.

I will try that. I am just a bit scared to damage the surface of the block.

 

[MikeK]

It worked thanks everyone. A lot of force and the housing broke off.

 

[t-tony]

Next thing to do is hit the stud on the end with a hammer, straight on NOT sideways. Then if you have and flat jawed Mole Grips clamp them onto the broken stud a tight as you can manage. Try to move it in a tightening (clockwise) direction before try to undo it.

Tony.

ps. If you post the length of the other long bolt I’ll most likely have one I can send you.

 

[MikeK]

Next thing to do is hit the stud on the end with a hammer, straight on NOT sideways. Then if you have and flat jawed Mole Grips clamp them onto the broken stud a tight as you can manage. Try to move it in a tightening (clockwise) direction before try to undo it.

Tony.

ps. If you post the length of the other long bolt I’ll most likely have one I can send you.

I cleaned everything, put towels and covered exposed engine parts. Will finish everything tomorrow.
Bolt is still stuck in there. I dont have jaws, clamps or pliers good enought for this.

Tomorrow morning i will go to a few shops get those tools and hopefully it will all be fine.

Thanks a lot for the help! If i cant find a suitable bolt ill tell you. Thanks!!!!! This forum is so great!

 

[DrWong]

Next thing to do is hit the stud on the end with a hammer, straight on NOT sideways. Then if you have and flat jawed Mole Grips clamp them onto the broken stud a tight as you can manage. Try to move it in a tightening (clockwise) direction before try to undo it.

Tony.

ps. If you post the length of the other long bolt I’ll most likely have one I can send you.

What does hitting the end of the stud straight on with a hammer do Tony? Just curious

Could be worth filing some flats on the broken bolt for a better grip

 

[colb]

Looks like there is a fair length left to get a grip on, a stud extractor tool like this is a good investment

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[Dino D]

Got to love it when ‘hit it with the hammer’ is the right fix

 

[t-tony]

What does hitting the end of the stud straight on with a hammer do Tony? Just curious

Could be worth filing some flats on the broken bolt for a better grip

It simply "shocks" the seized parts and often makes the releasing easier. It does the same thing as trying to tighten the fixing before loosening.
I always recommend using flat jawed grips because rounded jaws tend to round things of much quicker than flat jaws.

Tony.

 

[gookah]

the larger the problem, the larger the hammer required

 

[MikeK]

Today I finally fixed it.
NES industrial fasteners in Stoke-on-Trent has any bolts you need and was only 2£ for 5.
I ended up braking the right top bolt with my torque wrench. It was easy to fix but I wouldn't torque those small bolts. Hand tight seems to be fine.
But hammer really helps with this gasket replacement. Used it a lot more than I expected.

 

[train driver]

Did my filter housing last month, no more "drips on the drive"