Land Rover Repair: 96 Discovery SD engine oil leak, engine oil leak, ac delco

Question
96 Discovery SD, 165K miles.  Your recent answer to another reader regarding oil leaking mentioned the oil filter.  Just changed the oil in my Disco, and it is now leaking in or about the oil filter.  New oil filter is a Purolator.  Have used both Purolator and Fram in the past.  I have seen a small leak in this area in the past, but not enough to leave a spot on the ground. Attributed the leak to the oil pressure sensor. Now, a spot appears within an hour of parking the vehicle.  Is it the filter, and how does it leak?  Does the machined sealing surface on the engine develop a "warp"?  The filter is installed a good deal tighter than I ever tightened one on any other vehicle.  Filter was tighten by hand only, but really bore down on it, as I have in the past.  Thanks for your help, Lane

Answer
Hi Lane,

I've used Purolator, Fram, Quaker State and AC-Delco filters too.  They all look like Fram filters...

Hand tight is best and I always add a little oil to the rubber seal so it does not bind when I tighten it.

I don't think the seating plate would warp.  I've seen the seal unseat when I tighten it too much.  You could back it off, check the seal to make sure its seated correctly and tighten it back on.

More likely, its a leak from above that trickles down and around the filter.  

I've seen leaks from arund crankcase pulley.

Best of luck,

JohnMc