An oil filter housing replacement is a relatively simple car repair that starts at around $300 and can take an average of 2–5 hours—although it could take longer if the technician has to remove other engine components to access the housing.
How much does an oil filter housing replacement cost?
Based on our research, the average cost to replace an oil filter housing can range from around $300 to over $2,000, depending on the make and model of your vehicle and where you get the service done.
If your oil filter housing is easy to access and you drive a relatively common car with inexpensive parts, your cost will likely be at the lower end of that range. But your repair costs may be higher if your vehicle requires hard-to-source parts or the mechanic has to remove several other components before replacing the housing.
Do you need an oil filter housing replacement?
You might need an oil filter housing replacement if:
- You smell burning oil when you’re driving
- Your vehicle overheats
- You hear ticking or knocking noises coming from the engine
- Your car leaks oil when it’s parked
- Your “Low Oil Pressure” light comes on
- The oil level in your car is low when you check the dipstick
- You see oil in the engine compartment or spot cracks in the oil filter housing
If you notice any of these signs, you should take your vehicle to be serviced right away. If your oil levels drop, it can lead to serious damage to your vehicle’s engine, radiator, and heating and cooling systems. You could also lose control of your vehicle while you’re driving, which could lead to an accident. On top of that, leaking oil is a significant fire risk and environmental hazard.
But whether you spot the problem or not, oil leaks are serious, and they can cause more engine damage if not addressed immediately. If you notice any of the above signs, get your vehicle serviced right away.
What is an oil filter housing?
As motor oil circulates through your engine, it can pick up contaminants like dirt, dust, and metal particles. Over time, these contaminants can damage your car’s engine. To prevent that, the oil is pushed through a filter that helps remove unwanted particles.
Engines that use a cartridge-style oil filter have a permanently attached filter housing. You can change the filter, o-rings, and gaskets, but the housing stays in place—unless it’s damaged and needs to be replaced.
Need to know: Some vehicles use a spin-on oil filter that’s encased in a canister. These vehicles don’t have an attached oil filter housing—the canister acts as the housing, and the entire assembly is replaced when the oil filter is changed.
What causes an oil filter housing to leak?
Here are some common reasons an oil filter housing might crack:
OVER-TIGHTENING the filter during a change or installation
NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR due to heat, contaminants, or corrosion
IMPACT from a collision with a car or other object
How long does it take to replace an oil filter housing?
On average, replacing the oil filter housing can take around 2–5 hours, but this can vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle and the technician’s experience.
The actual task of replacing the housing is fairly simple, but it can be time-consuming. The technician may need to remove other components—like the engine cover, fuel injectors, and intake manifold—before they can access the housing. In some cases, it will be necessary to remove these components just to determine whether the oil filter housing is the source of the problem.
The technician may also perform an oil filter housing gasket replacement and oil oil change at the time of the repair. If any other engine components were damaged by oil, these may need to be removed and replaced as well.
Can you replace an oil filter housing yourself?
Depending on how accessible your oil filter is, the oil filter housing replacement can be a relatively easy DIY job if you’re experienced working on cars. If you don’t have much mechanical experience or you need to remove other components to access your filter housing, you should probably leave this job to a professional.
But even if you replace your oil filter housing at home, other parts of your engine may have been damaged by the leaking oil, so it’s probably a good idea to take your vehicle to a trusted repair shop for a thorough inspection.
FAQ
-
How serious is an oil filter housing leak?
-
What causes an oil filter housing to leak?
-
Why is my oil filter housing leaking after replacement?
John Davis is an expert automotive writer and former automotive mechanic. John\\\\\\\’s work spans multiple categories, and he relishes the opportunity to research a new subject and expand his area of expertise and industry knowledge. To date, John has written more than 200 articles covering car maintenance and care, car advice, how-to guides, and more. Prior to joining Jerry’s editorial team, John worked as a mechanic and freelance writer, creating content for clients including HotCars and SetPower.
Jessica Barrett is a senior insurance writer and editor with 10 years of experience in the automotive and travel industries. A specialist in car insurance, car loans, and car ownership, Jessica’s mission is to create comprehensive content that car owners can use to manage their costs and improve their lives. As a managing editor for a team of writers and insurance specialists, Jessica has edited over 2,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from local insurance shopping tips to refinancing car loans with bad credit. Before joining Jerry as a senior content editor in 2021, Jessica created visual content for clients such as Expedia, Vivid Seats, Budget Direct Car Insurance, Angie’s List, and HomeAdvisor. Her content was published in Business Insider, Forbes, Apartment Therapy, and the BBC.
Kathleen Flear is an expert insurance writer and editor who previously lead up Jerry’s editorial team as director of content. Kathleen empowers drivers to make smart car ownership decisions through best-in-class articles on insurance, loans, and maintenance. Prior to joining Jerry in 2021, Kathleen served as managing editor for a team of SEO content marketing professionals at Article-Writing.co and worked as a freelance writer and editor for a range of digital publications, including Chicago Literati magazine and Golden Words. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Queen’s University, and a master’s degree in creative writing and fiction from Sierra Nevada University.
*The price information provided on our car repair webpages is intended for general informational purposes only. Actual prices for car repair services may vary based on various factors, including but not limited to the make and model of your vehicle, the extent of repair required, and the prevailing market conditions. All prices for real repair shops are estimations based on our research only. Therefore, the prices listed on our webpages should not be considered as final quotes or binding offers.
