96 Jetta oil leak at filter

I have a 1996 VW Jetta GLS with the gasoline engine and automatic
transmission.

I recently changed the oil and oil filter. The filter I used was a
Fram. Shortly after I noticed that it started leaking oil around the
filter. So I replace the filter with another Fram and again it started
leaking oil. However, the second time the leak was so bad that the oil
looked like it was leaking from the oil pan gasket. I replaced the oil
pan gasket and kept the same Fram filter only to find out there is no
leak at the oil pan gasket but at the filter (or around it). When I
removed the first Fram filter and looked at the filter base, it looked
fine. The filter seal seemed fine too.

I am trying to find out if either Fram filters (which I have used for
20 years) are suddenly defective or if VW Jetta 2.0 motors have a
problem around the oil filter base.

Any one with information PLEASE advise.

In article <1175579512.596289.153390 DeleteThis @p15g2000hsd.googlegroups.com>,
dor DeleteThis @writeme.com says...
> I recently changed the oil and oil filter. The filter I used was a
> Fram. Shortly after I noticed that it started leaking oil around the
> filter. So I replace the filter with another Fram and again it started
> leaking oil. However, the second time the leak was so bad that the oil
> looked like it was leaking from the oil pan gasket. I replaced the oil
> pan gasket and kept the same Fram filter only to find out there is no
> leak at the oil pan gasket but at the filter (or around it). When I
> removed the first Fram filter and looked at the filter base, it looked
> fine. The filter seal seemed fine too.

Make sure there's no junk, or an old filter base seal, on the sealing
surface the filter screws onto.

Also double check the filters are the correct size Check another
brand and compare the seal sizes.

IIRC, the base the filter screws onto is an oil cooler. Most times I've
heard it fail the coolant and oil mix, but I imagine, not knowing any
better, that it could fail by leaking oil externally <shrug>. It would
be weird tho'.

BTW, Fram filters aren't 'suddenly' defective. There have been critics
of how cheap their construction has been for 5-10 years. (check Google)
Their spin on filters were banned from one of the motorcycle racing
circuits for at least awhile after a couple incidents where they blew
off the bike, dumping the crankcase's contents, and the rider, onto the
track surface.

I'd use 'em in a pinch, but mostly I use Bosch or Mahle <?> filters on
the VW.

Mark
'95 Jetta GLS