Sorry, the gap was about .5 - 1 mm no amount of wet and dry will fix that.
The washers haven't deformed. If i remove them they are still flat. When they are tightened up the washer is snibbed up on one side and has a gap on the other. It is like the inlets have been tapped crooked.

Sam

Sam,

If this is something you are going to face every time you change the element, then you better off getting a better quality filter housing.

Can you post a photo of the filter you have? Or post a link of where you bought it from " if the link has a photo"

Maybe I'll be able to give you better idea/fix

Thanks

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Fitian
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I bought CAVs from WaggaTractor and I think they are genuine Delphi.
I bought genuine barb fittings (taper seat) with them and had no trouble with leaks there nor at the element. One did leak at the blanking plugs and I fixed it with thread tape.

Troopy,
I got my barb tails from ENZED and they have the tapered end like you got. Sounds like what I have done is the normal thing. I had (maybe incorrectly) assumed that the pre-assembled bits would not need to be altered. Anyway, I don't think that changing filters will cause me much grief now that i know to lubricate the seals with oil. If the sealing tape on the blanking plugs doesn't degrade then i think that i will not have any more problems.

Sam