Mounting of oil filters

[Mystic]

Why do manufacturers design vehicles with the oil filters mounted upside down and sideways on an engine? It seems to me that it would make a great deal of sense for an oil filter to be mounted in such a way that oil would stay in the oil filter, and oil also could be put in the oil filter prior to the instllation of the oil filter.

If oil filters were mounted in such a way it would eliminate problems with oil draining from the oil filter. It might reduce the cost of oil filters, because there might not be a need for anti-drainback valves. It would be easier to construct a good quality oil filter.

Alternatively, if the above is not possible, why don't the manufacturers install anti-drainback valves in the engine, and such valves would not be needed on the oil filter. A very high quality anti-drainback valve in the engine would eliminate problems with oil filters that might have bad adbvs-the adbvs would not be needed for that vehicle.

 

[Pablo]

My guess: space and cost. Not in that order.

 

[Matt89]

Yeah, the chowderhead who designed my Impala put a wiring harness directly under the 45-degree mounted oil filter. It keeps my life exciting as I try to figure out if the oil spots on my garage floor are old oil or new oil leaking!

 

[Mystic]

The oil filter for the Saturn SL2 is difficult to reach and it is hard not to spill oil on parts when you remove the oil filter. I don't know about the design for the new Saturns. It seems like they could have done a better job.

Engineers who design vehicles should be required to do maintenance on those vehicles. I bet that would change things. A lot of engineers have probably never gotten their hands dirty in their lives.

 

[Patman]

I'm lucky that both of my vehicles have filters that are easily accessible. Nothing beats the 88 Dodge Shadow Turbo I had though. Those 2.2 engines put their oil filter right out front of the block and there is nothing in the way. You can get them from up top without even breaking a sweat.

 

[Al]

Definitely a matter of simplicity of desigh. There is lots of verticle surface to machine off of.

 

[UncleS2]

The Chrysler engineers who designed oil filter placement on the 95-99 Neons(maybe the 2k & up, too) deserve a pat on the back. It hangs vertically, open side up, just to the right of the oil pan drain plug.

Simple, logical, easy. And yet, Neons get no respect.

Go figure!

 

[Greg]

quote:

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Originally posted by Patman:
I'm lucky that both of my vehicles have filters that are easily accessible. Nothing beats the 88 Dodge Shadow Turbo I had though. Those 2.2 engines put their oil filter right out front of the block and there is nothing in the way. You can get them from up top without even breaking a sweat.

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i saw a similar setup in an old plymouth horizon. the filter was in clear view from the top.

 

[msparks]

quote:

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Originally posted by Mystic:
Why do manufacturers design vehicles with the oil filters mounted upside down and sideways on an engine?

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So people like me can sell filtration systems to make filter access more convenient.

 

[Pluto5]

The GM V-6's have the filters and plugs near the front making them easy to reach without raising the car. Some have a tray under the filter to direct the oil into the pan. I think GM has done a good job as far as accessibility there but much to be desired as far as access to V-6's in general.

 

[Ryan]

I have a 99 Z28 and a 95 Neon. They are both easy to do, esp the Neon. GM usually does a good job in their mounting location of filters, however they do have their share of bad locations too. Some of the newer Cavaliers are hard to get to, as well as some of the old Pontiac cars that were front wheel drive, it was below the power steering pump, but you couldn't get to it from under. The easiest car for me to work on are some of the older Mitsubishis where the filter is mounted horizontally next to the oil pan, even though horizontally is not the best way to mount a filter. The advantage to these cars is you can change the oil and filter without getting oil on your hands.

 

[acranox]

On my Honda it's horizontal and tucked neatly up high behind some hoses, and brackets and stuff.

The car got it's first change since I bought the old clunker a couple months ago, and as I lay under the car and reached up, I realized my head was right under the filter, and that wouldn't be a pretty way to remove it, and I couldn't reach it any other way. But then I stood up and took it out from the top, which was a lot easier. But go figure, I read a couple days later in the owner's manual "The oil filter cannot easily be removed from above the engine"

On my mother's Hyundai it was in a good spot, right in front of the oil, at a 45 degree angle, it was a tight fit getting the wrench on there, but it was 10 times more convienent than my Honda. (although that may be the only thing that's better.

)

[ May 15, 2003, 11:54 PM: Message edited by: acranox ]

 

[digitaldrifter91]

funnie, i never thought about the mounting of differnt filters.

on my 300zx the filter is no where to be seen, you have to feel for it, its in the lower end of the car at a 110 degree angle. u cannot see it from the bottom of the car nor the top, and ur arm touches the headers so the car has to be cold.

on the other hand my uncles 86 porshe's oil filter is right in your face when you open the hood. very easy to get cause its at a 45 degree angle but the oil spills =).

my honda is in a very nice spot. free movment and its right under the intake manifold. just cant touch the exaust *outch.

 

[quadrun1]

Gosh, my mom's old '85 Cavalier was the *worst*, it was hidden by some cross-member. That thing *always* went to Jiffy Lube for oil changes!

My '99 Accord V6, on the other hand, was great--they mounted the filter remotely just behind the front right tire. Just crank the steering wheel all the way over, and you could reach it easily.

I know what you guys mean about those Chrylser four-bangers, my friend's dad had a LeBaron or Shadow or something like that, it was right there when you lifted the hood... very easy.

My favorite are the ones where you change the filter insert only, the new SAAB 9-3, and many Benzes and BMWs have this. It lets you remove/replace, and inspect the element very easily, no oil filter canister to cut open. Less environmental waste, too.

Jason

 

[Patman]

quote:

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Originally posted by digitaldrifter91:

on my 300zx the filter is no where to be seen, you have to feel for it, its in the lower end of the car at a 110 degree angle. u cannot see it from the bottom of the car nor the top, and ur arm touches the headers so the car has to be cold.

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My mom owned a couple of 1981 280ZXs and an 88 300zx and I used to take her car to the fast lube place for her. I remember the looks on their faces when I pulled in, because they knew they were going to get burned when it came time to change the oil filter! Nissan sure didn't think when they designed the location for that filter!