Don't you wish all oil filter were mounted vertically and had a drain plug? That way you could drain all the old oil out without changing the filter and with less mess? Of course to quickly drain the clean side the drain would have to go into that area. BTW, I alway change the filter with the oil. I guss they make cartridge type filter that let you disamble them.
Oil filter drain plugs
- Thread starter mechanicx
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Drain plug idea would be less messy for sure but I'd think it would add a fair bit on to the price of the filter. And when it's mounted like the one on my engine (angled, open side facing down and well above the oil pan) it makes a big mess to wipe off the front of the engine. Most cars don't seem to have had any consideration given to ease of servicing at all when they were designed.
As I recall, some British cars from the sixties had oil filters mounted vertically. But, being British cars, the filter threads were on the bottom.
Originally Posted By: flanso
As I recall, some British cars from the sixties had oil filters mounted vertically. But, being British cars, the filter threads were on the bottom.
Of course when I said vertically I meant with the baseplate mounted up. I never understood why some manufactures mount the filter with the base plate down? Seems like it would encourage oil filter drainback and my experience is that it does despite the ADBV (and possibly letting dirt falling back in the engine). Is it to make filter removal easier and less messy? That seems highly doubtful.
As I recall, some British cars from the sixties had oil filters mounted vertically. But, being British cars, the filter threads were on the bottom.
Of course when I said vertically I meant with the baseplate mounted up. I never understood why some manufactures mount the filter with the base plate down? Seems like it would encourage oil filter drainback and my experience is that it does despite the ADBV (and possibly letting dirt falling back in the engine). Is it to make filter removal easier and less messy? That seems highly doubtful.
Modern BMWs have cartridge filters that are held in upright cannisters at the upper front of the engine. The cannister drains cleanly when the sealed top is removed. With care and luck I've been able to change the filter without a single wayward drop.
Older BMWs had the oil filter pointed back under the exhaust manifold. Removing it involved burning yourself on the manifold and exhaust pipes as you were spilling oil down your arm and onto the subframe.
That's still better than a few VWs and Hondas where it's easy to see the filter, but almost impossible to reach it because of cables and hoses blocking every approach.
Older BMWs had the oil filter pointed back under the exhaust manifold. Removing it involved burning yourself on the manifold and exhaust pipes as you were spilling oil down your arm and onto the subframe.
That's still better than a few VWs and Hondas where it's easy to see the filter, but almost impossible to reach it because of cables and hoses blocking every approach.
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Originally Posted By: flanso
As I recall, some British cars from the sixties had oil filters mounted vertically. But, being British cars, the filter threads were on the bottom.
Of course when I said vertically I meant with the baseplate mounted up. I never understood why some manufactures mount the filter with the base plate down? Seems like it would encourage oil filter drainback and my experience is that it does despite the ADBV (and possibly letting dirt falling back in the engine). Is it to make filter removal easier and less messy? That seems highly doubtful.
The only thing worse than that is TWO oil filters mounted vertically, threads down like in '70s and '80s Ferraris. Usually they're frams too.
Originally Posted By: flanso
As I recall, some British cars from the sixties had oil filters mounted vertically. But, being British cars, the filter threads were on the bottom.
Of course when I said vertically I meant with the baseplate mounted up. I never understood why some manufactures mount the filter with the base plate down? Seems like it would encourage oil filter drainback and my experience is that it does despite the ADBV (and possibly letting dirt falling back in the engine). Is it to make filter removal easier and less messy? That seems highly doubtful.
The only thing worse than that is TWO oil filters mounted vertically, threads down like in '70s and '80s Ferraris. Usually they're frams too.
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Originally Posted By: flanso
As I recall, some British cars from the sixties had oil filters mounted vertically. But, being British cars, the filter threads were on the bottom.
Of course when I said vertically I meant with the baseplate mounted up. I never understood why some manufactures mount the filter with the base plate down? Seems like it would encourage oil filter drainback and my experience is that it does despite the ADBV (and possibly letting dirt falling back in the engine). Is it to make filter removal easier and less messy? That seems highly doubtful.
My 2005 Tacoma has the filter mounted vertically with the base DOWN. I use OEM Toyota filters and never have any engine start up noises ... even if the truck sits for a week. Guess the ADBV works well in them OEM Toyoter filters.
I have a little trick I use when changing the filter to ensure not one drop leaks out when removed ... works well and learned this when I had a Mazda RX-7 which also had the vertically mounted filter with base down.
Originally Posted By: flanso
As I recall, some British cars from the sixties had oil filters mounted vertically. But, being British cars, the filter threads were on the bottom.
Of course when I said vertically I meant with the baseplate mounted up. I never understood why some manufactures mount the filter with the base plate down? Seems like it would encourage oil filter drainback and my experience is that it does despite the ADBV (and possibly letting dirt falling back in the engine). Is it to make filter removal easier and less messy? That seems highly doubtful.
My 2005 Tacoma has the filter mounted vertically with the base DOWN. I use OEM Toyota filters and never have any engine start up noises ... even if the truck sits for a week. Guess the ADBV works well in them OEM Toyoter filters.
I have a little trick I use when changing the filter to ensure not one drop leaks out when removed ... works well and learned this when I had a Mazda RX-7 which also had the vertically mounted filter with base down.
Originally Posted By: SuperBusa
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Originally Posted By: flanso
As I recall, some British cars from the sixties had oil filters mounted vertically. But, being British cars, the filter threads were on the bottom.
Of course when I said vertically I meant with the baseplate mounted up. I never understood why some manufactures mount the filter with the base plate down? Seems like it would encourage oil filter drainback and my experience is that it does despite the ADBV (and possibly letting dirt falling back in the engine). Is it to make filter removal easier and less messy? That seems highly doubtful.
My 2005 Tacoma has the filter mounted vertically with the base DOWN. I use OEM Toyota filters and never have any engine start up noises ... even if the truck sits for a week. Guess the ADBV works well in them OEM Toyoter filters.
I have a little trick I use when changing the filter to ensure not one drop leaks out when removed ... works well and learned this when I had a Mazda RX-7 which also had the vertically mounted filter with base down.
Or maybe the bypass works good? J/k. Most people's start up noises are valvtrain related and Toyotas use mechanical cam followers as opposed to hydraulic that can pump down and need to pump up (if there was a restrictive part in an engine the hydraulic lifter would have to be it). I use to have an '86 RX7 with the base mounted down oil filter and I don't recall it being messy, at least not for your hand since whatever oil that drains out is below. What is your trick? Is it applying inward pressure on the filter as you unscrew it? I always do that. I still wonder what is the reasoning for mounting an oil filter base down?
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Originally Posted By: flanso
As I recall, some British cars from the sixties had oil filters mounted vertically. But, being British cars, the filter threads were on the bottom.
Of course when I said vertically I meant with the baseplate mounted up. I never understood why some manufactures mount the filter with the base plate down? Seems like it would encourage oil filter drainback and my experience is that it does despite the ADBV (and possibly letting dirt falling back in the engine). Is it to make filter removal easier and less messy? That seems highly doubtful.
My 2005 Tacoma has the filter mounted vertically with the base DOWN. I use OEM Toyota filters and never have any engine start up noises ... even if the truck sits for a week. Guess the ADBV works well in them OEM Toyoter filters.
I have a little trick I use when changing the filter to ensure not one drop leaks out when removed ... works well and learned this when I had a Mazda RX-7 which also had the vertically mounted filter with base down.
Or maybe the bypass works good? J/k. Most people's start up noises are valvtrain related and Toyotas use mechanical cam followers as opposed to hydraulic that can pump down and need to pump up (if there was a restrictive part in an engine the hydraulic lifter would have to be it). I use to have an '86 RX7 with the base mounted down oil filter and I don't recall it being messy, at least not for your hand since whatever oil that drains out is below. What is your trick? Is it applying inward pressure on the filter as you unscrew it? I always do that. I still wonder what is the reasoning for mounting an oil filter base down?
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
I still wonder what is the reasoning for mounting an oil filter base down?
No mechanical reason I'll bet. Engineering convenience probably.
On my Tacoma, the filter is mounted threaded-end up just a little above the sump, but it's a 4-cylinder version.
It does help keep the mess down if I pull of the rear brush guard there is nothing else to get in the way of the dribble.
My wife's car OTOH, the filter is mounted sideways on the rear of the block and there is no way to keep oil off the exhaust and stuff--no way at all.
I still wonder what is the reasoning for mounting an oil filter base down?
No mechanical reason I'll bet. Engineering convenience probably.
On my Tacoma, the filter is mounted threaded-end up just a little above the sump, but it's a 4-cylinder version.
It does help keep the mess down if I pull of the rear brush guard there is nothing else to get in the way of the dribble.
My wife's car OTOH, the filter is mounted sideways on the rear of the block and there is no way to keep oil off the exhaust and stuff--no way at all.
My 3.0L Aerostar oil filter is mounted at about a 45* angle above the starter. Not one of Ford's better ideas.
Originally Posted By: river_rat
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
I still wonder what is the reasoning for mounting an oil filter base down?
No mechanical reason I'll bet. Engineering convenience probably.
On my Tacoma, the filter is mounted threaded-end up just a little above the sump, but it's a 4-cylinder version.
It does help keep the mess down if I pull of the rear brush guard there is nothing else to get in the way of the dribble.
Current generation gm 4.8/5.3/6.0L v8's are like this, so are honda v6s and toyota camry v6s. These are all cars I've changed oil on and I agree it's a nice design both for removing the oil filter and for pre-filling. Plus you typically don't have to reach around anything to get at it.
The transmission of my Gm Sierra has a spin-on filter mounted in this way as well.
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
I still wonder what is the reasoning for mounting an oil filter base down?
No mechanical reason I'll bet. Engineering convenience probably.
On my Tacoma, the filter is mounted threaded-end up just a little above the sump, but it's a 4-cylinder version.
It does help keep the mess down if I pull of the rear brush guard there is nothing else to get in the way of the dribble.
Current generation gm 4.8/5.3/6.0L v8's are like this, so are honda v6s and toyota camry v6s. These are all cars I've changed oil on and I agree it's a nice design both for removing the oil filter and for pre-filling. Plus you typically don't have to reach around anything to get at it.
The transmission of my Gm Sierra has a spin-on filter mounted in this way as well.
Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Don't you wish all oil filters had a drain plug?
make that a magnetic drain plug! and i'd be happy!
Don't you wish all oil filters had a drain plug?
make that a magnetic drain plug! and i'd be happy!
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No -- the fewer steps, the better. I don't miss my cartridge filter changes on the 2.3l at all. I prefer a messy can to burn my hands on.
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