PF47 -> PF52 on GM 3.1?

[DoctorZ]

Has anyone installed a PF52 (in place of the PF47) on a 2001 Buick Century with the 3.1L V-6?

I know the filters are interchangeable. I plan to swap to the PF52 at my next oil change and am curious if anyone else has installed the larger filter on this car/engine combo, in case there are any clearance or accessability problems.

Thought it might save me some trouble if someone else has already attemped it, so I don't have to find out the hard way.

Regards,
DoctorZ

 

[G-MAN]

I use the longer filter on the 3.4 (same external dimensions as the 3.1) in my Olds mini van with no clearance problems.

 

[Al]

Yup. That's what I use on mom-in-laws. 96 GranAm 3.1 . Put a couple on my 3.1 Corsica but wasn't happy with the clearance problem. I assume your Buick 3.1 has the filter at a slight angle?? No problem as long as it is far enough away from the front cross member. Neither of these filters has a bypass valve. (as I'm sure you know) BTW that 3.1 is notorious for intake manifold leaks. Both of my 3.1's in Corsicas had it. Its about a $450 fix. I recommend changing antifreeze every 2 years. Stay with the orange stuff(Dex-Cool)

[ December 21, 2002, 07:33 PM: Message edited by: Al ]

 

[Alex D]

yeah........
Back in the early 90s I had a Buick Regal with the 3.1 and always used the PF52 up to about 100K miles when I sold it.........BTW the PF52 is the standard filter for the LT1/LT4 Vette.....they have an adapter that is needed for exhaust interference even though the blocks are machined for the bigger PF25 filters

 

[DoctorZ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Al:
Yup. That's what I use on mom-in-laws. 96 GranAm 3.1 . Put a couple on my 3.1 Corsica but wasn't happy with the clearance problem. I assume your Buick 3.1 has the filter at a slight angle?? No problem as long as it is far enough away from the front cross member. Neither of these filters has a bypass valve. (as I'm sure you know) BTW that 3.1 is notorious for intake manifold leaks. Both of my 3.1's in Corsicas had it. Its about a $450 fix. I recommend changing antifreeze every 2 years. Stay with the orange stuff(Dex-Cool)

---

Yes the filter is at a slight angle. It appears that it would be far enough away from the front crossmember, so there is probably not an interference problem. But it does look like it could be awkward getting a filter wrench on the longer filter from below, because of how far it would extend out forward and above the front crossmember.

DoctorZ

 

[Drew99GT]

I've gone with the 52 before on my 3.4L Grand Am and it is fairly close to the cross member. Just don't overtighten your filter and you should be able to get it off by hand. Only hand tighten it when you put it on. I can't even get a wrench up there for the PF 47 without knocking off the knock sensor everytime!

 

[Redbird]

My wife inherited my mother-in-laws '93 Grand Prix after her death this summer. I've done several oil changes since and use the longer PF-52 equivalent, in a Bosch. The extra length makes it easier to get on and off, also. No length problem in a GP as they are long nosed.

I'm one of those 'bigger is better guyz'! I run a
big block, (2 qt. rated) filter on my LT1 Firebird, after removal of oil cooler.

HInk