Horizontal Oil Filter Removal?

[gbanker]

Any tricks for removing a horizontally mounted oil filter without filling the bilge with oil?

[gonesail]

i have the same problem. the only way is to loosen it until oil starts dripping out and then loosen a little more etc. until most of the oil is out of the filter. you have to catch the oil before it goes into the bilge so I guess this is not a trick. quite a design flaw IMHO.

[speciald@ocens.]

I wrap the filter in a plastic bag and put a absorbant pad under the filter. This will catch all the oil. Yanmar sells a kit for remote oil filter mounting. I had on on my previous boat as the engine mounted filter was impossible to get at. The kit comes with a fitting for the engine, hoses, and a bracket for mounting the filter. The filter can then be mounted vertically any where you want. Solves the problem with horizonal filters.

[Rick]

I found a plastic retangular recyclable orange juice container that would lend itself to careful carving so that it would be open on the top and slide just beneath the oil filter to just where it met the block. First loosen the filter to just before it might drip then hold the plastic container against the block..it helps to put a paper towell between the plastic and the block just in case.

Unscrew the filter all the way letting it fall into the container, back it away with the paper towell held against the block...just in case. Put the container carefully aside immediately screwing on a new filter before wiping with the paper towell. Carefully done, no drips!

[delmarrey]

If it's truely horizontal, you can punch a hole in the top side with a pointed object and allow the oil to drain back into the motor for a while, then tape over the hole, you will not get as much oil draining out. Most oil filters pump in threw the center hole and out thew the outer area.

If it's in a downward position you're SOL.

[imagine2frolic]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

If it's truely horizontal, you can punch a hole in the top side with a pointed object and allow the oil to drain back into the motor for a while, then tape over the hole, you will not get as much oil draining out. Most oil filters pump in threw the center hole and out thew the outer area.

If it's in a downward position you're SOL.

This one I will have to remember. I am wondering if you rorate it half a turn if the filter will still be against the block enough not to leak? Then it can drain in the plastic bag the rest of the way?.......i2f

[Unicorn Dreams]

I did mine like delmarrey said except, I'll punch a hole in the top corner, rotate it 1/2 turn so the hole is down and then punch another hole in the new top corner and let it sit for a while. That usually gets just about all oil out of the filter. Also, i warm the engine up first to make sure the oil is warm, that way it will flow out better.. Also put a bucket under it of course, or a disposable cup..

[jemsea]

try disposable diapers under the filter

[Maine Sail]

I use a piece of bilge pad. Tried plastic bags and plastic bags and bilge pads and decided bilge pad is the easiest for my situation.

I've yet to have more than a drop or two get past it.

[Charlie]

I use diposable diapers. I think they are 9 month old size. wrap them around the filter works ok. I think acombo of Del's idea nd the diaper would work well. I will thry that next time.

[Roy M]

I removed my oil filter on my Yanmar 3GM30 and replaced it with a Fram remote filter, mounted on the bulkhead where it is easy to get to, to place a plastic bag around and remove with not drips. Way cool.

[camaraderie]

I cut a gallon milk jug in half and let it drop straight down into the jug. A couple of bilge pads cleans any remaining mess. I like the milk jug because you can use the handle and hold it with one hand while unscrewing with the wrench hand.

[Beausoleil]

Originally Posted by Maine Sail

I use a piece of bilge pad. Tried plastic bags and plastic bags and bilge pads and decided bilge pad is the easiest for my situation.

I've yet to have more than a drop or two get past it.

Maine Sail,

That engine looks a lot like my Westerbeke T120-4A. Is that one?

I use a combination of the hole-punch method and bilge diapers.

What I'd really like is something like Westerbeke's remote filter adapter (screw-on adapter with in/out hoses to a remotely mounted filter), but they want an insane $700 or so for what I believe should be $150 with a nice profit. I'd love to find a alternate source for that. And an alternate source for their $61 44995 filters, as well. Even discounted from Torrensen Marine they're still $39.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by Beausoleil

Maine Sail,

That engine looks a lot like my Westerbeke T120-4A. Is that one?

I use a combination of the hole-punch method and bilge diapers.

What I'd really like is something like Westerbeke's remote filter adapter (screw-on adapter with in/out hoses to a remotely mounted filter), but they want an insane $700 or so for what I believe should be $150 with a nice profit. I'd love to find a alternate source for that. And an alternate source for their $61 44995 filters, as well. Even discounted from Torrensen Marine they're still $39.

They look a lot like a standard auto spin on filter, have you taken one to your frendly auto parts super store and started the matching process? If you fine a match then mail order remote filter kits should be availble for less than $50. Now if Westerbeke is a CS outfit they have made they made the filter in a way no other will work. I would like to know that for future reference so I can avoid doing business with a gouger.

There may be a cross reference out there as there is for Balmar alternators as discussed on here before, this bunch on here collective seem to know all the tricks.

[Vasco]

A paper towel stuffed very close so that there's no gaps between the base of the filter and the engine, a plastic shopping bag stuffed under the paper towel and a couple of quick moves, especially when it's hot, does the trick for me. Nothing in the pan under the engine.