Oil Filter Question (just one...)

Post by **jackkelleher** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:30 pm

Quick question as i finally get round to fitting the oil filter again- does the ring seal go inside or outside the lip of the filter body? Or does it go directly on top of the lip? I tried this and ruined a ring. I now have a thin ring left, that fits nicely inside the body lip, and a thick one that will only fit on top. What do I use?

Post by **alex_holden** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:39 pm

There's a groove in the casting that you have to carefully push the seal into while lying on your back under the engine. The cylinder goes into this groove when you tighten the bolt. I suspect you've already used the correct sized ring.

Post by **jackkelleher** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:55 pm

Closer studying reveals something I had not thought of- the seal was already in place! I was trying to force a new one on top. Ah well.
However, taking it apart did bring my attention to something I had never noticed- notable by their absence were the big pressure plate and the requisite spring, something I'd forgotten that I never had... I found the plate online, what spring should I use? I can't find a specific spring.

Post by **jackkelleher** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 10:58 pm

No worries, I found one!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:34 pm

Leaving the old seal in there is a common trick - it doesn't always need to be replaced. If you do decide to change it - the thin seal is the one to use and stick it in with grease!

Post by **eastona** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:57 pm

I changed my oil at the weekend and realised (courtesy of Jack) that I've lost the plate. I thought the old filter had disintegrated and so binned it (I wasn't quite thinking straight). I've now got a new plate, got the spring and two washers that were floating around in the bottom of the bowl (are they important or are they just floating around my engine ??).

Does anyone have a diagram or explanation of how it all fits back together?

Whata plonker.

Andrew
(fealing suitably sheapish)

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:05 pm

I suspect quite few have lost that plate over the years- it crops up now and again. There have been some variations over the years - and at one time there was little clip to hold everything in place. Dunno if there is a diagram of the assembly in the 'on line' workshop manual ? There is a good diagram in my TR7 manual (uses the same filter on a 2 litre engine) - I could try to scan it tomorrow.

Post by **eastona** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:18 pm

I've looked in the old 1970 workshop manual but the assembly doesn't have a plate. I guess it isn't too critical?

Andrew

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:26 pm

It's absolutely critical -without it the filter does no filtering! The oil just whizzes straight through.

Post by **alex_holden** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:28 pm

eastona wrote:I've looked in the old 1970 workshop manual but the assembly doesn't have a plate. I guess it isn't too critical?

Surely without the pressure plate the spring won't have anything to push against and the filter element will just rattle around inside the housing not doing anything?

Post by **Willie** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:06 am

Jack, why don't you avoid all this messing about and buy the conversion kit to a 'spin off' type. It avoids all this unnecessary messing about and should be a more efficient filter anyway.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:32 am

I agree with Willie, its the only modification I've made to my cars is to change to spin on oil filters. The usual suppliers sell them or get a filter housing from an old mini, plus the shorter studs. You can get the spin on filters readily.

Its a bolt on mod, so I dont feel to bad about it and makes the twice yearly oil and filter changes much less painful.

Post by **Orkney** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:02 am

Agree with CJ there - its what I'll do if i can get the part for an affordable price.
Only changed mine the once so far and it was a nightmare !
Trying to find the picture of the parts breakdown someone kindly sent me, i did have a thrad on this not too long ago due to the problems.
That sprung plate at the bottom is a royal PITA - to have it the correct way round which by concensus is dimple down to the spring makes it almost impossible to get on first try.
You end up with lead like ever weakening arms if your trying to do it on the floor with the car jacked and supported.

Nothing like when you fire it up, oil gets to pressure and spews everywhere because you never got it on quite right - in my case becuase never got the new top O ring quite perfectly in the groove.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:35 am

"Orkney wrote"
"That sprung plate at the bottom is a royal PITA - to have it the correct way round which by concensus is dimple down to the spring makes it almost impossible to get on first try.
You end up with lead like ever weakening arms if your trying to do it on the floor with the car jacked and supported. "

Been there, done that, bought spin on filter kit!

Post by **Axolotl** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:55 am

It is dimple UP!

This image is from the handbook. I posted it somewhere else on the site a few weeks ago, but I can't find it now. Now I know no-one reads my posts

.

Post by **eastona** » Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:21 pm

that's just the image I was after (I couldn't find it). I got the plate, and am now questioning whether it was ever in correctly.

People do read your posts Axelotl

and as for the spin on conversion. I'm persisting with the cartridge type as it's greener, it wastes less metal every time it's changed.....honest

Andrew

Post by **jackkelleher** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:32 pm

Now I know no-one reads my posts

Aww.... I read them! Kind of depend on this site...

I'm not going to replace it with a twist-on just yet, I'm a bit of an environmentalist like eastona and that had occurred to me! I'm perhaps masochistic but I do rather enjoy contortional gymnastics in forcing myself under the old girl to change the filter- as long as none of it drips on my head! My Moggy keeps me fit...

"That sprung plate at the bottom is a royal PITA - to have it the correct way round which by concensus is dimple down to the spring makes it almost impossible to get on first try.
You end up with lead like ever weakening arms if your trying to do it on the floor with the car jacked and supported. "

Been there, done that, bought spin on filter kit!

If Axolotl's little diagram is right there could be a very good reason for the struggle...

Post by **Orkney** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:04 pm

I couldnt find it either & you mailed me the original Axy because i cropped the diagram bit but couldnt find that either !!!

heres the same a bit bigger, all becomes clear

and according to that i was wrong with the seating plate - but i have yet to replace 3 & 4 as they wernt there - hence it was loose so thought it went the other way up

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:20 pm

Well done finding that diagram axoloti -and yes it definitely is dimple UP so it sits inside the cartridge. Early versions definitely had a little security pin to stop the plate getting lost!

Post by **jackkelleher** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:22 am

Will any old washers that are the right size do the trick for 3 and 4?