OIL FILTER REMOVAL

[Courthouse/Tom]

Just about to change the oil and filter.Is it easier to remove the filter bolt and element by putting the car on ramps,or is level ground just as easy,Thanks.

[charlie_morris_minor]

level ground is easy, i seem to recall doing it from inside the engine bay as opposed to from the underneath.. i changed to a spin on oil canaster a long time ago so i could be mistaken about comming in from the engine bay but certainly never put the car on ramps

[bmcecosse]

It's a lot easier to fit the new filter if you have some extra height....

[moggiethouable]

I admit with all the talk of fitting spin on filter kits, I expected something badly designed and fitted but, my first encounter with the original assembly was fine, as long as you keep an eye out for the backing plate and spring at the bottom of the bowl and I smeared a bit of oil on the rubber seal.
Other benefits of the original seem to be that it is a cheap filter cartridge and in keeping with the original design and from an environmental point of view you are throwing less away.
I jacked and supported the car on the drivers side as I was greasing the trunnions also, that seemed to work fine.

[oddbod]

Thanks for this post,I am about to undertake the same thing on my new Moggie The plate and spring you mention,are they the "Oh No What Was That" variety,or are they just pesky fall in the dirty oil bits?

[bmcecosse]

Well - the plate and spring MUST be there, so check carefully.
See 101 to 105 or 126 to 130 depending on type. http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... exID=20548

[moggiethouable]

The plate will be at the base of the filter element, it may well be held on to the element with old oil and just needs gently prising off, the spring is quite large and abutts the plate mentioned,the spring and plate combined holds the element hard up against the top of the assembly, as the bottom of the spring at the base of the filter housing when assembled.
It sounds a lot more daunting than it really is, I thought it a canny design, simple and elegant.
As BMC said it will be there and easy to find.

[oddbod]

Just changed the oil and filters on our Saloon,standard paper filter in original housing,much easier to do this one,just for future reference: the filter MUST be ABOVE the housing so that when the housing is replaced pressure is applied to the internal spring holding up the filter. This seems wrong,but is definately right. Press upwards on the housing to compress the spring between its locating plate/washer and filter and screw the long bolt in a couple of turns and its done! There WILL be a rubber seal inside the housing connected to the engine,I used a small,flathead screwdriver to "feel" it then pulled it with some needle nosed pliers and out it popped. To locate the new seal (3 came with the Filter I got) I used vaseline (BP jelly) and made sure it was located in the groove it sits in,that bit is fiddly ( next time I would use a wooden lolly stick to help push it into its groove,but I only thought of that after I'd finished) I dont know if BP jelly is recommended to locate the seal but I find it stickier than oil.

[bmcecosse]

It is indeed 'simples' - the important part being to ensure the plate/washer/spring etc are present under the cartridge. All to often these are thrown away with the old filter - and then sadly there is no oil filtration. This is the death knell of many a poor A series..... The can should be filled with fresh oil as best you can before refitting. And on start up the engine idled while the filter is carefully inspected for any leaks - and of course a check that the oil light has gone out!