Oil filter end seal query?

[Mark Serj]

Hi guys,

I had one of those ‘am I being thick/senile early?’ moments last night. Having finished my current engine rebuild I’m preparing to pressure test the oil system, so I get the oil filter out of its box. I notice it doesn’t have a bonded rubber seal on one end as I thought they did (am sure the last one I used had one!). Both ends are just bare metal. So I offered it up and if I was to fit it like that, not only would I have a metal to metal joint with poor sealing, but the oil exit port from the chamber into the block would be masked by the face of the filter, so how would it work like this? IIRC, oil is forced into the filter core, pushed radially out and then back up between the outside of the filter and the inside of the canister (not using a spin on here btw) and through the exit port in the block on its merry way to the transfer valve etc.
If there was a bonded rubber seal on the end of the oil filter, there would be a gap for the oil to exit, whilst sealing the entry oil from the exit port.

The parts manual shows a seal like what I are describing, but no part number so it reinforces my memory of the oil filters having an integral seal on one end to compensate.

Is it me chaps……?

regards

Mark

[Phil S]

all the paper element type filters I have used have had a rubber washer for want of a better description on one end or both

[Mark Serj]

Cheers Phil - I feel a little less senile already!!!

[tonyh]

There are two types of oil filters available, the filters with the cardboard spacer should not be used, the spacer can become unglued and block the oil ports on the block, there was a lot of engine failures back in the 1980's because of this and it was well documented in the SOC magazine at the time, unipart withdrew all this type of filter and introduced the filter with a pressed spacer ring, see photos attached.

[Mark Serj]

That’s exactly what I have Tony. It looks to me that the exit port will be blocked off when installed, but will check again tonight more closely. Mind you, the old cardboard filters look like they will block the exit port as well (pre disintegration that is!)

Regards

Mark

[Mark Serj]

On closer examination I can see the entry port I still clear due to the angled end face (I had the flow wrong btw as it enters from the outside of the filter and exits through the centre). Having looked closely at the one way valve and its sealing arrangements, I can see its quite possible for unfiltered oil to get past in this area quite easily so I'll look into using a different arrangement such as a dowty (bonded) seal etc.

Cheers all

Mark

[tonyh]

The standard fitment of the oil filter works fine, used it on both my racing engines with no problems even under race conditions, if it ain't broke don't fix it.