Remote Oil Filter Relocation Kits

[twogts4us]

Anyone who has changed their own oil in a Modular Mustang knows how messy it is. I've tried all sorts of precautions, but nothing works well.
I've decided to buy a Remote Oil Filter Relocation Kit. I know Maximum Motorsports makes a fine kit, though it's quite expensive ($240 - yikes!). It's a nice kit with a billet aluminum engine adapter & billet aluminum remote filter mount (along with all the other necessary hardware). Nice, but honestly, do I need one that nice? All I want it to do is serve its purpose and NOT leak. That's it.

Summit Racing has a Trans-Dapt brand kit, all the hardware, for $50.

Has anyone else used any other brand besides MM for a Remote Oil Filter Relocation?

If you own MM, no offense, but don't bother replying unless you have previous experience with a brand other than MM. I am WELL AWARE how good MM stuff is...I have a few parts of theirs. Top notch. But at this point in my life I need to bargain shop if that is possible. I certainly don't want to put my engine at risk either. Comments / Concerns?

Thanks!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

My concern with remote oil filter kits is that they slow down and restrict the oil flow. I do not recommend them. Use aluminum foil to prevent oil from getting on your a-arm and steering rack.

 

[40oz]

I don't really have that big a problem with mess when changing my oil. I have to ask what it is you are doing? I only get a few drops on the parts below, and it wipes off with a paper towel. But then, I let the oil drain for a few minutes before removing the filter.

Hell, if you always have an issue, why not just lay down a rag below the filter to catch the oil?

 

[twogts4us]

My concern with remote oil filter kits is that they slow down and restrict the oil flow. I do not recommend them. Use aluminum foil to prevent oil from getting on your a-arm and steering rack.

Not to discount your input Killy, and I think I've heard that concern before, but do you have any info to back that up? What's causing the flow restriction - the size of the hose, the adapter, the mount...? The fact that MM sells a kit makes me wonder if this is truly a concern. I don't know of any MM parts that are not race related or are less than adequate for racing applications.
I've tried the aluminum foil trick, but that doesn't really work that well for me. I guess what you are supposed to do is to make some sort of funnel or drain gutter with the foil, but it's so convoluted up in the area of the filter that it (for me) just doesn't work as well in practice as it does in theory.

I don't really have that big a problem with mess when changing my oil. I have to ask what it is you are doing? I only get a few drops on the parts below, and it wipes off with a paper towel. But then, I let the oil drain for a few minutes before removing the filter.

Hell, if you always have an issue, why not just lay down a rag below the filter to catch the oil?

"What it is I'm doing?" Drive on ramps, open hood, open oil fill cap, slide an oil drain pan under the oil pan and then remove the oil drain plug. When the pan has been drained, I'll put the drain plug back in, then remove the oil filter, making a mess all over the rack and K member, sway bar, etc. I clean all that up as much as I can, install a new filter, then fill 'er up with 6 qts of Mobil 1.
I'm surprised that you don't recognize the location of the filter in relation to the steering rack and other suspension pieces as being a less than ideal position... You're telling me you can remove the filter and "only get a few drops on the parts below"? I trust what you mean when you say, "I let the oil drain for a few minutes before removing the filter" is that you loosen the filter and essentially let it leak before removing it completely...good idea, but where does it leak to? There is not a straight line for the oil to drain to on the garage floor (so you could put a pan underneath it) - it'll drop onto the rack, sway bar, etc. It's a friggin mess. Laying a rag underneath the car doesn't really solve anything - I can clean up any mess, I'd just rather PREVENT the mess from happening in the first place.

Thanks guys!

 

[Pearl02]

Not to discount your input Killy, and I think I've heard that concern before, but do you have any info to back that up? What's causing the flow restriction - the size of the hose, the adapter, the mount...? The fact that MM sells a kit makes me wonder if this is truly a concern. I don't know of any MM parts that are not race related or are less than adequate for racing applications.
I've tried the aluminum foil trick, but that doesn't really work that well for me. I guess what you are supposed to do is to make some sort of funnel or drain gutter with the foil, but it's so convoluted up in the area of the filter that it (for me) just doesn't work as well in practice as it does in theory.



"What it is I'm doing?" Drive on ramps, open hood, open oil fill cap, slide an oil drain pan under the oil pan and then remove the oil drain plug. When the pan has been drained, I'll put the drain plug back in, then remove the oil filter, making a mess all over the rack and K member, sway bar, etc. I clean all that up as much as I can, install a new filter, then fill 'er up with 6 qts of Mobil 1.
I'm surprised that you don't recognize the location of the filter in relation to the steering rack and other suspension pieces as being a less than ideal position... You're telling me you can remove the filter and "only get a few drops on the parts below"? I trust what you mean when you say, "I let the oil drain for a few minutes before removing the filter" is that you loosen the filter and essentially let it leak before removing it completely...good idea, but where does it leak to? There is not a straight line for the oil to drain to on the garage floor (so you could put a pan underneath it) - it'll drop onto the rack, sway bar, etc. It's a friggin mess. Laying a rag underneath the car doesn't really solve anything - I can clean up any mess, I'd just rather PREVENT the mess from happening in the first place.

Thanks guys!

I know what your saying about the mess. The rack and sway bar do get oil soaked during the oil change. It does take some time to clean all of that up. If there was a less expensive relocation kit I'd buy one myself. pearl02.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Not to discount your input Killy, and I think I've heard that concern before, but do you have any info to back that up?

Well the only thing I know of "in writing" so to speak is where, in the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog, it says in the tech notes for the remote oil filter kit not to use on performance vehicles. Also, intuitively one knows that every bend and every inch of extra tubing slows down the flow.

 

[twogts4us]

I know what your saying about the mess. The rack and sway bar do get oil soaked during the oil change. It does take some time to clean all of that up. If there was a less expensive relocation kit I'd buy one myself. pearl02.

Ahh, someone who agrees with me - thanks Pearl!

Well the only thing I know of "in writing" so to speak is where, in the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog, it says in the tech notes for the remote oil filter kit not to use on performance vehicles. Also, intuitively one knows that every bend and every inch of extra tubing slows down the flow.

Interesting points - thanks Killy. Yeah, I just saw that footnote in the FRPP catalog. That's surprising. And it's not much of a bargain - $79 for their kit which is really rather cheap looking (looks like a lower quality kit than the Trans Dapt kit I mentioned above for $50.)

 

[Pearl02]

Well the only thing I know of "in writing" so to speak is where, in the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog, it says in the tech notes for the remote oil filter kit not to use on performance vehicles. Also, intuitively one knows that every bend and every inch of extra tubing slows down the flow.

Kilgore does have a good point. I work for a petroluem pipeline company. When we install new pipes, we try have install piping with a little "bends" as possible. We do have monster horsepower pumps to over come bends but we are also trying to reduce pump wear. Most of our existing piping is also configured with reduced bends. Where there are bends in the pipe, you have higher pressure with reduced flow. I didn't think about that while I was toying around with a remote filter set up. Pearl02.

 

[sarmikgar]

I know what your saying about the mess. The rack and sway bar do get oil soaked during the oil change. It does take some time to clean all of that up. If there was a less expensive relocation kit I'd buy one myself. pearl02.

I use a piece of cardboard under the filter, about 8"-10" wide and about 20" long. I stuff it up under the filter and then just remove the filter, I dont even bother to puncture and drain the filter, the oil hits the cardboard and runs towards the front of the car into the oil drain pan.

Very little cleanup if any, and no oil on the rubber rack bushing

 

[Pearl02]

Good advice. I'll give that a try next time I change oil. Pearl02.