oil filter change rant

[650mark]

hi fred. that hot oil dripping off my elbows keeps getting into my beer...

[Jerry]

One of the reasons Yamaha used the cartridge type filter is to help prevent road damage. A spin-on is more sucesptible to damage than the cartridge.

Changing the filer on my XJ is far easier than on my Connie. (2006 Kawasaki Concours) I have to remove a bunch of plastic first, drain the oil from 2 locations, then remove the oil filter cartridge plate to remove / replace the cartridge. Button everything back up. Takes much longer than changing the XJ.

[crazy steve]

One of the reasons Yamaha used the cartridge type filter is to help prevent road damage. A spin-on is more sucesptible to damage than the cartridge...

Yep, if all you run on is pavement, a spin-on filter will likely be fine. But those who run gravel roads on occasion are risking a hole in that thin steel filter shell.

I'm no fan of the XS filter design either, but IMO it's the best choice for all uses. It's messy no matter how you do it, if I could figure out a decent place to mount a remote filter I would go that way...

That's one of the things I love about my Sportster; I can use a standard Ford spin-on car filter (FL-1A or equivalent) that can be got anywhere...

[Jeffintampa]

washer in xs 1100 oil change

Hi all,
the washer that in the tub the oil filter goes in goes on top of the spring correct? That is were I have always put it. Spring, washer, oil filter. correct?

[natemoen]

Hi all,
the washer that in the tub the oil filter goes in goes on top of the spring correct? That is were I have always put it. Spring, washer, oil filter. correct?

Yes, the washer goes in between the spring and the filter. It prevents the spring from pushing into the rubber of the filter.

[red bandit]

I drilled and tapped the filter housing and put in a 1/8 inch pipe plug in the bottom behind the housing bolt. Don't remember who's idea it was but it works great. Pull the plug then loosen the housing and let it drain. No more messy. And best of all.........it keeps the oil out of the beer. I put a little Yamabond on the plug when I reinstall. Shouldn't need it but I got it so I use it.

[Jeffintampa]

my bike

I could not get my stock one with the bolt on front (partial empting) to not leak, I would get it close just a few drops now and then, but dreaded changing the filter (every other oil change) Well this time I bought on that was said to be true, put a new filter and O ring, I also use a little grease on the O ring and installed. One drop so far lol.

[bikerphil]

I'll tell you that all O-rings are not the right size, some filters have a smaller diameter O-ring and will leak if not absolutely super tightened down. I know the Fram (don't say it) filter has the correct size O-ring.

[SgtBaker]

I believe the stock oil filter housing also acts as an oil cooler. While the spin-on filter might provide some cooling, the stock design is superior. This is why:

1. Aluminum has a much greater thermal conductivity than steel. This means that it is more effective at transferring the heat from the oil and dissipating it to the atmosphere.
2. The housing also has more surface area than a spin-on filter to further assist in heat transfer from the oil to the air.
3. The housing has fins to direct airflow which improves convection cooling.

Engineers have to weigh the pros and cons of thousands of design decisions. This oil filter housing design sacrifices some convenience for the sake of performance.

[skids]

The spin-on is aluminum.
The cooling fins are designed to dissipate heat - true.

[natemoen]

I think you might be over analyzing it a little. Yes what you say is truebut the spin on adaptor has a lot of surface area and it probably acts as a better heat sink anyways just because of its mass. Then the thickness of the metal on the spin on filters is usually pretty thin so heat would transfer through that pretty well also.


And now I am overthinking too.

[SgtBaker]

The spin-on is aluminum.

Do you mean the filter itself or the adapter? Was referencing XS-XJ Guru "crazy steve's" post.

I think you might be over analyzing it a little. Yes what you say is truebut the spin on adaptor has a lot of surface area and it probably acts as a better heat sink anyways just because of its mass. Then the thickness of the metal on the spin on filters is usually pretty thin so heat would transfer through that pretty well also.

Convection cooling of a heat sink depends on its surface area and not its mass. More mass would cause the filter to take longer to heat up and to cool down making it less efficient.

[CaptonZap]

I think you might be over analyzing it a little. Yes what you say is truebut the spin on adaptor has a lot of surface area and it probably acts as a better heat sink anyways just because of its mass. Then the thickness of the metal on the spin on filters is usually pretty thin so heat would transfer through that pretty well also.


And now I am overthinking too.

Naww, you have it right, Nate.
Back in the day, when Corvairs and VW Type 1's were fodder for weekend racers, the guys found out that the stamped steel valve covers, blacked with Parkerizing or equal, would transfer more heat than the cast aluminum covers that were all the rage. Especially if the aluminum ones were polished.
Paint was not working, because it added a layer of material, acting as insulation, that the heat had to travel through. It was explained to me that the heat excited the molecules on one side of the metal, and there were fewer molecules for the excitation to travel through with the steel, and it therefore did a better/quicker job of transferring the heat.
Sort of like shooting a pool ball into a three layer clump of balls as opposed to a eight layer clump of balls
Oh, and it was lighter than the cast aluminum covers.
And flat black emitted more heat than any other choice of finish. Some of the guys, in the interest of rust prevention, would take flat black oil base paint, and mix it 50/50 with gasoline, and paint the barrels. When the gas evaporated, the space left in the matrix by the evaporated gas molecule supposedly didn't impede the heat flow that much, and besides, 70 percent of the heat transfer was in the heads, so the major portion of the barrels was not asked to dissipate that much heat.
But then again, racers are like fishermen when it comes to telling stories.

CZ

[Courtney]

Absolutely all true captonzap. I used to build HiPer VW engines and the object was to help heat radiate off the valve covers and cylinders. Super thin coating of soot was even tried by some fellow racers. :-)

[skids]

Do you mean the filter itself or the adapter? Was referencing XS-XJ Guru "crazy steve's" post.

Steve was referring to the shell of the filter itself, if I can speak for him here. The spin-on adapter is aluminum. Then again, the exposed filter would dissipate heat also...