Oil & Fuel Oil Filter Change Frustration (This is a rant)

Trails End · Mar 16, 2014

I just completed an oil and filter change on my Bobcat CT335 (100 hrs).
Draining the oil was no problem, but as usual, removing the old oil
filter was a frustrating experience, as it is with most vehicles that I've
changed filters on. WHY CAN'T MANUFACTURERS PLACE THE
FILTERS HANGING DOWN, INSTEAD OF SIDEWAYS????
No matter how careful I am, I still end up with a substantial amount
of oil leaking down on frame members and/or on the garage floor, or
on myself. While removing the filter from the CT335, despite all
efforts to minimize spillage, I ended up with about 1/2 cup of oil on
the axle housing, floor and the sleeve of my jacket before I could
get the filter upright and out of harm's way!!!!

Anybody else share my frustration???

Johnny g · Mar 16, 2014

How about next time you put your pan under the filter and punch a hole in the filter (bottom outer edge) and let it drain before removing it. Might just work. Jack.

sixdogs · Mar 16, 2014

I used to have a tractor with a two quart oil filter mounted upside down and partly over the engine. Not only was it a two qt mess every time I changed the oil but it also drained all over the side of the engine so it could drip and smoke later. Good grief.

Trails End · Mar 16, 2014

sixdogs said:
I used to have a tractor with a two quart oil filter mounted upside down and partly over the engine. Not only was it a two qt mess every time I changed the oil but it also drained all over the side of the engine so it could drip and smoke later. Good grief.

It seems that what we need is a self-sealing punch with a spigot on it. Punch a hole at the lowest point on the filter,
and then open the spigot to direct the oil to a container.

sixdogs · Mar 16, 2014

Trails End said:
It seems that what we need is a self-sealing punch with a spigot on it. Punch a hole at the lowest point on the filter,
and then open the spigot to direct the oil to a container.

In hot rods you can easily plumb in a remote filter and put it where you want and any angle that suits. It's crossed my mine on a couple vehicles I have owned.

Trails End · Mar 16, 2014

sixdogs said:
In hot rods you can easily plumb in a remote filter and put it where you want and any angle that suits. It's crossed my mine on a couple vehicles I have owned.

I was thinking about the same thing! On the CT335, the oil filter mounts to an interface
that is mounted to the front of the engine block, as shown below.

I think that it could have just as well been mounted with the filter in a vertical position.

grm61 · Mar 16, 2014

On my DK for the motor I cut a thin piece of cardboard and make a trough that I slip under the oil filter and angle down and towards the rear of the front axle.

Works well, couple drips is about it.

coveredbridge · Mar 16, 2014

I feel the same frustration when changing antifreeze. Changed the antifreeze in my JD 820 Saturday. Antifreeze all over the floor.

k0ua · Mar 16, 2014

grm61 said:
On my DK for the motor I cut a thin piece of cardboard and make a trough that I slip under the oil filter and angle down and towards the rear of the front axle.

Works well, couple drips is about it.

Yep. problem solved

john_bud · Mar 16, 2014

sixdogs said:
I used to have a tractor with a two quart oil filter mounted upside down and partly over the engine. Not only was it a two qt mess every time I changed the oil but it also drained all over the side of the engine so it could drip and smoke later. Good grief.

It's not a problem, it's a "feature". Dual purpose oil change and bug fogger