Mini Sump Oil Change

[kmacht]

I can't comment on the seal issue but do want to say thanks for the EMPI part number. The same filter setup sells for almost a third of what sonex is selling it for. I'm all for supporting Sonex but haven't bought it because of the $165 price tag. At $60 with free shipping on amazon I'll be putting one on during the next oil change.

Keith
#554

[gammaxy]

I emailed Sonex to ask what the difference is. They said they drill and tap a 1/4" npt hole in the side. I also did this on mine to install a magnetic drain plug (which came in handy when I needed to drain the oil). I have to admit that positioning this hole just right so you can install a fitting without drilling it so low that you drill into the bottom surface of the sump is a little tricky.

My hand-tapped hole has much better quality threads than the ones the drain plug screws into. I'm actually a little concerned if I fix my filter the way I believe it should work that I'll end up with a leak through the drain plug.

[gammaxy]

When I do so I imagine I'll initially drain the sump oil from the oil return line from my oil separator [...] Still probably a messy process.

I think this will actually be a pretty clean way of doing it if you could disconnect the hose and put put it in your catch pan and let it drain for 15 minutes or so while you work on other things.

I'm exposed to the wind whenever I do oil changes and the worst is when you get near the end and the wind is blowing the thin strand of oil all over the place :-)

[Sonerai13]

We have found some variation in the fitment of the pickup tubes in the engines. On a couple of engines we've actually had to trim down the thickness of the black rubber seal that goes between the pickup tube and the filter. Yes, the curved side of the rubber seal goes "up" toward the engine pickup tube. I have trimmed the bottom (non-curved) side of that seal using a sanding disk. I've had to take as much as an eighth of an inch off to get the filter to fit on a couple of engines. Some engines the whole thing goes right in with no problem. Others it takes some work to get everything to fit.

[Klimek]

.........Both sides are "curved" Which should face upward, convex or concave?
It's none of my business I know.
Frank
ONEX090
N1970T
~Hours
Taking to my shop to paint

[Sonerai13]

.........Both sides are "curved" Which should face upward, convex or concave?

No, both sides are not curved. The seal has a convex curve on top, which mates with the concave surface of the "umbrella" around the oil pickup tube. the bottom of the seal is flat, and presses against the top of the filter element. The seal could be described (if you use your imagination) as a very short, very fat CCP pulled rivet with the mandrel removed. (How's that for a stretch!!)

The design is not ideal. The seal would be better if it had a chamfer on the bottom to better mate with the top of the filter element. I have sometimes put such a chamfer on the seal, again using the sanding disk. It makes the whole thing go together better.

[Rynoth]

Or you could say it's shaped like a mushroom with a very wide and short stem. Putting a chamfer on the bottom does seem like a good idea though.

[Sonerai13]

Or you could say it's shaped like a mushroom with a very wide and short stem.

Yep, I thought about using that analogy as well. A short, fat mushroom. Maybe that's better than mine. Hopefully, one or the other will give everyone the idea.

Putting a chamfer on the bottom does seem like a good idea though.

Yes, I agree. It has worked pretty well on the installations I've done. Like I said, every one seems to be a bit different. Sometimes a bit of "custom fitting" is needed.

[gammaxy]

I chucked mine onto my rotary buffer in place of the 3M Scotchbrite wheel (poor-man's lathe) and used a coping saw to shape the bottom similar to the same dimensions of the grommet included in the kit. Now the top seal attaches nicely to the top of the filter just like the grommet and it is quite a bit more compact than before. I also like the solution of simply chamfering the edges.

It's good to hear that Sonex recognizes that modifying the seal may be necessary on some engines.

[SonexN369UR]

Does the pick up tube fit down inside the filter???? Should the pick up tube slide inside? The hole on my filter is not big enough!! If I don't enlarge the hole and just put it in place as the plans call for there is a gap between the flat part of the seal and the top of the filter as you face it??? What gives???
JACK