Help! Oil Filter / Cooler Disaster.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Racine WI
Help! Oil Filter / Cooler Disaster.
I have changed oil/filters for over 30 years and today I have a disaster. I wrestled with the filter for over 3 hours and finally got it loose with a pipe wrench -after it was well-mutilated. For the record, I wasn't the idiot that put it on that tight.
Anyway, When I spun the rest off by hand, the unit right above the filter with two hoses running in and out of it dropped down (I assume this is for the oil cooler, as I have an 89 with a 6 speed). This left me with the filter still threaded onto the nipple that goes through the unit with the two hoses.
When I pulled the nipple down, and the oil cooler unit dropped down with it I ENDED UP WITH A SNAP RING IN MY HAND AS WELL. My question is, where does this snap ring go? There is a groove machined into the nipple right above the hex nut on the nipple, which is right above where the filter screws on to the nipple. Is this where I should put it? In that groove? I can't figure out what it does in the first place.
Thanks for your assistance!
Anyway, When I spun the rest off by hand, the unit right above the filter with two hoses running in and out of it dropped down (I assume this is for the oil cooler, as I have an 89 with a 6 speed). This left me with the filter still threaded onto the nipple that goes through the unit with the two hoses.
When I pulled the nipple down, and the oil cooler unit dropped down with it I ENDED UP WITH A SNAP RING IN MY HAND AS WELL. My question is, where does this snap ring go? There is a groove machined into the nipple right above the hex nut on the nipple, which is right above where the filter screws on to the nipple. Is this where I should put it? In that groove? I can't figure out what it does in the first place.
Thanks for your assistance!
Last edited by GreyHairedTopGun; May 27, 2005 at 12:09 PM. Reason: I wasn't finished typing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
There should be a hex area on the threaded nipple, put what is left of the filter in the vise and remove the nipple with a wrench. As to the snap ring, I don't remember mine having one. Hopefully somebody can chime in here about the snap ring, maybe I'm missing something on mine. I've had the cooler loosen a couple times when I've changed filters but I usually just tighten it back up.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
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From: San Pedro CA
That isn't so much a cooler as a heater. If it's anything like bastet44s 1987 setup, it has hoses going to the block - they provide coolant to "cool" the oil.
First off, remove the hoses and get this thing onto a bench.
After that, if I remember rightly, the threaded shaft is held inplace on the engine side. I remember the snap ring, but not it's orientation... The threaded shaft goes up into the block, holding the housing in place. then the filter is screwed on to that. In all honesty, the snapring only acts as a retainer if the shaft comes loose.
First off, remove the hoses and get this thing onto a bench.
After that, if I remember rightly, the threaded shaft is held inplace on the engine side. I remember the snap ring, but not it's orientation... The threaded shaft goes up into the block, holding the housing in place. then the filter is screwed on to that. In all honesty, the snapring only acts as a retainer if the shaft comes loose.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 210
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From: Racine WI
Still pondering it
I did get the filter off of the nipple with little effort, once the nipple and filter came off the block.
Just can't figure out the function of that snap ring. If it goes into the groove above the hex nut, what good is it? The hex nut would hold the cooler/adapter/unit/whatever-you-want-to-call-it in place.
The snap ring has to go somewhere between the filter and that oil cooler unit, because when I pulled the nipple/filter away from that unit, there was the snap ring.
Just can't figure out the function of that snap ring. If it goes into the groove above the hex nut, what good is it? The hex nut would hold the cooler/adapter/unit/whatever-you-want-to-call-it in place.
The snap ring has to go somewhere between the filter and that oil cooler unit, because when I pulled the nipple/filter away from that unit, there was the snap ring.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
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From: Kempner Texas
I just checked both of my oil factory oil coolers and neither one has the snap ring you're referring to. I don't recall seeing them on either cooler when they were removed and I didn't find one in the box.
Neither of the two nipples have a snap ring on them, but I did see the groove you're referring to, right above the 1-1/16" captured hex nut.
The only thing I can think of is that ring serves the same purpose as a flat washer. That when tightening the nipple to the by-pass, the ring prevents the hex nut from digging into the cooler, creating shavings.
Maybe someone else knows more about it.
Jake
Neither of the two nipples have a snap ring on them, but I did see the groove you're referring to, right above the 1-1/16" captured hex nut.
The only thing I can think of is that ring serves the same purpose as a flat washer. That when tightening the nipple to the by-pass, the ring prevents the hex nut from digging into the cooler, creating shavings.
Maybe someone else knows more about it.
Jake
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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The snap ring is installed on the top side of the cooler from the factory. It is slid over the hex extension to prevent it from falling during assembly on the line. Stick it back in and slide the snap ring back on. Or leave it off. Either way no problem. The snap ring does not slip in a groove or notch on my 87. Simply over the shaft.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
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From: Kempner Texas
Originally Posted by Pete K
The snap ring is installed on the top side of the cooler from the factory. It is slid over the hex extension to prevent it from falling during assembly on the line. Stick it back in and slide the snap ring back on. Or leave it off. Either way no problem. The snap ring does not slip in a groove or notch on my 87. Simply over the shaft.
Jake
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 210
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From: Racine WI
Thanks for the info
Now it makes sense to me. The snap ring held the nipple in position in the oil cooler prior to the nipple being screwed into the engine.
Thanks for the info. Mystery solved.
Thanks for the info. Mystery solved.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 848
Likes: 4
From: Tulsa,Ok
I thought I'd throw a little fyi in the mix.Ive probably bought every kind of oil oil filter wrench on the market through the years.What I finally ended up using that worked the best is a small piece of rope.I wrap it a few times around the filter,keep the end that your not going to pull on tight,and pull on the other end and walla,it works every time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
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From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Originally Posted by Pete K
The snap ring is installed on the top side of the cooler from the factory. It is slid over the hex extension to prevent it from falling during assembly on the line. Stick it back in and slide the snap ring back on. Or leave it off. Either way no problem. The snap ring does not slip in a groove or notch on my 87. Simply over the shaft.
Thanks Pete K, now I don't have to worry about not having a snap ring.
