Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-01-2017, 11:07 PM   #1
Paul Bennett
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 628
Default Life without an oil filter

I'm thinking of blocking off the lines to the oil canister and living without a filter. The way I see it, changing oil every 1-2000 miles isn't difficult and it's about what I do now with my grocery-getter.

When I see sharp looking flatheads they just don't have that ugly black oil canister. But are there downsides?


OK, (THE WHY) I messed up the threads on the canister fitting and thinking about a cheap way out.
Paul Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2017, 11:18 PM   #2
Tinker
Senior Member
 
Tinker's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: MN
Posts: 7,053
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

There is nothing negative about having a filter. They make remote filter setups that use modern spin on filters and you can hide under the car for looks.

With all that said. I have no filters but I'm plumbed/drilled on my 38 so I might/should install a remote.
Tinker is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 09-01-2017, 11:58 PM   #3
40 Deluxe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: now Kuna, Idaho
Posts: 3,774
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

The original "Service Data Handbook" that came with my 1940 2 dr. says to change the oil every 2,000 miles unless equipped with an oil filter. If equipped with a filter, change oil every 5,000 miles, and change the filter element every 10,000 miles. So if you keep your filter, you will save a lot of money on oil changes!
40 Deluxe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 12:22 AM   #4
rich b
Senior Member
 
rich b's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,813
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

I'd send it out for chrome, that would cure the ugly.
rich b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 03:42 AM   #5
51 MERC-CT
Senior Member
 
51 MERC-CT's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Hartford, Ct
Posts: 5,898
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

Quote:
Originally Posted by rich b View Post
I'd send it out for chrome, that would cure the ugly.
Ya, but that won,t correct the screwed up threads on his filter.

"OK, (THE WHY) I messed up the threads on the canister fitting and thinking about a cheap way out."
__________________
DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES
51 MERC-CT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 07:30 AM   #6
A bones
Senior Member
 
A bones's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CLAYTON DE
Posts: 1,280
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe View Post
The original "Service Data Handbook" that came with my 1940 2 dr. says to change the oil every 2,000 miles unless equipped with an oil filter. If equipped with a filter, change oil every 5,000 miles, and change the filter element every 10,000 miles. So if you keep your filter, you will save a lot of money on oil changes!
This just me talking here , so take no offense. I know for fact that back when we never, as a practice, waited that long to change oil. Yes the filter got tossed every other change. That seems like a lot miles, especially if you consider the fact that we did not rack up miles the way we do these days.

Paul, I have no problem with frequent changes, and no filter. Do as 'they' advise though and always pull the plug when the motor is warmed up.

As far as stripped threads go, several remedies would take care of the problem. Your choice.
__________________
Enjoy yer day. Tom
Hate can't fix what it started.
A bones is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 07:51 AM   #7
flatford8
Senior Member
 
flatford8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Lyman,ME.
Posts: 2,612
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

I have a few canisters...... one can be yours for the asking....Mark
__________________
I'm thinkin' about crankin'
My ragged ol' truck up
and haulin' myself into town.
Billy Joe Shaver
flatford8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 08:03 AM   #8
51 MERC-CT
Senior Member
 
51 MERC-CT's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Hartford, Ct
Posts: 5,898
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

Perhaps you can get some clues from the filter equipped '51 Merc., owners manual.
And notice the "2000 miles or once every 3 months, which ever comes first"
Attached Images
File Type: jpg merc lube.jpg (321.0 KB, 36 views)
__________________
DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES
51 MERC-CT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 08:45 AM   #9
Capt Kirk
Senior Member
 
Capt Kirk's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Clarkston MI
Posts: 830
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

Aren't oils these days better than they were in the 50's? When I drove semi, the oil was changed every 10,000 miles...I know diesel is different but we worked the piss out of those engines.
__________________
35 Ford Cabriolet
56 Chevy Pickup
63 VW Bug
Empty wallet
Capt Kirk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 08:53 AM   #10
40 Deluxe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: now Kuna, Idaho
Posts: 3,774
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

Quote:
Originally Posted by A bones View Post
This just me talking here , so take no offense. I know for fact that back when we never, as a practice, waited that long to change oil. Yes the filter got tossed every other change. That seems like a lot miles, especially if you consider the fact that we did not rack up miles the way we do these days.

Paul, I have no problem with frequent changes, and no filter. Do as 'they' advise though and always pull the plug when the motor is warmed up.

As far as stripped threads go, several remedies would take care of the problem. Your choice.
Guess I should have put one of those yellow smiley faces on my comment! I was surprised to read that Ford recommended 5,000 miles between changes! But they also said to change seasonally-SAE 30 in summer and 10W in winter. Oh, if the temp was under 10 below zero, use 10w oil with 10% kerosene added!
40 Deluxe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 08:55 AM   #11
rich b
Senior Member
 
rich b's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,813
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

Quote:
Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT View Post
Ya, but that won,t correct the screwed up threads on his filter.

"OK, (THE WHY) I messed up the threads on the canister fitting and thinking about a cheap way out."
Sorry; guess I took "fitting" too literally and thought he meant one of the "fittings"; not the threads in one of the housing bungs.

If that's the case and the OP can't run a pipe tap thru the hole and restore the threads; a used canister should be an easy find.

Last edited by rich b; 09-02-2017 at 08:56 AM. Reason: spl
rich b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 08:58 AM   #12
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Bennett View Post
When I see sharp looking flatheads they just don't have that ugly black oil canister. But are there downsides?

OK, (THE WHY) I messed up the threads on the canister fitting and thinking about a cheap way out.
I'm not a fan of the head mounted filters on some engines as well, but they can be mounted in other locations. Are there downsides to not having a filter? A filter is going to remove particles from the oil, a good thing, but the engine will survive without it. As for the stripped threads, that should be a fairly simple fix.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 09:36 AM   #13
19Fordy
Senior Member
 
19Fordy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Coral Springs FL
Posts: 10,879
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

Paul, Accept the offer for the free cannister and install the filter.
19Fordy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 03:19 PM   #14
Paul Bennett
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 628
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

19 - I doubt his free cannister includes the ultra-rare fitting which restricts the flow.

Said fitting - I'm thinking of having a new fitting brazed to the bottom. The special "T" fitting being a brass or bronze fitting. To elliminate I just realized I need something to adapt the oil sender to the engine block in a virtually inaccessible area rear and below of the fuel pump. Guess I'll take my messed-up fitting to the machine shop Tuesday.
Paul Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 05:29 PM   #15
pooch
Senior Member
 
pooch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Coast NSW Australia
Posts: 2,596
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

Main bearings have a tolerance of 0.000 to 0.003.

I would feel uneasy about any small particle gouging out the mains .

No filter on the planet can filter out particles to pass thru a 0.000 clearance.

But given that, I have more peace of mind with a filter added.

I have one of each, and when I tear down the other one, it is getting drilled for a filter too.
pooch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2017, 09:06 PM   #16
alanwoodieman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: upstate SC
Posts: 2,962
Default Re: Life without an oil filter

best thing about a filter is the addition of an extra quart of oil and the canister which does away with more heat--isn't cooling/filtering the oil what we need to prolong the life of our flatmotors?
alanwoodieman is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:57 AM.