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Reaching the oil filter

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M

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Can someone tell me what is the best (i.e. easiest) way to reach the oil filter to remove and replace it? I see that there is a hole more or less below it, and there is a hole opposite from it through the wheelwell. Reaching it from above appears to be impossible.
 
You've got it! Prepare to get oily! I think you can get to it through the wheel well if the wheel is turned.
 
I use a ring spanner with a slight angle inserted through the hole in the fenderwell to undo the bolt on the end of the filter, then remove the filter assembly through the hole in the bottom of the engine compartment. I agree with Nomad, you're going to get hot oil on you. More important than removal is replacement. You need to make sure the old rubber ring is removed from the oil filter housing before putting in a new one. You don't want two rings in there or bad things will happen. Also, be very careful the oil canister is put on straight. It's easy to **** (darn censoring program ... think 4 letter word for a rooster) it off to the side and then watch all your fresh oil come gushing out at start-up. Or ... you could just put on a spin-on filter.
 
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It's been a few years since we were lucky enough to be driving our BE, but I would use a ratchet/extension/socket from underneath and withdraw the whole combination down through the hole in the frame. And have a can under it all to catch the spillage. Doug
 
nomad said:
You've got it! Prepare to get oily! I think you can get to it through the wheel well if the wheel is turned.
Click to expand...

Mine is a spin-on filter and that is how I did it. The oil cooler lines make it impossible to reach from above and there is not enough room to reach from the bottom. The triangular hole in the wheel well is surprisingly easy to reach the filter.
 
Many thanks for this good information. I will try the hole in the wheel well as it appears to offer easier access to the filter. I don't mind getting oily, although, of course, I wear rubber gloves when doing this. I always changed the filter on my TR3, but it was reached easily from above.

Thank goodness my Bugeye has a spin-on filter. The advice about the rubber ring is absolutely correct. Also, I found that half filling the filter with oil before installing it is a good idea.

Getting to know the Bugeye... slowly... and very appreciative of the advice and guidance received.
 
In addition to filling the filter (half full) with oil before installation, it is also recommended to apply some oil to the filter face (gasket, etc) before "spinning" on.
 
Nate,

You are absolutely right about applying some oil on the gasket.
 
I have the spin-on conversion kit. It makes the filter remarkably accessible and even more so when the generator is out of the car, as I learned this winter.
 
Revisiting this thread.

A friend on this Forum and not too distant neighbor has shown me an easy way to reach and change the oil filter on the Bugeye Sprite. You reach it from below, using an oil filter wrench cup attached to an extension attached to a ratchet. With it you can push the filter through the hole under the engine and position the filter properly and tighten it easily without having to reach your hands up to the filter.

Others probably know about this, but it's the first I've heard of this technique.

Easy!
 
This is all news to me. I undo the air hose to the heater box and reach down from the top. I put the strap type filter wrench on while leaning over the fender. Give a turn or two to break the seal and unspin it, all from above. I would think it would be easier on a BE than my square body. I put it back on from the top too, then put the fresh air hose back on the heater. .. easy peazy.
 
Nice thought, but there seems to be little room for this in the BE. But I'll take another look.
 
I second removing the heater duct and attacking from above. At least on my BE, it makes for a nice open space to work from. (though, mine has a tiny alternator instead of the old generator. Maybe that would make it less accessible)
 
I just used the removed air duct system today. It gives great access. I did, however, have a mess of oil that spilled out. Next time I will put a plastic ziplock bag around the filter before I unscrew it. I did not realize that the filter would be filled to the very top with oil but I quickly found out.
 
matmire,

Mine has the large generator, so there is no room even with the heater duct removed.
 
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