The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk dumb 'bolt' oil change question

OK, please forgive me in advance. Been around vehicles my whole life, but this one puzzles me:
Coupla weeks ago I'm changing the oil in my 54 3600 235 with remote oil filter and housing(which bolts ot the intake). I drained the pan oil, then I pulled the top off of the remote oil housing and pulled the filter to change it. After I pulled the filter out, the housing was still about 1/3 or so full of old oil. It didn't seem to be 'draining' so I sucked it out with a 'sucker' (not the fish, a vaccum deal) and finished the oil change. Is that housing SUPPOSED to drain out or is this common? HELP! I'm skeert!

The housing should have a drain plug along the bottom curve of the housing somewhere. It's a little one, a 1/8 NPT I believe but could be wrong on that. Anyway that's the way the one I bought but don't have mounted yet is.

If you have the drain cool but your sucker device is probably quicker and less messy.

Tiny, you know, I had that thing off and cleaned it a while back before the truck was running and there is no plug... I guess I could make one easy enuff, huh? My housing looks to be an old original. So, your answer would be NO, it's not normal for these housing to drain thru the lines during an oil change, correct?

If you have the drain cool but your sucker device is probably quicker and less messy.

you would think that gravity would cause it to drain but it appears that it takes pressure. Sometime common sense don't make any sense!! I'm guessing here but doesn't the oil come in the bottom on those filters? Since the pump is what is pumping the pressure I would imagine the pump has a valve to avoid drain back so the pump can stay primed. As I said this is a guess, but hey, doesn't it "make sense".

That makes a boatload of sense! Well, hell, maybe I'll just fabricate and install a petcock drain on it or somehting like that. That oil 'sucker' thing really "sucks" to use!!! Thanks, randy

Mine could be an aftermarket filter. The sticker is gone but it's outline is still there. It's a Fram I think. The drain is directly opposite the mounting bracket so it's easy to get to & is just a standard NPT pipe plug.

The pressure comes in the side. The return goes down the center of the tube. Some oil will naturally stay in the bottom of the cannister.

Cool. Thanks all for your help! I'm a-gonna build me a drainer...

Some canisters drain and some do not. The 1955-1962 AC canister does not drain. It "drains" (outflows) high on the right side and fills through a metal tube that comes in the middle of the bottom and has holes in the tube high inside the canister. Thus, no drain-back.

I think that earlier AC by-pass filter canisters drained out the bottom (and you had to keep this in mind when drained and filled your oil (or checked your oil level).

Fram used to sell a unit called a "Sludge Siphon" (it looked like a bicycle pump - I will post a photo when I find it) to suck out the undrained oil in the canister and clean out the crud that had settled out in the canister (as non-detergent oil was apt to do).

I checked the Fram that was on my '55, it has no drain plug. It fills from the side, and drains at the bottom. There is a tube inside that has a small hole about 2/3 the way up that the oil drains out through.
While we're on the subject of filtering, I'd like to suggest that you add a Filtermag. I added one to the '55, you'ld be suprized at what the filter misses in the line of metallic particles.

This may be to obvious, but after changing the filter element it is a good idea to add your quart or better of oil to the pot before you screw down the lid.

I realize that this filter only handles a limited amount of oil at one time but an old timer mechanic suggested this to me. In fact I saturate all my filters on my various vehicles to shorten that momentary pause before oil pressure builds up. Doesn't take but a second and makes me feel better if nothing more.

Late to teh party, but my oil filter also remains approximately 1/3 full after draining the oil pan and removing the filter. I had a slight oil drip at the bottom fitting of the oil cannister and took it off a few months ago. It's just as Longbox 55 describes it.

Changed lots of oil in the old mans garage. We used the suction tool for all makes of canister filters. Even the few with plugs. Suck it out and wipe the inside with last weeks shop rag.

I just stole my wifes turkey baster. Works like a charm.

I know where I'm NOT going for turkey dinner this Thanksgiving.

Hey, guys--saw the mention of a FilterMag a few posts back and elsewhere as well. What is it? Where do I get it?

(Wife said no deal on turkey baster until after Thanksgiving...) Working on my '53 Chev. 3/4 T. installing a '54 261.

Thanks--T.K.

I think that was me who posted that. What it is is a high power magnet that's shaped to fit aroun the filter housing. The magnetic feild traps the metal particles to the side of the housing. I have one on the '55, it does work very well. I purchased mine from a Snap-On dealer, but I know that Summit and Jegs carry them. You'll need to get one that fits thee diameter of the filter housing for a proper fit.
There is a picture of mine in my Webshots album, just click on my signature to see it under the pic "Filtermag".

WEll, thanks everyone!

Mine's the same way. Half a roll of paper towels does it for me. Can do it in half the time with "Bounty" paper towels coz it's the "quicker picker-upper"! Be prepared to get dirty!
Dash Riprocker