Whats the secret to removing the oil filter?

[Flathead Noob]

I pull on the little wire handle, twist and turn, but no luck.


Thanks!

[banjoQ]

Residual oil in the canister and a snug fit can make for a sort of suction when trying to lift out the filter. Give it a steady, strong pull and it should come out of there. Happens sometimes. Be sure to clean out the bottom of the canister, get all that dark snot out of there. New filter, new oil and your back out on the road.

[mike42]

I had that happen once and as I recall it was the rubber seals that slide over the post in the center and just got stuck. A very tight fit. I took a screw driver to the edge of the filter and pried it out. It came unstuck. Only happened once.

Mike

[19Fordy]

If you pull directly up without twisting it a little oil will go all over the place.

Put a rag over the top of the filter.

[51woodie]

The filter housing on my stock '46 has a 1/4" brass plug near the bottom, so it can be drained prior to removing the filter. Yes a combined twist and pull works. After I install the new filter element, I slowly pour about a 1/2 quart of fresh oil into the housing to "prime" the filter. Probably not necessary, but that was what I was taught by my auto shop a lot of years ago.

[Frank Miller]

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Put a screwdriver through the wire and pry up. It limits the range and gives you better control. It will keep the oil from flying all over the place.

[19Fordy]

That drain plug in the bottom of the filer is a good idea.
Breaks the vacuum/suction effect.
Might give it a try.

[Merc Cruzer]

I know what you mean. When I first bought my 53' Merc, many many years ago, it had been used and abused and the oil filter had not been changed forever. I was trying to get it out and when the little handle came off. I had to use a screw driver to get the filter out.

These days it is easier, but as mentioned, there is a suction. Keep turning it while pulling up and it will come out.

I use a turkey baster to get the oil out of the canister, then towels to clean out the rest.

[54vicky]

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

I know what you mean. When I first bought my 53' Merc, many many years ago, it had been used and abused and the oil filter had not been changed forever. I was trying to get it out and when the little handle came off. I had to use a screw driver to get the filter out.

These days it is easier, but as mentioned, there is a suction. Keep turning it while pulling up and it will come out.

I use a turkey baster to get the oil out of the canister, then towels to clean out the rest.

now that is down right nasty

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by 51woodie

The filter housing on my stock '46 has a 1/4" brass plug near the bottom, so it can be drained prior to removing the filter. Yes a combined twist and pull works. After I install the new filter element, I slowly pour about a 1/2 quart of fresh oil into the housing to "prime" the filter. Probably not necessary, but that was what I was taught by my auto shop a lot of years ago.

When I first got my car, it had this filter housing on it. I always wondered what it belonged on. It was not hooked up as in the picture though. The picture is just to show the filter housing.

[tubman]

Looks like a stock setup to me. The "rounded" fitting that the oil pressure sender is screwed into is typical Mercury. Every Ford I have seen has a "blocky" fitting with square corners and sharp edges. The presence of this fitting is the first and easiest to see clue that an engine MIGHT be a Mercury.

[51woodie]

Merc. I profess very little knowledge, but I believe there were several variations of filters over the years the flathead was produced. Some engines had none, some had aftermarket and some had factory, starting in August of 1945 I think. The filter in you pics is the same as I have on my '46 59A-B Your filter has the same brass drain plug as I have on mine. I noted that the piping on your oil lines are different than on my engine. My return line from the filter bottom connects to the 59A-6751 fitting on the oil pan that the dipstick tube is screwed into, whereas yours goes to the rear of the engine. Not sure if that makes a difference in oil filtering, flow or pressure. One other item to note, the inlet fitting on the housing needs to have an orifice in it to partially restrict flow, or you will have low engine oil pressure. I use the stock pressure sender for the dash gauge as well as a mechanical gauge to be sure, as you can see in the collection of fittings at the back of the engine. Belt and suspenders!

[flatheadmurre]

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

When I first got my car, it had this filter housing on it. I always wondered what it belonged on.

I hope it wasn´t plumbed up like that...looks like a 95% setup through a stock bypass filter...

[cas3]

good eye murre

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by flatheadmurre

I hope it wasn´t plumbed up like that...looks like a 95% setup through a stock bypass filter...

Sorry to say but this is exactingly how it was plumbed when I bought her. Not long after, I wound up replacing the cracked block and building a whole new engine.


I also wondered why it pulled to the right when braking. (see picture #3).

Needless to say, I have learned allot, as to what is correct as compared to what was there, while putting her back on the road. Not much that I haven't toughed by now. I has been an education to say the least.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

I also wondered why it pulled to the right when braking. (see picture #3).

I think the brakes would work better with the bolt out of the brake hose.

[cadillac512]

But the shoes would last forever!
Terry

[Desoto291Hemi]

That looks like fresh plumbing through that factory filter canister.
Won’t that cause instant bearing failure ?

Tommy

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by Desoto291Hemi

That looks like fresh plumbing through that factory filter canister.
Won’t that cause instant bearing failure ?

Tommy

You are right, if it had been used per the mock up in the picture. So don't ever do it as pictured!

[RKS.PA]

You've come a long way, Merc!!!

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by RKS.PA

You've come a long way, Merc!!!

Thank you, before and after.



Flathead Noob,

Sorry for bogarting your post.

[aussie merc]

we've got to remember that oil filters were actualy accesories not standard if you do the sums all the oil will go thru the bypass stlye filter Me i glued a big magnet into the sump plug and left the rest alone works fine as had oil sample analised at 5000k results came back oil was as good as new and lets face it any filter hooked up correctly is better than the worlds best filter hooked up wrong . And on another subject with a full flow filter you must be careful not to go to fine[micron rating] as you can actualy restrict the oil flow yet with a bypass its not as critical. Most heavy mechanics will understand as you can have both filters the main [fullflow] will be say 40 micron yet the bypass will be as low as 7 micron

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by tubman

Looks like a stock setup to me. The "rounded" fitting that the oil pressure sender is screwed into is typical Mercury. Every Ford I have seen has a "blocky" fitting with square corners and sharp edges. The presence of this fitting is the first and easiest to see clue that an engine MIGHT be a Mercury.

This is the first time I have seen the oil pressure sending unit mounted up beside the filter on any flathead. My 52 Merc has the round sending unit down behind the head in the same place as any other flathead I have seen in the past 50 years.

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by RalphG

This is the first time I have seen the oil pressure sending unit mounted up beside the filter on any flathead. My 52 Merc has the round sending unit down behind the head in the same place as any other flathead I have seen in the past 50 years.

RalphG,

Is yours different than this?

[rotorwrench]

Ford of Canada did a lot of things differently. One poster mentioned priming the filter canister during service. I wanted to add that a bypass filter is not under a lot of pressure since it has the restrictor orifice and most of the oil will drain back into the pan after the engine is shut down. There is no need to prime it really. You can if you choose to but any extra will still drain back into the pan.

These canister types were certainly not designed to be a pressure flow type filter. If a person wants to modify for a pressure flow type filter then a spin on adapter or beehive type can be used but the block has to be set up for it. The engine block would need the out flow boss drilled since most don't have that feature. The flow back has to be blocked off from the pressure side so the engine will pressure flow as it should. The wartime engines made first for the Canadian and second for the Dearborn made universal carriers were the first Ford engines to have this feature so they could have pressure filtration and also an oil cooler in the line. Some big trucks used this system but I'm not sure when that was or if it was just a Canadian thing or not.

[51woodie]

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Rotor. You are correct about the oil draining back to the pan when "priming" this type of filter canister, but old habits die hard.

[tubman]

I bought my '51 Mercury engine out of a very nice 4 door sedan out of Montana. Some local idiots were going to remove the body and mount it on an '80's Continental rolling chassis. I was lucky enough to score the engine as soon as they pulled it. When I got it, it really looked original, with nice green paint, the original air cleaner and all. The best I can remember, the restrictor fitting and oil pressure sending gauge were mounted up on the filter, like the one in "Merc Cruzr"'s picture.

"RalphG" - do you remember if the oil fitting was "rounded" like the one in the picture, or "blocky" with square corners?

(The local idiots never did finish the car for obvious reasons. As far as I know, it's still laying on it's side out in the cow pasture where I first saw it.)

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by RalphG

This is the first time I have seen the oil pressure sending unit mounted up beside the filter on any flathead. My 52 Merc has the round sending unit down behind the head in the same place as any other flathead I have seen in the past 50 years.

Here are some oil system diagrams that show that arrangement. There is also an "L" fitting that is used (I think it is 51 Merc's photo).

[Merc Cruzer]

Flathead Noob,

Did you get the filter out?

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

RalphG,

Is yours different than this?

Yes, quite different. Mine has a brass block at the filter where the line screws into. The pressure orifice is in there. That line goes down to just behind the left head and connects to the round sending unit. Works perfect but since my dad bought the car used in 1959 I can not say for sure if it is a factory original installation. The brass block looks a little "add on' to me. You can see it in this photo. I had just replaced both lines to the filter as the old rubber lines had rotted and one actually broke. Oil pumps out pretty fast when the line out of the filter breaks. Lucky it was idling in the shop when it happened.

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by RalphG

Yes, quite different. Mine has a brass block at the filter where the line screws into. The pressure orifice is in there. That line goes down to just behind the left head and connects to the round sending unit. Works perfect but since my dad bought the car used in 1959 I can not say for sure if it is a factory original installation. The brass block looks a little "add on' to me. You can see it in this photo. I had just replaced both lines to the filter as the old rubber lines had rotted and one actually broke. Oil pumps out pretty fast when the line out of the filter breaks. Lucky it was idling in the shop when it happened.

You might want to replace it with a metal line.

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

You might want to replace it with a metal line.

I did. You can see one line in the picture above. I used steel brake line for both and it worked well for the past few years so I'm thinking it passed the test. The sending unit shows up in this photo. The blue paint is from 1980 when my brother rebuilt the engine and painted everything Ford blue.
Still not sure if that is factory equipment but sometimes we did things different here in Canada.

[Flathead Noob]

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

Flathead Noob,

Did you get the filter out?

Haven't tried again, yet. Waiting for a break in the weather.


I've learned a lot from your responses. So glad I cam across this forum!


Thanks!

[Flathead Noob]

Tubman,
Where in Montana did you get the Merc engine from the idiots?

Just curious.
I like to keep track of as many idiots as I can

[tubman]

"Noob" - I really have no idea exactly where. I was just told the car was "from Montana". I know it wasn't a local car, because it was so clean; absolutely no rust.

You don't have to worry about these "idiots" however, as they were from Minnesota. There may have been a corresponding set in Montana that sold it to them, though. The reason they were idiots is that they were trying to use a unibody car to do a frame swap.

Also, I'm sorry I sorta participated in hijacking your thread, but I am trying to prove a theory I have about the rounded oil fitting being indicative of a Mercury engine. If it's so, it would give an immediate indication of a Mercury.

[flatheadmurre]

There are some pretty different people around...like the guy that sold me the pickup last year...and showed up 3 days late with a totally different vehicle then i bought telling me this was in better shape so he brought it instead...
Not to mention i had to go tow both his broken down pickup and trailer back to our yard...what an adventure...

[Flathead Noob]

I got the filter out. I'll start a new post with another question about the oil system.


Thanks again!