[ZeGermanHam]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

I guess I'm having a hard time comprehending how it makes the oil change less messy because the last time I messed with one was on a classic car of course, and those things were horrible. They leaked with age, and pulling the bolt out starts a gush of oil, runs all over the cannister, then you have to pull the nasty filter out and clean the inside of the can etc.... It was a total mess.

I think there are still 2 or 3 of those things in boxes up on the mezzanine because those engines were switched over to a spin on filter, lol.

I'm assuming they have improved those things in some way to make them less messy.

As you can imagine, I'm totally out of the loop of anything foreign, so I'm unaware those other brands have been using them for decades.

Perhaps you are thinking they are like the old school canister filters on American cars. The modern version of the canister filter is different. See photo below of my BMW engine. To remove the filter, you just unscrew the black plastic cap and the filter comes out with it. This is how most European cars are set up. Very easy to get it out without getting a single drip of oil anywhere.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by ZeGermanHam

Perhaps you are thinking they are like the old school canister filters on American cars. The modern version of the canister filter is different. See photo below of my BMW engine. To remove the filter, you just unscrew the black plastic cap and the filter comes out with it. This is how most European cars are set up. Very easy to get it out without getting a single drip of oil anywhere.

Yeah I'm imagining the old school canister because that's all I've messed with, and having a hard time seeing how it would be designed in a way that it's not messy anymore. Not that I don't believe you, I'm sure they are an improvement from 60 years ago, I guess my brain just needs to see one come apart lol.

Thanks for the pic.

[ZeGermanHam]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Yeah I'm imagining the old school canister because that's all I've messed with, and having a hard time seeing how it would be designed in a way that it's not messy anymore. Not that I don't believe you, I'm sure they are an improvement from 60 years ago, I guess my brain just needs to see one come apart lol.

Thanks for the pic.

If you're curious, here is a video that shows what the process is typically like: LINK

[hgerhardt]

My dad's Cadillac CTS has a V6 with canister filter; probably the same as the Camaro. It's adjacent to the LH valve cover and serviced from above.

The modern canister filters have a valve in the bottom of the housing so that when you unscrew the cap, the oil drains into the oil pan, leaving the canister empty. The filter stays attached to the cap, so it comes out with it. You get your fingers oily when pulling off the filter element from the cap, but certainly less mess than removing a spin-on filter.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by hgerhardt

My dad's Cadillac CTS has a V6 with canister filter; probably the same as the Camaro. It's adjacent to the LH valve cover and serviced from above.

The modern canister filters have a valve in the bottom of the housing so that when you unscrew the cap, the oil drains into the oil pan, leaving the canister empty. The filter stays attached to the cap, so it comes out with it. You get your fingers oily when pulling off the filter element from the cap, but certainly less mess than removing a spin-on filter.

Yeah that makes sense. The part where you unscrew the cap allowing the oil to drain back, and the fact that it's upside down on top of the engine.

I'm still imagining these things upside down (the other direction) and full of oil under the engine that makes a big mess LOL

[ZeGermanHam]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Yeah that makes sense. The part where you unscrew the cap allowing the oil to drain back, and the fact that it's upside down on top of the engine.

I'm still imagining these things upside down (the other direction) and full of oil under the engine that makes a big mess LOL

Yep, my friend has a '65 Impala w/283ci that has the old school style. Not fun.