Seems like no matter how careful I was I'd always manage to dibble oil all over the the cradle (and me) when I changed it. Since this thing is all torn apart anyway and I'm cleaning and painting things anew, it seems like a good time to consider relocating the filter to a more accessible location and so it can hang vertically and spill less. BTW, I use PF-52 on the 2.8L.

I reckon there's gotta be a kit for this. But I remember someone once telling me that it was a bad idea for reasons that seemed well thought out (at least to him) but didn't necessarily make sense to me -something about
air in the lines after a filter change (why is that worse than the air in the new filter, tho' I always prefill mine), pressure loss (how, if it doesn't leak?), etc.

Any opinions?

I've thought about that, too. On the 3.1-liter angine (a direct descendant of our 2.8), they have a vertical oil filter. Don't know if they did it by adding a little adapter casting - but if that's how they did it, you could unbolt the adapter from a junkyard 3.1 (Chevy Lumina, etc.), and try it on the Fiero's 2.8.

Be sure to check the clearance between oil filter and the catalytic converter, frame, and so forth! The engine does rock and move around in there!

BTW, thanks for reminding me to check this out !

There's a couple ways to do this.

If the adaptor mentioned above fits that's one way.

The other is to install an adaptor plate on the motor. You then use rubber lines made for this purpose to reach a remote filter. Note: the remote filter doesn't have to be the same one normally used. On GM cars the remote filter is usually a PF40(I think) like the old V8's all use.

A remote filter gives you increased oil capacity and more filter. Don't count on it being much less messy to change. Allot of the mess part depends just how you install the lines but you nearly always spill some oil.

If you do install a remote filter your dip stick won't be acurate. You'll need to over fill the sump by the added volume of the new lines and filter. That could be a quart or more. (added volume is lines hardware and new filter minus the volume of teh original filter.)

After that you'll still have some guess work to figure out the new maintenance level. depending on how you route the lines they will drain back some or most of the oil in them after they sit awhile. The remote filter will not drain back at all if mounted open end up.

I had a remote oil filter on my 88 Mera for several years. I try to keep my car squeaky clean inside and out and undersides. Was a pain and I finally gave up. Took it off. Hard to keep from leaking. I modified it several times trying to improve the design. Problem is the adapter to the block.

Rodney, did you use a comercial made adaptor or make one? The comercial ones I've seen don't usually cause much problem.

On the spilled oil clean-up: I use orange cleaner from Home Depot. You can use it full strength in a squirt bottle. It's h2o clean-up and biodegradeable. Really cool stuff.

Easiest way to get better access to the filter in the stock location... take off the cat Works great for me!

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Mike -
Black 86.5 GT 5 Spd, 151,000 miles and counting!
Red 84 Sport Coupe - winter donut maker

Thanks for the replies.

Ogre: As far as the dipstick is concerned, I'm thinkin' the level will still read right, but the total system capacity will increase. So I can still read the stick to tell if I'm low, but I may have to add more oil after a change to make the stick level correct, doncha think? I really think if I'd overfill the sump I'd be risking the crank hitting the oil and making mayonnaise.

On a similar setup I didn't have problems will oil draining out of the lines -one of the reasons I use the PF-52 filter is because it has the anti-drain back thingy inside. And I wouldn't be attempting this unless I cold do a vertical mount, and yeah there will still be dribbles, but now I can mount it where I can catch the drips in a coffee can or something.

webbe: The problem is all of the crevices and inaccessible places the oil ends up in.

Standard: I don't have problems getting to the filter, just dealing with the mess!

Bobo, the line volume probly isn't that great on any setup you'd put in Fiero. (unless you put the filter up front.) the intial capacity, if you use a 40 filter, would be around a 1/2-3/4 quart more with the lines and filter. maybe a whole quart. Most of it would stay up in the filter.

drain back from the lines would depend on length, routing, oil vis/temp, and time. You'd want to check the oil within a minute or 2 of shutting off the motor to eliminate drainback from the dip stick reading.

Remember, the over fill, if any, would be up in the lines with the car running. At the very least you'd want to keep the oil level at the top of the dip stick OK area as much as posible to acount for the lines.

The reason I keep saying a 40 filter (or a 1A filter) is that is what most remote filter mounts take. They are built for V8 use. You can even get dual filter rigs. Getting the lines and filter mount is easy. Getting an adaptor for the block could be an issue. You might have to make one.

As for the long body 52 (3980 in Fram numbering)... I use them just for the increased filter area and slight oil capacity boost. They are also easier to reach for changing on the 4 cyl. The 47 can be a real ____ to reach. (doesn't matter if the drain back valve is there or not. You always spill oil on the 4 cyl.)

Just to let you know. I used the Permacool system and it works great. Two things to need to remember to make your dipstick come out reading correctly. Mount it as low as you can and use a filter with a drain back valve. It's a little flap of rubber that you see just inside the outer ring of holes on the filter. I routed mine around the ac compressor and mounted the relocator just on the outside of the engine cradle and in front of the tire. It's inbetween the inner fender skirt and the cradle. No leaks and I've had it a year. Well I have leaks everywhere else....just not with the adapter.

Here is an easy way to minimize oil spilled when changing filter. After slightly loosening the filter, slip a plastic bag (newspaper or bread bags are good size) over the filter and even over the mounting flange if possible. Then proceed to unscrew the filter, remove filter and bag together and bag will catch most/all of the spills.

I have an 87 Grand National and the 3.8 engine has a pitifully small oil filter.About 8 years ago I put a remote oil filter settup on that uses 2 ph8a filters.It is mounted behind the passenger side headlights and is higher than the original place on the engine.It increased my oil capacity by 2 quarts.I have never had a problem with it other than replacing the lines to it last year.You still use the same level on the dipstick.The good thing is,you can locate the filter assembly anywhere in the engine compartment you want(that is safe for the lines)

I've always wanted to relocate my oil filter and install a oil cooler but I could never find a kit that would work on the V-6 Fiero.(the drive-line absorber bracket is in the way)

Anybody know of a adapter that will fit on the V-6 block. or is this somthing that just isn't out there?

Thanks

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-Brian S.
Lincoln, NE
85' SC & 87' GT-Leather, Lowered and On The Bottle