**SOLVED** First oil change after rebuild on F engine. What is the best way to change canister filter

[Wadesters]

Doing my first oil change after F engine rebuild. It has the canister oil filter (1965). I know it has a screw at the bottom of the canister designed to drain the oil. It is directly above steering box. Not sure I could get anything below it to catch the oil. So.... at this point do I remove the top bolt and try to suck out the oil in the canister (I know once that top bolt is loose it will start leaking oil out of the bottom).
Or leave the oil lines hooked up and lift the entire oil canister up and set it in a pan and then open it up.
Just wondering what method others have done. It is a restoration so would like to have as minimal oil slop as possible.

Thank you!

 

[Mark Jennings]

Believe it or not, I’m pretty sure the Factory Service Manual has you remove the assembly then disassemble and replace the filter.

Just as a point of interest….the holes in the center tube that port oil back to the crankcase are at about half the height of the element. So if somehow you could loosen the top nut, and keep pressure on the lower O-Ring, you would find the filter housing half empty…..

Or, since the oil level in the housing has drained back to the crankcase to the height of the holes in the center pipe, you shouldn’t need more than a couple of rags to catch the drips if you pull the entire assembly. Just keep it level as you lift it out.

 

[Mark Jennings]

Attached are pictures of a 67 or 68 oil filter prepped for installation. The shaded spots are where the drain back hole is located. When installed, the hole is more like 3/4 to the bottom of the filter. Still, the key is let it drain, vent by cracking the inlet line. Be patient, even warm oil may take a while to drain back through the small hole. Then remove the assembly, keep it level and you shouldn’t spill too much on your clean engine.

 

[Wadesters]

To remove oil from the oil canister I bought a cheap $13.99 suction gun from Harbor Freight. Worked perfect.

 

[Living in the Past]

I bought one similar from HF years ago when windshield washer fluid I bought for my 100 series left a film on the windshield worse than pure water. Driving into the sun I couldn't see. Dangerous to say the least. The suction gun has long since dry rotted sitting a garage in the desert but did the trick. Standard windshield washer fluid doesn't it wouldn't freeze. Maybe more options in places other than Phoenix.

Curious how you opened the canister to suction the oil out?. Did that bolt head just remove the cap? While doesn't apply here what I've done on the 9/74+ F engine is poke a hole in the top of the oil filter which allows it drain back into the oil sump easier. Then I use a small piece of aluminium foil tape to cover the hole. Then when I quickly spin the oil filter off can flip it over to make less of a mess. Rag below the filter usually catches most the oil.