XJ remote oil filter

[BuckeyeBullet]

Hi everyone, been lurking a little bit and oogling the other overlanders while I slowly build my 2001 XJ into a weekend tripper/daily driver. I bought it with 216k and a blown engine (overheated) so I've been rebuilding the 4.0. It is nearing completion now. Has anyone here used a remote oil filter on an XJ? I'm wondering where the best place would be to put the filter. With the engine out of the vehicle it's a little hard to judge clearances but I'm thinking of mounting it inside the front frame crossmember. It is a single-filter mount since I didn't think I had the room for a dual. I don't want to put it too low but there really doesn't seem to be much room for it anywhere else. I will be fabricating a heavy-duty bumper and front skid plate which should protect the filter if it's tucked in there. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[reece146]

One of the ideas I've thought about is using one of the remote oil filter mounts out of a E36 BMW (others may be similar). Basically a basin with a lid that you undo to access the filter. On the car it is at the top of the fender and easy to access. Don't even really have to get your hands dirty to change the filter.

No idea if it will fit in an XJ engine bay though. I could make it work but I'm a little more extreme with the welder and sawmill than most.

 

[jeepdreamer]

Sub!

I don't have any actual helpful idea but I'm gonna watch and learn! If your adapter replaces the leak prone factory adapter, that will be a very good thing! I have two XJs right now (91 and 2001) and both are leaking from there! Try searching around on the Jeep Cherokee Forum or NAXJA for ideas... I'm sure it's been done.

 

[wADVr]

Maybe I missed it but why? The factory location is decent IMO. A single rectangle oil pan can catch the oil from the pan and filter in the same spot. In an already cramped engine bay I just don't see the benefit.

 

[flyfishxj]

the reason for the remote oil filter is because when you change the oil overtime oil and grime builds up on the starter which is directly below the oil filter. changed two starters on my '00 xj until I asked a good friend who is a mechanic at the local jeep dealer. at least that is the explanation I got from him.

 

[BuckeyeBullet]

I don't really like how the oil drains out all over the place, and I like a clean engine (then why am I building an off-roader?? LOL). It was mentioned the starter gets soaked, for example, and there are suspension things near there in the way. I haven't changed oil on a 4.0 or 258 in a while but when I was a mechanic I remember how much of a nuisance those were to do. Not the worst by any means, but I felt that now that I have my own I'm going to improve it. The remote mount lets me use a bigger filter and increases oil capacity a little bit by what's in the lines. Also, if I decide to add an oil cooler later on, the plumbing is already in place which is a bonus.

Reese, I forgot all about that BMW filter setup. I have seen them before, but only on BMW's. The rubber mounts to the fender tend to break, had to fix some of those before. I'm not sure how I feel about that cartridge style filter but the ease of maintenance is great.

The kit I bought was by Trans-Dapt but it did not have the correct size 3/4"-16 engine block adapter so I had to buy that part from Earl's Performance. I would recommend Earl's products because they are very well made out of machined aluminum rather than cast. Hopefully the Trans-Dapt oil lines are long enough. If did this again I would not have bought the kit. Individual pieces and hydraulic hoses made to order at the local tractor shop would be cheaper and better quality...

 

[irish1371]

get as much out of it as you can and wait until the engine is in. Then look for a spot that's is easy to change and would allow as much air as possible to pass over the filter to add some more cooling. I like the slip over magnetic blankets you can wrap around the oil filter also. They tend to trap a lot more metallic residue then without.

 

[BuckeyeBullet]

Well I put the engine in today. The oil hoses were in the way. They just barely fit without kinking if I ran them down and under the motor mount on the right side, but they were still hard up against a bolt head and the sharp edge of the motor mount bracket on the frame. I am going to try some 45 degree brass street ells on the block adapter and see if that makes it better but I ran out of oomph today. Below is a photo of the engine going in--you can see the adapter and lines. Yes it is Hemi orange I'm a Mopar guy ;-)