240 General: New (to me) 1980 Volvo 244

[Stephen Edwin]

Interesting re types of filter wrench.

Mike Brace's excellent how-to guide recommends the type of wrench that grips by four legs or prongs from the end of the filter, driven by a socket wrench or in some designs can be driven by a spanner.

360. That is an interesting tool. Specialised slip-joint pliers? Can it access the red block filter without risk of circuiting the alternator to earth?

David. Great idea. Are those household/kitchen tools? Are they tough enough? Does that vary as to was the filter installed by a gorilla?

David I use a strap wrench. Fabric, driven by a socket wrench.

*****

Now. We could re-discuss copper washers ????? !!!!!! ...




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[Othen]

Originally Posted by loki_the_glt

If you're left-handed oil-filter removal is a piece of cake as only your thumb is exposed to the alternator terminals and exhaust manifold!

... unfortunately my hands are far too large to fit in that little gap Loki :-)

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Stephen Edwin

Interesting re types of filter wrench.

Mike Brace's excellent how-to guide recommends the type of wrench that grips by four legs or prongs from the end of the filter, driven by a socket wrench or in some designs can be driven by a spanner.

No such animal exists, it's a 3-legged filter wrench so it auto-centralises on the body of the filter, in a similar manner a 3-jaw chuck grips the drill bit centrally.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adjustabl...m/142779863505

That's very similar to mine, the centre "nut" containing the 1/2" drive can be removed leaving a 3/8" square drive hole in the centre.
The legs point slightly inwards to increase the grip levels as it is turned tighter.


360. That is an interesting tool. Specialised slip-joint pliers? Can it access the red block filter without risk of circuiting the alternator to earth?

Be careful when you answer that Luke as the 240/740 n/asp red blocks don't have the sandwich plate oil cooler like the 940s so access is further restricted.

Dave. Great idea. Are those household/kitchen tools? Are they tough enough? Does that vary as to was the filter installed by a gorilla?

No. Why the seller indicated they are for household use i have no idea as they are listed in automotive tools. However they can be used to remove jar lids etc.

Yes, more than tough enough! I've successfully removed spin-on filters much bigger (and tighter) than you'd ever encounter on a red block plus many other uses. At one time there was a slightly different version designed to take a timing belt (some had a length of timing belt fitted at purchase) specifically for holding timing gears.

Gorillas aren't a problem as the tighter the filter, the harder you have to push on the constrictor and the tighter it grips. Being rubber it has a higher coefficient of friction/grip than the fabric strap wench you describe.

David I use a strap wrench. Fabric, driven by a socket wrench.

*****

Now. We could re-discuss copper washers ????? !!!!!! ...




.

My responses in blue above.

Copper washers? I presume you refer to the copper (or sometimes aluminium) crush washers used on the sump plugs? Dowty Washers (aka Dowty Seals) are an excellent alternative and often seal where crush washers fail to seal completely. They are specified for the sump plugs on both the gearbox and engine on my Rover, Saab use them on fuel filters (they use the same filter as most of the 7/9xx models) instead of the copper/aluminium crush washers and on the next (or subsequent) oil change on my 760, i plan on upgrading to a Dowty Washer from the standard aluminium crush washer. Depends what sizes i already have. I know i have M14 but not sure on the thread size on the 760 sump plug.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Bob Meadows

What a design- oil filter on its side!
At least you can get at it though:~

Once loose a plastic bag over the canister can save a lot of oil drips and less repeating of the words your farther warned you about!
Regards Bob.

... that was the one part I forgot about yesterday Bob. I was trying really hard not to make any mess on the drive, and was doing really well until I dropped the filter! I'll remember the plastic bag next year.

Fortunately I'd treated myself to a new pressure washer only a few weeks ago, so a few little oil splashes were soon cleaned up (and it gave me an excuse to test the washer).

Alan

[Othen]

Originally Posted by 360beast

Here you go Alan

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-...c=1&th=1&psc=1

Everyone should have a set of oil filter pliers!

You know what Luke, for just a fiver I may get myself some of those - just because they look really cool.

Alan

PS. I couldn't stop myself Luke: they are ordered - cool.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Or a Boa Constrictor :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boa-Const...k/303685415517

Given how tight the access is on a red block the Baby Boa might be better though :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOA-Baby-...h/401605631404

It's all a bit tight on the red block, always wondered why Volvo did that.

I have the boa constrictor type already Dave, but it is useless on the red block's filter, once it has enough tension to be tight it runs out of room:



The band type works fine, although it is a bit slow to screw up and release.

As both you and Bob have said: I have no idea why Volvo put the filter there!

Alan

PS. I'm going to treat myself to some of those cool pliers that Luke suggested - only a fiver (Amazon is too addictive) :-)

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

As both you and Bob have said: I have no idea why Volvo put the filter there!

Alan

When i had my last 740, i was seriously considering one of these Alan :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOCAL-REM...4/401377864667

I planned on mounting it on the chassis rail more or less alongside the alternator/slightly in front of it so it would be easy to get at the oil filter. Rivnuts would have been my preferred choice of fitting to screw into the chassis rail with a thin rubber gasket (~1-1.5mm thick) between the remote filter head and chassis rail to prevent vibration.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

When i had my last 740, i was seriously considering one of these Alan :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOCAL-REM...4/401377864667

I planned on mounting it on the chassis rail more or less alongside the alternator/slightly in front of it so it would be easy to get at the oil filter. Rivnuts would have been my preferred choice of fitting to screw into the chassis rail with a thin rubber gasket (~1-1.5mm thick) between the remote filter head and chassis rail to prevent vibration.

What a cool kit Dave.

For the RB access to the filter is possible, but just a bit irritating. If I'd bothered crawling under the car to start with it would have been much easier, and I probably wouldn't have dropped the old filter in the process (I'll use Bob's suggestion of wrapping a Tesco bag round it next time). Volvo could have put the filter almost anywhere when Sven drew it in about 1970, but chose to have it underneath the slant of the motor, under the exhaust manifold and very close to the alternator's exposed live terminal. It must have been a Friday afternoon in the drawing office and Sven wanted to get away for the weekend :-)

Alan

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

What a cool kit Dave.

For the RB access to the filter is possible, but just a bit irritating. If I'd bothered crawling under the car to start with it would have been much easier, and I probably wouldn't have dropped the old filter in the process (I'll use Bob's suggestion of wrapping a Tesco bag round it next time). Volvo could have put the filter almost anywhere when Sven drew it in about 1970, but chose to have it underneath the slant of the motor, under the exhaust manifold and very close to the alternator's exposed live terminal. It must have been a Friday afternoon in the drawing office and Sven wanted to get away for the weekend :-)

Alan

Pretty much the same as the 740 for access. I know when i once tried removing the filter from underneath, the words "never again" crossed my lips with a varied and vehement selection of suitable Anglo-Saxon derived words as well!

I know the plastic bag works well on vertical oil filters, done that a few times myself but in fairness, as long as you keep vertical filters ................ errrrrrrrrrrrrrr ................ vertical, there's no real need of a bag!

I suspect you're right about Sven but he had to put it somewhere i suppose.



Note how far back it is along the block on the B20 OHV unit, they had to move it forwards so the exhaust downpipes would clear it (and not cook the oil!) but i'm surprised they didn't use a remote filter housing and put a vertical filter somewhere easy to get at. After all, they'd done that with the B14B years before that :



As far as i can ascertain, that orange thing is the oil filter housing and i suspect it has a renewable cartridge inside.

Have to admit, i'm seriously considering fitting a remote filter to my 760, although it's aV6, the filter is mounted on the crankcase/block and is near horizontal - worse than that though is the fact there is only about 1.5" clearance between the filter and the chassis rail!

That's without the oil cooler in place!

All things to consider and maybe think about incorporating as an upgrade/improvement in the future. The 940s (or at least some of them) use a sandwich plate oil cooler between the block and the filter making the end of the filter more accessible, perhaps a chat with Luke may ellicit a used cooler from a 940 to give a bit of oil life improvement, maybe when the AW55 morphs into an AW71 or similar.

[360beast]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

Or a Boa Constrictor :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boa-Const...k/303685415517

Given how tight the access is on a red block the Baby Boa might be better though :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOA-Baby-...h/401605631404

It's all a bit tight on the red block, always wondered why Volvo did that.

I've never found a redblock tight for access tbh Dave, if you go from underneath there is loads of room.