KatanaPilot
Well Known Member
I have a Titan IO-360-EXP in our RV-7A. It came with an installed 90 degree oil filter adapter and uses the Champion CH48108-1 filter. This filter has both a bypass and anti-drainback valve installed per Champion specs. The filter sits about 45 degrees upwards to the vertical when installed.
During cold starts (after the engine has sat for a few hours), the oil pressure is slow to rise. If the engine has run recently (like at a fuel stop), the oil pressure rises immediately.
I initially suspected a sensor issue, but the hot starts and immediate oil pressure put that to rest. Then I wondered if the orientation of the oil filter was allowing it to drain back in the engine - and it had to refill on subsequent starts before oil pressure could build.
I believe I confirmed that today when we changed the oil for the first time at 10 hours. We drained the sump hot but left the oil filter for later (like 5 hours later). Upon removal, I expected the usual pint or so of oil to drain out, but we got nothing. Not a drop. So while the anti-drainback valve might help with a filter in a horizontal or hanging down vertical position, it seems to do little to nothing in our installation.
The oil changes are very clean and access to the oil filter is very easy - but I am not happy about the essentially dry starts with this adapter. I don't really want to crank the engine with ignition off to build oil pressure, but that might be a possibility.
Am I missing something or is this just a "feature" of these adapters and does anyone have any suggestions (besides installing a pre-oiler)?
During cold starts (after the engine has sat for a few hours), the oil pressure is slow to rise. If the engine has run recently (like at a fuel stop), the oil pressure rises immediately.
I initially suspected a sensor issue, but the hot starts and immediate oil pressure put that to rest. Then I wondered if the orientation of the oil filter was allowing it to drain back in the engine - and it had to refill on subsequent starts before oil pressure could build.
I believe I confirmed that today when we changed the oil for the first time at 10 hours. We drained the sump hot but left the oil filter for later (like 5 hours later). Upon removal, I expected the usual pint or so of oil to drain out, but we got nothing. Not a drop. So while the anti-drainback valve might help with a filter in a horizontal or hanging down vertical position, it seems to do little to nothing in our installation.
The oil changes are very clean and access to the oil filter is very easy - but I am not happy about the essentially dry starts with this adapter. I don't really want to crank the engine with ignition off to build oil pressure, but that might be a possibility.
Am I missing something or is this just a "feature" of these adapters and does anyone have any suggestions (besides installing a pre-oiler)?