I recently removed the oil filter adapter on my engine to investigate an issue, and upon reinstallation I realized I faced a conundrum: How to make sure the Vernatherm is lined up?
For best oil cooling, we want the conical tip of the Vernatherm to mate perfectly with its seat, which requires them both to be perfectly concentric. If you have the kind of oil filter adapter where the Vernatherm screws in from the back and points forward - including the right-angle filter adapters from B&C and ECI - then the Vernatherm is mounted inside the adapter, and the seat is on the back of the accessory case. Therefore the positioning of the filter adapter should be as precise as possible, yet the mounting bolts have quite a bit of slop. (old thread on this issue here)
This drawing shows an old-school oil pressure screen, not a filter adapter, but the principle is the same:
One way to ensure proper alignment is to heat the Vernathem in boiling water, causing it to extend, then quickly install it in the filter adapter and run to bolt the whole assembly to the accessory case. I wanted a more leisurely process, so made this thing on my lathe:
Combined with all the following parts, most of which were salvaged from an old dead Vernatherm I obtained:
Voila, a spring-loaded Vernatherm alignment tool, which looks like this when assembled:
The best way to explain how it works it to show it in action:
With the small spring compressed, the shoulder on the aluminum piece is held against the Vernatherm housing, which keeps it quite square and leaves the conical tip protruding slightly from the filter adapter. This helps you keep it perfectly aligned just right while you install and torque the bolts, during which time the big spring holds the cone against the seat. Then you remove the tool and install the real Vernatherm in the normal way.
Maybe overkill, but a fun little project, and it makes me feel better about the alignment of my reinstalled oil filter adapter.
One last note: If you have the non-angled kind of filter adapter, your Vernatherm and seat are both contained within the filter adapter, so there are no adjustments to be made and no alignment problems to worry about:
For best oil cooling, we want the conical tip of the Vernatherm to mate perfectly with its seat, which requires them both to be perfectly concentric. If you have the kind of oil filter adapter where the Vernatherm screws in from the back and points forward - including the right-angle filter adapters from B&C and ECI - then the Vernatherm is mounted inside the adapter, and the seat is on the back of the accessory case. Therefore the positioning of the filter adapter should be as precise as possible, yet the mounting bolts have quite a bit of slop. (old thread on this issue here)
This drawing shows an old-school oil pressure screen, not a filter adapter, but the principle is the same:
One way to ensure proper alignment is to heat the Vernathem in boiling water, causing it to extend, then quickly install it in the filter adapter and run to bolt the whole assembly to the accessory case. I wanted a more leisurely process, so made this thing on my lathe:
Combined with all the following parts, most of which were salvaged from an old dead Vernatherm I obtained:
Voila, a spring-loaded Vernatherm alignment tool, which looks like this when assembled:
The best way to explain how it works it to show it in action:
With the small spring compressed, the shoulder on the aluminum piece is held against the Vernatherm housing, which keeps it quite square and leaves the conical tip protruding slightly from the filter adapter. This helps you keep it perfectly aligned just right while you install and torque the bolts, during which time the big spring holds the cone against the seat. Then you remove the tool and install the real Vernatherm in the normal way.
Maybe overkill, but a fun little project, and it makes me feel better about the alignment of my reinstalled oil filter adapter.
One last note: If you have the non-angled kind of filter adapter, your Vernatherm and seat are both contained within the filter adapter, so there are no adjustments to be made and no alignment problems to worry about:
Last edited:
