Help! Anyone install a bypass oil filter on 2003 7.3? - Diesel Forum

vangentr · 05-25-2007, 10:43 AM

Hello all, thought this was going to be a piece of cake based upon the instructions received with the Oilguard bypass filter - but I should have looked under the van first!

My question is where is the high pressure oil fitting to feed the Oilguard? The only bolts I see on my filter/oil cooler housing appear to be 2 mounting bolts, a large fitting attached to a factory sensor of some sort, and a smaller fitting which when removed poured out coolant. I took some pics of my setup, but don't have any way to get them here (yet) - will work on that in a few days...was hoping someone might have experience with this setup though...

Any information greatly appreciated.

I did try searching this forum for info first, but didn't find any specific information with pics - it seems that maybe the 2003 setup is a bit different.

msnunes · 05-25-2007, 11:18 AM

As you have just discovered (the hard way), vans have a different oil cooler than the trucks. So you can't hook it up the same way.

If you look farther to the rear of the engine, behind the cooler, you should find a small square plug -- I believe it's 1/8" pipe thread. That has oil pressure that many (if not all) of us use to feed our bypass filters. Actually, I'm not aware of anywhere else to find oil pressure on the engine, at least on the driver's side.

For a return, you can use the recessed plug above the pan that's in the same general area (it should take accept 5/16 square stock I believe). Others have chosen to to return oil to the head or to the oil fill neck, but I think that plug is easiest. Of course, you should be attempting to mount the filter somewhere on the driver's side of the frame, either under the door or behind it, to keep your hoses shorter.

Good luck...

vangentr · 05-25-2007, 11:51 AM

OK, I think I remember seeing that plug last night, near the return plug. I presume to test for pressure at that port, I could simply attach the fitting and hose and see if oil squirts out when engine is started.

Thanks!

msnunes · 05-25-2007, 05:18 PM

I wouldn't start the engine, you might get more than you bargained for ... just pull the plug if you want. Oil should ooze out naturally.

vangentr · 06-01-2007, 09:03 AM

Thanks for the help!

I finally got back to finishing the install last night using the port you suggested.

Next on the list - AirDog install and gauges...

AL_Fishing · 06-01-2007, 05:27 PM

Does anyone have good deyailed photos of the bypass install?

Thanks, AL

vangentr · 06-01-2007, 10:03 PM

I didn't take pictures (yet), but the following link is pretty good - has a good picture of the oil supply port...which I stumbled across after getting help from msnunes.

http://www.carterrv.com/e350bypassfi...passfilter.asp

I have had problems in getting to this site reliably - often reports cannot find server or DNS error.

One difference I found on my install is the OilGuard unit I received is much larger than the one apparently used in the aforementioned site and I couldn't mount it on the outside frame rail between the door - no clearance. Mounted mine on the transmission cross-member with the bottom of the filter facing forward. I should have time to take pictures tomorrow and post an update.

vangentr · 06-02-2007, 05:19 PM

Pictures:

View of connections to engine block (driver side)
Left most connection is oil return line
http://nwboronet.com/~rvg/OilBypass/...sFilter001.jpg

View of filter mounting from front to rear of vehicle (driver side)
http://nwboronet.com/~rvg/OilBypass/...sFilter002.jpg

View of filter mounting from rear to front of vehicle (driver side)
http://nwboronet.com/~rvg/OilBypass/...sFilter003.jpg

Thanks again to msnunes who pointed out the oil pressure supply fitting!