Changing Oil. By-pass valve? WTF?

[986Jim]

OK, so I'm changing my oil and when I poped out the old filter there is this plastic thing that fits into one end of the filter and has a spring and cap on it. It looks like a anti-drainback valve or oil by-pass valve.

Nothing in all the oil and filter changes talks about this piece, it's not in my bently manual either. What is this thing, is it aftermarket or something?

Tool pants, loren???? Anybody help! I'm stuck right now.

Edited April 21, 2007 by 986Jim

[eshuber]

That looks like a pressure relief valve - it fits in the bottom of the oil filter canister - flat side down. I have not seen one come loose like that. I suspect it is just a press fit in the canister.

[Loren]

eshuber is correct - just press it back in.

[986Jim]

im running without it right now is that gonna be a problem? I saw tabs in the bottom of the canister for it but it didn't really look like it fit in there to be honest so I have left it out. Maybe I should jack it back up and put that back in the bottom of the filter.

I didn't notice it when I pulled it out of the filter and I didn't wanna install it wrong and block the oil flow and smoke the motor. It was the last thing I was doing after installing my new muffler and painting the calipers. I was tired it just wasn't paying attention. When I went to throw the old filter out there it was..

[Charlestonboxster]

Cheez, you got to love this forum, many thanks to T, Loren and friends,

Renntech is a wet dream come true for us Porschefiles.

[986Jim]

eshuber was correct. Anybody searching for this in the future, here is some info I have learned through this process.

The oil in a boxster flows out of the engine to the outside of the filter. The oil flows through the filter to the center and back out to the motor from there. If that plug is not in the bottom of the filter plugging it up, the oil will flow to the path of least resistance and go up the center through the bottom and not be filtered.

That valve is to plug the bottom of the filter so it forces the oil to flow through the filter then back to the engine. That valve is a oil by-pass valve which in the unlikely case the filter become totally plugged it will open from the underside like a thermostat and allow the oil to flow up the center from the bottom unfiltered but will not choke the motor from lubrication, dirty or not. It's basically a safety in case something clogs the whole filter up.

Its just press fit into three little feet that are in the bottom of the oil filter canister. It can come apart and in my opinion now, would not be a bad idea to take it out and clean it up and check to make sure it's still together and working.

Edited April 23, 2007 by 986Jim