How to remove oil filter with upgraded AC compressor

[Fernando.Vidal]

My 911 SC has an upgraded AC compressor. Today I changed the engine oil but could not remove the oil filter. A large AC hose is on the way, just 3 mm from the oil filter. Even if I had space to wrap the oil filter tool around the oil filter (which I didn't), I wouldn't be able to screw it out, because it would be blocked by the AC hose. I have included a picture with an arrow pointing to the problem. Should I loosen the AC hose just a little bit to move it out of the way or do I risk to let the gas out? What other option do I have? Moving the entire compressor, changing the oil filter and then moving the compressor back to its place? Can you imagine having to do that every time I need to change oil and filter? Please help!!

[Brando]

Undo the bolts holding the A/C bracket to the compressor adapter. If you cannot reach those, undo the 4 bolts on the bottom of the compressor that hold it to the adapter.

Remove the airbox filter cover, set a clean rag across the top of the engine and lay the compressor over the rag. Change your filter, installation is reverse of removal.

[Scott Douglas]

That's interesting. I just did an oil change on mine yesterday and didn't have that problem.



I'm not sure what the difference is between our cars.
Can you tell from the pictures?

[mlfox]

It appears that the angle of the high pressure line needs to be changed to allow enough clearance for the oil filter's removal. You would do this by loosening the fitting nut after the system had been evacuated.

Regards,
mlfox

[my1st911]

Originally Posted by Fernando.Vidal

My 911 SC has an upgraded AC compressor. Today I changed the engine oil but could not remove the oil filter. A large AC hose is on the way, just 3 mm from the oil filter. Even if I had space to wrap the oil filter tool around the oil filter (which I didn't), I wouldn't be able to screw it out, because it would be blocked by the AC hose. I have included a picture with an arrow pointing to the problem. Should I loosen the AC hose just a little bit to move it out of the way or do I risk to let the gas out? What other option do I have? Moving the entire compressor, changing the oil filter and then moving the compressor back to its place? Can you imagine having to do that every time I need to change oil and filter? Please help!!

If it were me, Id find the correct wrench that fits the nut, and while loosening the nut flip the hose up and tighten nut quickly. you will be able to move hose, and possibly lose a tiny bit of gas, which wouldnt affect performance. You have to be quick. Pressure with system off is not that high. Just hold hose with one hand, losen nut just enough to pivot the hose up and tighten. Not a big deal

[Por_sha911]

Do not loosen the nut with the system pressurized! Besides losing refrigerant (R12 ain't cheap), breathing that stuff isn't so swell either. Hopefully you have enough slack in the hose to just rotate it on your compressor. If you paid someone to install and charge up the system, they should be willing to do the adjustment at no charge since they should have known this would be a problem.

[Fernando.Vidal]

Originally Posted by Brando

Undo the bolts holding the A/C bracket to the compressor adapter. If you cannot reach those, undo the 4 bolts on the bottom of the compressor that hold it to the adapter.

Remove the airbox filter cover, set a clean rag across the top of the engine and lay the compressor over the rag. Change your filter, installation is reverse of removal.

Thank you Brando. Very good help. I thought that this would be the only safe way, although it will take a little longer. Next time I have to service the AC, I will move this hose out of the way. The guys who installed it should have thought about it.

[Fernando.Vidal]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Do not loosen the nut with the system pressurized! Besides losing refrigerant (R12 ain't cheap), breathing that stuff isn't so swell either. Hopefully you have enough slack in the hose to just rotate it on your compressor. If you paid someone to install and charge up the system, they should be willing to do the adjustment at no charge since they should have known this would be a problem.

Thank you Joe. I tried moving the hose without loosening the nut. It's too tight. So I guess I will move the entire compressor. I don't know who installed the new AC. I recently bought the car in the U.S. (I'm in Austria) already with the new AC.

[Fernando.Vidal]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

That's interesting. I just did an oil change on mine yesterday and didn't have that problem.



I'm not sure what the difference is between our cars.
Can you tell from the pictures?

Scott, just by looking at your pictures I can tell that you have more space than I. It is a question of how and where you position the AC hoses when tightening them. The guys who installed the new AC in my car did not pay attention to this and thightened one of the hose barely touching the oil filter bottom. All I need is a few milimiters more, but loosening the hose to move it out of the way will release some gas, and I read that, besides being expensive, it is very dangerous. Thank you for your help by sending the pictures.

[Fernando.Vidal]

Originally Posted by mlfox

It appears that the angle of the high pressure line needs to be changed to allow enough clearance for the oil filter's removal. You would do this by loosening the fitting nut after the system had been evacuated.

Regards,
mlfox

Thank you mlfox. By reading all the replies, I think the best option now is moving the entire compressor. Next time I service the AC, I will change the angle of the hose, as you say.

[Fernando.Vidal]

Originally Posted by my1st911

If it were me, Id find the correct wrench that fits the nut, and while loosening the nut flip the hose up and tighten nut quickly. you will be able to move hose, and possibly lose a tiny bit of gas, which wouldnt affect performance. You have to be quick. Pressure with system off is not that high. Just hold hose with one hand, losen nut just enough to pivot the hose up and tighten. Not a big deal

I think you have a point there, and I thought seriously about doing that. But back home I read that, besides being expensive, the gas is very dangerous if it touches your skin or eyes. I don't want to risk. I'll move the entire compressor. But not now. I will wait for the next oil change. I suppose mixing 10 liters of new 10W40 with less than one liter of 20W50 which was inside the filter won't do any harm.

[rfuerst911sc]

On my SC ( with carbs ) I installed the compressor with the fittings on top. I see you have CIS so you can't do that so " clocking " the existing hoses to gain clearance is your only option.

[RSTarga]

While your at it get your hoses crimped instead of depending on a hose clamp

[my1st911]

Originally Posted by Fernando.Vidal

I think you have a point there, and I thought seriously about doing that. But back home I read that, besides being expensive, the gas is very dangerous if it touches your skin or eyes. I don't want to risk. I'll move the entire compressor. But not now. I will wait for the next oil change. I suppose mixing 10 liters of new 10W40 with less than one liter of 20W50 which was inside the filter won't do any harm.

Well you would be doing it so fast that the amount of gas would be almost nothing. The gas is not dangerous to your skin. Its just cold. Wear eye protection. Everyone that says not to do it have no experience in the real wolrd working in the automotive field. Its not that big of a deal. Pressure is not high, and it can be done in under a second

[my1st911]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Do not loosen the nut with the system pressurized! Besides losing refrigerant (R12 ain't cheap), breathing that stuff isn't so swell either. Hopefully you have enough slack in the hose to just rotate it on your compressor. If you paid someone to install and charge up the system, they should be willing to do the adjustment at no charge since they should have known this would be a problem.

What pressure do you think is in tha a/c? I didnt tell him to remove hose, I said slightly loosen enough to pivot hose up. Does he have r12? I doubt he does. The hose and the fitting are in the way, so bending high side hose wont do a thing. He could have the installer make the adjustment, in which case he will probably loosen nut just a tad, and rotate hose up.

[brads911sc]

+1.

This is not a big deal. Loosen the nut 1/4 a turn, rotate the hose up. You are going to lose so little gas you wont even notice. I did this to mine and i dont think I lost any gas. You lose more gas removing the charge hose.

Originally Posted by my1st911

What pressure do you think is in tha a/c? I didnt tell him to remove hose, I said slightly loosen enough to pivot hose up. Does he have r12? I doubt he does. The hose and the fitting are in the way, so bending high side hose wont do a thing. He could have the installer make the adjustment, in which case he will probably loosen nut just a tad, and rotate hose up.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by RSTarga

While your at it get your hoses crimped instead of depending on a hose clamp

It was standard practice " back in the day " to use a hose clamp on the larger diameter suction side hose as there is not much pressure. High pressure side ( smaller diameter ) is a different story but I agree with you the best would be if both have crimps vs. clamps. Not sure how you crimp them when the hoses are installed in the car ?

[my1st911]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

It was standard practice " back in the day " to use a hose clamp on the larger diameter suction side hose as there is not much pressure. High pressure side ( smaller diameter ) is a different story but I agree with you the best would be if both have crimps vs. clamps. Not sure how you crimp them when the hoses are installed in the car ?

Handheld a/c hose crimper is about the only way

Handheld A/C Hose Crimping Tool - Tools & More

[Fernando.Vidal]

Originally Posted by my1st911

Well you would be doing it so fast that the amount of gas would be almost nothing. The gas is not dangerous to your skin. Its just cold. Wear eye protection. Everyone that says not to do it have no experience in the real wolrd working in the automotive field. Its not that big of a deal. Pressure is not high, and it can be done in under a second

I'll try loosening just a very little bit and then I'll try moving the hose. If I see no result, I won't go further. Thank you again ...

[Vmarch]

Why not take the car back to the shoemaker AC guy that installed the new compressor and hose. Was he blind? Make him move the hose and eat the charge or get an estimate, have it done by a better shop and take his dumb behind to small claims court.