Peroni
Member
Installing this bypass system has been a long time coming and I probably should have done it years ago. My intent was not so much to stretch out the oil change interval - I'm already getting 10K out of the Schaeffer 5-40 - but to keep it cleaner longer. There are all sorts of oil bypass systems out there available for purchase but as with most things I took the diy route. Luber Finer sells a kit with the filter and filter head in one convenient box. The part number is ZKIT9750.
Much has already been said about the Luber Finer LFP9750 filter. With its innovative zinc louvered plates and 2 micron @98.7% rating it's a phenomenal filter. It's also very big with an od of 5.35" and a length of 12.2" this filter will add another 4 quarts to the system. The shear size of the filter means finding a spot where it will fit and not hang too low is a challenge. Luber Finer rates the filter for both vertical and horizontal use. With no practical place on my truck for a vertical mount I went with a horizontal one.
I found a spot inside the passenger side frame rail right by the rear spring mount. This location kept the filter up out of the way and afforded some limited protection. It was also just far enough from the exhaust so excess heat wouldn't be a problem. One could just drill 3 holes and bolt the filter head in that way but I think there are enough holes in the frame already. I made up a simple adapter plate that captured 3 existing holes in the frame to allow for a no drill install.
Next task as to figure out how to hook up the feed and return lines. I used the existing 1/8npt port in the filter head for the feed. A 1/8npt x 3/8JIC adapter was used here. I drilled the adapter thru with a #7 drill and tapped it 1/4-20. Next I sourced a 1/4 set screw and drilled an approx .075 hole straight thru the center axis. This was then installed into the adapter with Locktite. The filter head has a .090 or so orifice already but I felt that was too big.
For the return I used the 3/8npt port located just aft of the oil cooler. I also needed this port to return oil from my CCV filter which slightly complicated the install. Using a short nipple to clear the oil cooler housing a tee was used to connect both the bypass and CCV return lines.
On the filter head I used two 90° street ells, a nipple and an elbow to bring the feed line even with the return line. Doing this helped keep the feed line from getting too close to the exhaust. A pair of 45° JIC fittings helped keep the house routing as straight as possible for easy connection and a neat appearance.
For the hoses I used PTFE line braided stainless ordered from Paragon Performance. They are routed up over the top of the transmission. I zip tied them tightly together then snaked the pair thru a length of woven kevlar hose protector procured from my local Cat hydraulics dept. This too was zip tied tightly around the hoses. Next time the transmission is out I plan to clip the hoses to underside of the cab instead of just laying freely on the trans. So far there have been no issues with chafing with the current arrangement.
I have nearly 5000 trouble free miles on this setup so far. No oil analysis yet but I can say that it should come back excellent - especially since I paired the 9750 with a Donaldson ELF7405 primary filter. The oil looks noticeably cleaner so the bypass is doing its job. Usually by now the oil would be black and have a funky smell to it. With the bypass installed it both looks and smells like new oil and still retains its green color.
I've approx $230 tied up in this system. The zkit9750 was about $110 shipped, hoses $90 shipped with the rest going to my local Parker store for brass fittings. Not totally out of line with the commercial kits available.
I will make sure to post up my next oil analysis results this fall along with the one done just previous to the bypass being installed. Should be interesting.
Much has already been said about the Luber Finer LFP9750 filter. With its innovative zinc louvered plates and 2 micron @98.7% rating it's a phenomenal filter. It's also very big with an od of 5.35" and a length of 12.2" this filter will add another 4 quarts to the system. The shear size of the filter means finding a spot where it will fit and not hang too low is a challenge. Luber Finer rates the filter for both vertical and horizontal use. With no practical place on my truck for a vertical mount I went with a horizontal one.
I found a spot inside the passenger side frame rail right by the rear spring mount. This location kept the filter up out of the way and afforded some limited protection. It was also just far enough from the exhaust so excess heat wouldn't be a problem. One could just drill 3 holes and bolt the filter head in that way but I think there are enough holes in the frame already. I made up a simple adapter plate that captured 3 existing holes in the frame to allow for a no drill install.
Next task as to figure out how to hook up the feed and return lines. I used the existing 1/8npt port in the filter head for the feed. A 1/8npt x 3/8JIC adapter was used here. I drilled the adapter thru with a #7 drill and tapped it 1/4-20. Next I sourced a 1/4 set screw and drilled an approx .075 hole straight thru the center axis. This was then installed into the adapter with Locktite. The filter head has a .090 or so orifice already but I felt that was too big.
For the return I used the 3/8npt port located just aft of the oil cooler. I also needed this port to return oil from my CCV filter which slightly complicated the install. Using a short nipple to clear the oil cooler housing a tee was used to connect both the bypass and CCV return lines.
On the filter head I used two 90° street ells, a nipple and an elbow to bring the feed line even with the return line. Doing this helped keep the feed line from getting too close to the exhaust. A pair of 45° JIC fittings helped keep the house routing as straight as possible for easy connection and a neat appearance.
For the hoses I used PTFE line braided stainless ordered from Paragon Performance. They are routed up over the top of the transmission. I zip tied them tightly together then snaked the pair thru a length of woven kevlar hose protector procured from my local Cat hydraulics dept. This too was zip tied tightly around the hoses. Next time the transmission is out I plan to clip the hoses to underside of the cab instead of just laying freely on the trans. So far there have been no issues with chafing with the current arrangement.
I have nearly 5000 trouble free miles on this setup so far. No oil analysis yet but I can say that it should come back excellent - especially since I paired the 9750 with a Donaldson ELF7405 primary filter. The oil looks noticeably cleaner so the bypass is doing its job. Usually by now the oil would be black and have a funky smell to it. With the bypass installed it both looks and smells like new oil and still retains its green color.
I've approx $230 tied up in this system. The zkit9750 was about $110 shipped, hoses $90 shipped with the rest going to my local Parker store for brass fittings. Not totally out of line with the commercial kits available.
I will make sure to post up my next oil analysis results this fall along with the one done just previous to the bypass being installed. Should be interesting.