Oil Filter System

[SailingAlien]

I have been looking at Indigo's oil filter system for my Atomic 4. I especially like the claim that it simplifies oil changes (no sump pump) and increases the amount of oil removed. Does anyone have experience with this filter? Is it as straight forward to install as they claim? At $80 it seems like a deal.
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hemp (http://marijuanahemp.com)

[Wes]

I have been looking at Indigo's oil filter system for my Atomic 4. I especially like the claim that it simplifies oil changes (no sump pump) and increases the amount of oil removed. Does anyone have experience with this filter? Is it as straight forward to install as they claim? At $80 it seems like a deal.

Is there a special reason why you think you need one? I only use my a-4 to get in and out of the harbor. She might run 10 or 15 hours in a year not really enough for the oil to break down and get dirty to were she needs a filter. Just my thoughts...

[jhwelch]

I put almost 6,000 hours on my motor, doing oil changes at about the recommended
interval, before I took it out, and that was because the rear oil seal had failed.

I think one of the things that will keep a motor "happy" is to let it get up
to operating temperature, which sometimes takes 1-2 hours of going along
at cruising speed.

-jonathan

[SailingAlien]

Is there a special reason why you think you need one? I only use my a-4 to get in and out of the harbor. She might run 10 or 15 hours in a year not really enough for the oil to break down and get dirty to were she needs a filter. Just my thoughts...

The special reason would be to keep the engine happy but you could be right. I won't be running it more than 30 hours over the season - if that much. So she might be good as is. She starts easy, runs well and just had her spring service. Thanks.
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XR400 (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Honda_XR400)

[marthur]

I installed the oil filter. To put this in perspective, we run our motor more than some (100+ hours a season) and I change the oil religiously at 50 hours. Here are my observations:

1. The oil pressure regulator on the Indigo oil filter system gives a much more uniform oil pressure than the original A-4. I get an even 40lbs from idle to full speed.

2. Oil changes are a little easier. I hook my oil remover to the filter system (easier) but have to change the filter (messy if you are not careful).

3. There was a dramatic and visible improvement in the color and clarity of the oil I removed during the first couple of changes. The oil I now remove looks much cleaner than the oil I used to remove during an oil change.

4. Installing the filter system was pretty much as advertised on the Indigo site with two exceptions. It took a little longer, perhaps due to access issues (access to the carburetor side of the engine is not great on the Catalina 27) and I used a slightly longer than provided hose to put the filter in a more accessible location.

Hope this helps,

Mike

[sastanley]

Hi All,

Bringing up an old thread..considering the Indigo system this year.

How does the oil pressure regulation work? Do you remove the old bolt/spring/ball thingie? I have a problem with oil pressure, although it gradually improves as the engine warms up. I am hoping to solve the pressure problem, provide filtration & make oil changes easier all at the same time.

Thanks!

[Dave Neptune]

Shawn, I hate to be the one to bring this up to you BUT here goes. I had a big block Ford motor in a jet boat that we re-did (bearing faliure) to many times before the owner finally gave us this information~~my oil preassure is ok (low) when the motor is cold but seems to rise when warm:eek:. What we discovered was a piece of "casting" in the passage from the oil pump. As the oil warmed "flow increased" and the preassure rose due to the volume of oil getting past the restriction to the regulator. I wouldn't worry to much as 25 lbs should be fine in one of these beasties.

Dave Neptune:cool:

[sastanley]

Dave, the pressure is so low on startup that I sometimes wonder if the gauge is even working. :eek::rolleyes:

If I rev the engine in neutral faster than I can ever get it to run in gear (i.e. 3,000 rpm) the pressure will rise to 40 PSI, but it always comes back to 5 - 6 at light cruising RPM (1,500) until the engine is what I would call "fully warmed up" - 45 minutes or so, then it eventually will run ~30psi..it takes more than an hour to get it that high though.

I guess my question really is, how does the oil pressure regulator thingie work, and if mine is causing a problem, will removing it make any difference? Do I remove it and clean it and re-install? Maybe there is some sludge in the regulator assembly? I can understand what you mean by cold, thick oil having trouble flowing around a restriction until it warms up & thins out.

Incidentally, up until this winter's recent oil change, the motor has had Mobil1 10w30. Since straight 30 weight is recommended by MMI, I decided to go back to Rotella SAE 30 next season and see if it makes any difference.

I am still thinking about getting the Indigo filter system though. Even though this engine probably has 1,000 hours on it, I figure it is never too late to start taking care of her.

[Dave Neptune]

Shawn, although I have yet to need to check or adjust the oil preassure on my engine I would assume it is the same as almost all regulators on engines are. They are not truly a regulator at all but a "preassre relief valve", a much simpler and more reliable set up. All it is is a needle and seat in front of the oil pump (much like in the carb just mare robust) with the spring preassure pushing against the needle which is the adjustable part. As the oil is pumped from the pump into the oil delivery galley(S) the system begins to preassurize. As the preassure rises it applies preassure against the needle pushing it off of the seat, as the needle lifts off the seat the preassure is relieved by diverting the excess oil (the volume part of the equation) back into the pan. The action of the needle and the volume of the flow back to the pan control the preassure maintained in the galleys.
My thoughts are that you may have a restriction in "flow" which heat will help or something could be stuck under the seat holding the valve partially open. When you try the straight 30wt, if the idle preassure drops from where it is now while cold this could possibly be your problem, or perhaps a plugged intake screen which is somewhat doubtful.
Do you have a static preassure gage mounted with the sending unit? A cheap good idea if your not positive on the electronic gage. I have two static preassure gages in my engine compartment one oil and one fuel.
I put my bypass filter on when I bought the boat and she was 14 years old then. It's never to late. I actually think the A-4 is going to fall off the rusting mounts before she wears out!

Dave Neptune:cool: