El cargador
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To all you experienced people in 500's can anyone explain how the centrifugal oil filter works.does it need maintenance? as i have the engine out would it be wise to fiddle with it?
Technical centrifugal oil filter
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Technical centrifugal oil filter
Paolo66
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Dead easy. Basically as the oil comes through the dirt and debris cling to the slinger and dont enter the engine. If you undo all the bolts holding it on, it's just a case of cleaning it out. If it hasn't been done in a while it will probably be a thick sludge. There should be an o-ring around the edge
the hobbler
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Before you take the oil-filter cover off, make a note of its position---it has one of the timing-marks on it. If the filter has not been off for a long time the muck in it will be quite hard (and look a bit like the aluminium casing)--it will need scraping out, possibly with a small screwdriver, or similar. My recommendation is that it is done every 12,000 miles, or bi-annually if your mileage is low.
nzbobc
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Good to have a catch tray underneath as a bit of oil will come out when you remove it.
When you have it off, check the o-ring, too as it may need replacing.
When you have it off, check the o-ring, too as it may need replacing.
Definitely worth cleaning when the engine is out every time.
Centrifugal action extracts even the tiny contaminants that paper filters allow through so it's avery good system to have.
It's been discussed before here and elsewhere.
https://www.fiatforum.com/500-classic/422661-oil-filter-clean.html
http://fiat500club.org.uk/chat/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5223
Centrifugal action extracts even the tiny contaminants that paper filters allow through so it's avery good system to have.
It's been discussed before here and elsewhere.
https://www.fiatforum.com/500-classic/422661-oil-filter-clean.html
http://fiat500club.org.uk/chat/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=5223
....and here, I just wrote it up with images for the 850/900 van, which is identical.....
https://www.fiatforum.com/850t-900/451538-oil-filter-questions.html?p=4278467
...and it's here too......
https://www.fiatforum.com/showthread.php?t=451692
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the hobbler
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On the top of page 2 of the Forum you will a thread entitled 'Fiat 500 Newbee' by 'Velma 1976'----go onto page 2 of that thread, I described how to remove/clean and refit the filter cover. As others have mentioned, don't forget to fit a new 'O' ring seal.
124spiderman
Member
Very effective. Fiat used it on 1500, 2300, 850, 500, 600 and 124AC twin cam engine
I bought a donor 126 a few years ago and I don't think the oil slinger/filter had been cleaned for a while. There was quite a build up of crud around the periphery of the filter but the central part was quite clean, so these centrifugal filters do work.
Chris
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I have cracked the centrifugal oil cover on my 1970 124 spider 1438 as the bolts on the cover don’t line up well with the pulley. I am going to get another one but do you know if this cover only goes on one way? Also is it possible to eliminate the centrifugal oil filter and if so how as it has an external oil filter.Before you take the oil-filter cover off, make a note of its position---it has one of the timing-marks on it. If the filter has not been off for a long time the muck in it will be quite hard (and look a bit like the aluminium casing)--it will need scraping out, possibly with a small screwdriver, or similar. My recommendation is that it is done every 12,000 miles, or bi-annually if your mileage is low.
Thanks
the hobbler
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On the 500 and 126 engines, the cover for the centrifugal oil-filter will only fit in one position where all the bolt-holes line up; I wouldn't be surprised if Fiat designed ALL the engines that used this filtering system to be the same (and in the pictures that I have of the Fiat "twink", the cover looks exactly like the 500/126 part---and knowing Fiat, I wouldn't be surprised if it was!). Sorry I can't personally answer the question as to whether you can eliminate the centrifugal filter system and rely entirely on the external filter.
Two companies who might be able to help you with your query are:---(1) DTR European Sports Cars who specialise in the restoration of Italian cars and engines and, (2) Middle Barton Garage; they do a lot of work on Abarth engines.
A book that might give you the answer that you require is:---"Modifying and tuning Fiat/Lancia twin-cam engines: the Guy Croft workshop manual". Before his sad death (about 4 years ago) Guy was THE person to go to for tuning and modifying the Fiat/Lancia "twink"
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Thanks
