Mobil 1 Filters?
 

Hey Folks, changed my oil & filter as typical and installed M1-204 Mobil 1 filter + 5 quarts Castrol. Fired up, oil pressure fine, no leaks. Check level and level is high. Pulled off filter and only get about 4 oz of oil to pour out, but filter seems to be heavy enough that more oil is held inside. Is it possible, filter defective and bypass valve is open? Anybody else experience before?

If it's not under pressure, the oil on the other side of the filter media isn't going to just run out. Leave it upside down for a while in the drain and it'll mostly drain. If the bypass were open then most likely it would all run out.

Or are you worried just because the filter didn't actually hold a whole quart? If that's the case just spin that baby back on and stop worrying. they never do unless you are using an over sized filter.

Steve

No, my concern is that the the oil level is now showing abnormally high. Never been a factor prior to this filter. I did let it drain for an hour or so, a little more came out but not much. Reinstalled, same overfill condition. Mystery to me. I guess my only safe option is to replace filter with another.
This was the first time I had tried one of these.

Why chance it Buy a different filter

Sounds like for a given physical size, the Mobil 1 filter must have more filter medium and will hold less oil.

Cut one open to find out.

If that's the case, I'd call it a bonus and nothing to worry about.

I've done a little online research on oil filters and Mobil 1 is suppose to be one of the best. Try another one and see what happens...

You can try m1301, its a bigger filter, I use it, never had a problem.

Thanks for all the replys. No room for the larger filter size. I tend to agree that Mobil 1 may indeed have greater "filter media" than most. This is why I asked if any other owners may have had a similar experience.

I am slaying other dragons at the moment, but will update after the mystery is solved.
Thanks again to all who offered their input.

Best filter on market as far as pressure drop,micron rating, etc is Royal Purple.

Champion Labs also makes , Mobil-1, K&N, Deustch, Chaamp, Bosch and STP. I wonder what the surface sq. inches are for the royal purple.
I read that most of the time we are by-passing our oil anyway.
System 1 lets you choose your micron size I believe.

this is on a 289. right ? I use the M1-301 on my 289. No issues for the past 9 years. Don't know about the#204 filter, why use it instead of the larger 301 ? If the engine bay is too small to accommodate a M1-301, I would use a remote filter set-up so I could use a decent sized oil filter. Well worth the effort.

Z.

I generally use Jomar (non bypass), Wix Racing (non bypass) Baldwin or Ford Racing Filters. Amazing the difference in filters when you take them apart. Change oil every 1000 miles and filter every 500 miles. Like to open filter every 500 miles to see whats going on in engine.

An obvious question is does the Mobil 1 filter have an anti drainback valve or check valve? Mobil 1 sites states they only put check valves in filters that the OE requires has same. I have used the mobil M1-301 on a SBF but never the one you noted. Cannot even find it on the Mobil 1 site when I try to located under a SBF.

If no check valve or anti drain back valve the level of oil in filter will drain down until oil can no longer return to the engine through the supply hole from the pump. This will allow oil filter on a SBF to drain down about 2/3 of the way when engine if left after running due to fact filter on side and angled slighly downward. Drainback valve is generally a rubber flapper that can be seen through the inlet holes which are the holes on the outside of the mounting area. Keeps oil filter full so engine does not run dry during initial startup. Will show oil above full if engine sits after running.

I think this may be your issue.

PS: Mobil 1 filters are a great product. Used exclusively with their synthetic oil on a forged stroker 383 LT1 that we ran as hard as you can run an engine. Pulled it apart as general maintanence after 500 hard hours of use in marine environment and the engine was perfect.