ALH Oil filter housing on 1Z

96passat1z · Dec 31, 2012

I picked up a '96 Passat wagon 2-1/2 years ago for $500 due to a limp mode misdiagnosed as a turbo failure at 214K miles. I've put almost 50K on it since then. It has a weak cylinder and misfires until it warms up a bit and is hard to start in cold weather. I don't have the time, money, or space to pull it and tear it down right now, so I plan to install a tank-type engine heater similar to a FrostHeater. Unfortunately, although there is plenty of space under the hood, VW has seen fit to fill all that usable space by putting everything from hoses to reservoirs along the bottom of the engine where I need to put the heater. To free up some space, I would like to get rid of the 1Z's coffee can spin-on oil filter and replace it with the ALH canister housing if possible. Does anyone know if the ALH filter housing will bolt up to a 1Z block?

oilhammer · Dec 31, 2012

Nope. Totally different engine, virtually no parts are interchangeable.

john.jackson9213 · Dec 31, 2012

96passat1z said:
I picked up a '96 Passat wagon 2-1/2 years ago for $500 due to a limp mode misdiagnosed as a turbo failure at 214K miles. I've put almost 50K on it since then. It has a weak cylinder and misfires until it warms up a bit and is hard to start in cold weather. I don't have the time, money, or space to pull it and tear it down right now, so I plan to install a tank-type engine heater similar to a FrostHeater. Unfortunately, although there is plenty of space under the hood, VW has seen fit to fill all that usable space by putting everything from hoses to reservoirs along the bottom of the engine where I need to put the heater. To free up some space, I would like to get rid of the 1Z's coffee can spin-on oil filter and replace it with the ALH canister housing if possible. Does anyone know if the ALH filter housing will bolt up to a 1Z block?

You need to get rid of that crappy POS!!! Call me immediately! I will refund your purchase price and tow that junk out of your life to Sunny California, where cold starts will never be a problem. Surely you owe that car a kindly retirement?

Windex · Dec 31, 2012

Why not just install a standard block heater on the back of the block? The 1Z/AHU blocks have frost plugs to allow this where the ALH does not.

My block heater works quite well and takes up no additional room in the engine bay.

96passat1z · Dec 31, 2012

Windex said:
Why not just install a standard block heater on the back of the block? The 1Z/AHU blocks have frost plugs to allow this where the ALH does not.

My block heater works quite well and takes up no additional room in the engine bay.

Where is your heater located? I have yet to see a casting plug on my engine block.

96passat1z · Dec 31, 2012

john.jackson9213 said:
You need to get rid of that crappy POS!!! Call me immediately! I will refund your purchase price and tow that junk out of your life to Sunny California, where cold starts will never be a problem. Surely you owe that car a kindly retirement?

That's what the used car broker who buys cars from the dealership where I work said to me shortly after I bought it. He said, "You'll NEVER get rid of that thing, will you?"

96passat1z · Dec 31, 2012

oilhammer said:
Nope. Totally different engine, virtually no parts are interchangeable.

Bummer. Maybe I'll relocate the filter then. It's a PITA in that location anyway.

Windex · Dec 31, 2012

96passat1z said:
Where is your heater located? I have yet to see a casting plug on my engine block.

On the back of the block. Generic AHU/1Z block:

My block heater is in the leftmost (closest to the transmission) hole.

Abacus · Dec 31, 2012

That is not what the back of an AHU/1Z block looks like...there isn't enough rust.

96passat1z · Jan 1, 2013

Windex said:
On the back of the block. Generic AHU/1Z block:

My block heater is in the leftmost (closest to the transmission) hole.

Must be well covered by the intake, exhaust, and turbo. Relocating the OF and using my tank heater will be an easier install, methinks.

96passat1z · Jan 1, 2013

Abacus said:
That is not what the back of an AHU/1Z block looks like...there isn't enough rust.

Then again, if one of those plugs rusts through, putting a heater back there would be the best option

96passat1z · Jan 1, 2013

So, considering my options, any recommendations on where to buy a remote filter kit and/or a casting hole heater? Do I have to buy the heater based on the size of the casting hole, or is there a model-specific one available? I haven't been able to locate a casting plug heater based on the car. Also, I don't have a source for a VW-specific OF adapter.

Mcgink · Jan 1, 2013

Why not just get a frost heater specific for the B4? www.frostheater.com

96passat1z · Jan 1, 2013

Mcgink said:
Why not just get a frost heater specific for the B4? www.frostheater.com

Cost is a consideration. I picked up this heater for ~$50. I can fit it right against the OF, but would rather have more clearance for oil changes. Plus, I would rather reposition the OF to make oil changes easier anyway.

ToddA1 · Jan 3, 2013

Windex said:
On the back of the block. Generic AHU/1Z block:

Any idea what that thread size is, for the oil return?

Abacus said:
That is not what the back of an AHU/1Z block looks like...there isn't enough rust.

Mine looks like that, too. It's protected by a film of CV grease.

96passat1z said:
Cost is a consideration. I picked up this heater for ~$50.

Which heater did you get? The cylindrical tank heaters are hard to fit. I have 2 and will likely use them on an old Rabbit. I just bought a 1500w Zerostart so it should make life slightly easier.

Before the last purchase, I also bought a couple block heaters. Installation would be tough without removing quite a bit...

The Frostheater kit makes life a lot easier, but obviously you pay for the convenience. The parts are easily sourced.

-Todd

G60ING · Jan 3, 2013

Buy the oil filter flange adaptor from amsoil. Buy any oil filter flange, hose and fittings from summit/jeggs.

Here is my amsoil by-pass filter setup: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5812413-I-Hate-Changing-my-Corrado-s-Oil-Filter...Remote-Oil-Filter

The fittings that came with the kit were way to bulky and didn't allow for me to mount it without rubbing or poor hose routing so bought hose and fittings from jeggs. I wish I had pieced together the kit, it would have been cheaper.

96passat1z · Jan 3, 2013

ToddA1 said:
Any idea what that thread size is, for the oil return?
Mine looks like that, too. It's protected by a film of CV grease.
Which heater did you get? The cylindrical tank heaters are hard to fit. I have 2 and will likely use them on an old Rabbit. I just bought a 1500w Zerostart so it should make life slightly easier.
Before the last purchase, I also bought a couple block heaters. Installation would be tough without removing quite a bit...
The Frostheater kit makes life a lot easier, but obviously you pay for the convenience. The parts are easily sourced.
-Todd

It's a Kat's Five Star, 1500W. It's a smaller diameter than the Zerostart, but taller.

ToddA1 · Jan 3, 2013

I also have those. You found a place to fit that?

-Todd

96passat1z · Jan 4, 2013

ToddA1 said:
I also have those. You found a place to fit that?

-Todd

That's what I'm working on right now. Hence, the discussion about relocating the oil filter. I thought if I could but an ALH filter housing in the 1Z, I could hang the heater on the housing without it being in the way during oil changes.

ToddA1 · Jan 5, 2013

Maybe returning the Kat's and getting a Zerostart would be an easier solution. This is what I'm looking to do. The way my Kat's 13150 hangs down was my issue.

The Zerostart 330-8003 has a very small footprint and should be able to be mounted where the Frost heater mounts. There's a check valve in it, but it's easily removed.

-Todd

VWannabe · Jan 5, 2013

Buy the oil filter flange adaptor from amsoil. Buy any oil filter flange, hose and fittings from summit/jeggs.

What size adapter do you buy?

G60ING · Jan 5, 2013

VWannabe said:
What size adapter do you buy?

From my order confirmation:
Product ID: BK295-EA
Product Name: Spin On Adapter*
Attributes (if any):
Price: $56.25
Quantity: 1

VWannabe · Jan 6, 2013

G60ING, if you were just going to do a single filter setup, just a remote location, what filter mount would you go with? Also, could you post the fittings you used? That setup looks almost factory and is actually better than factory due to additional filtering.

G60ING · Jan 6, 2013

I have no idea on the filter mount, I spent a lot of time figuring out which dual filter mount I would go with. As for the fittings It looks like I lost my jegs email with all of the part numbers. I did do a follow up order and here are a couple of the pieces that I had to get on the follow up:
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+Products/555/110022/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/Russell/799/629140/10002/-1
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rus-614807
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-220886b

I was in a time crunch so I ordered from both places to get the in-stock parts that I wanted.

G60ING · Jan 6, 2013

I found some pics of what I ordered originally:

Here is a link to the hose based on length:
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...4960982+3003119+3012409&catalogId=10002&Nty=0

G60ING · Jan 6, 2013

You might want to also consider a larger oil cooler since you are increasing the oil capacity and cooling it slightly with the remote filter. Take a look at this link: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=363666

ALH Oil filter housing on 1Z

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