A remote oil filter is one of the best upgrades I've done to our engine. We as a company have installed many remote oil filter systems. We use Parker PUSH-LOK PLUS hydraulic hose & fittings rated at 300PSI, a bit over kill, but all in all not that expensive. Our local Parker Store is a great resource.
In addition to the engine take-off adapter you may also be able to up the physical oil filter size by using a different size remote filter head than your engine adapter would typically take. I did this on our boat and the oil not only has more capacity, via hoses and a much larger filter, but it also stays cleaner considerably longer. For our Westerbeke 44B Four I use a Wix (NAPA GOLD 51515), Baldwin (B2 or B2-HPG) or Donaldson (P169071) filters on the remote mount. These filters are plentiful anywhere in the world because it is a standard Ford FL-1A mount.
You will need three things for the engine take off adapter:
#1 - The thread and pitch (Kubota blocks are typically a 20mm X 1.5mm thread)
#2 - The o-ring diameter of the adapter and an 0-ring landing area dimension for the engine.
#3 - 1/2" NPT tapped spin-on apter head & remote head. Many are tapped for 3/8" but this can be restrictive.
Calipers are easier but were not as easy to photograph:
Many of the Kubota's can use a typical Fram 3593A filter. Honda cars use this size too and a remote take-off for a Honda will often work, provided the o-ring/gasket is the right OD.. Be sure to physically measure the filter landing width where the gasket will hit and compare this to actual take-off data from the spin-on adapter maker.. You have two choices in take-offs, billet machined or cast. Billet is more expensive, & generally higher quality, but either will work fine provided you are buying from a reputable company. A lot of the cast models are really pretty low quality..
You will also want to compare the specs of your engines OE filter with a larger off engine filter to confirm it will work and has specs that are comparable to the OE filter. Good oil filter companies such as Baldwin, Wix or Donaldson can provide this type of data.
Here is a shot with the parts. Note the size difference between the factory filter and the new remote filter.
I mounted the remote filter head with Weld-Mount studs...
I would urge avoiding the cheap Derale oil take offs as the machining is poor and the threaded adapter will bottom out before the o-ring seals. This same take-off head is likely made in China and re-branded under many different names.
You will need to do your homework on your engines OEM filter to find an "equivalent" or better filter for the remote. Filter manufacturers don't make this easy! By far this will take the most time IF you intend on upping the size of your remote filter. I prefer going larger as it yields more oil capacity, more filtration media and often less head pressure than a smaller filter.
FWIW the orange Fram filters, designated by a "PH" in front of the number, eg:
PH3593A, are a very low quality filter, in my experience.
The orange Fram
PH filters are the
only filters I have ever had more than one of "
drain back," even though it is equipped with an anti-drainback valve. Draining back means no oil in the filter at start up!
After my third or fourth customer with an empty horizontal Fram PH filter I called Fram and was told
"Not surprising that is a cheap anti-drainback valve. You are best to go up to our TG or Tough Guard series or better.". Problem is I pay much less for a premium Wix, Baldwin or Donaldson filter than I do for a Fram TG series.
