I have several remote filters installed in our Volvos. The first I installed and wrote up in Rolling (May/Jun 86) was the old IPD remote filter. I was driven to this by the difficulty in changing filters on the 240 turbo. I got this one with the optional stainless braid lines. I have since removed it from the 242 turbo and installed it on an 86 740 (non-turbo) and it still works great.

Second filter setup was the early style AMSOIL dual remote bypass filter manifold. This was die cast aluminum, just like the IPD setup. It came with commercial grade 3000lb hydraulic hoses, but due to the turbo application, I has stainless braid hoses made up. This one is still installed on the 242 turbo and works fine - never had any leakage problems. This one was written up in Jan/Feb 93 Rolling.

In Sep/Oct Rollling, I reviewed the Everlast remote bypass filter system. This one uses an adapter for a remote bypass filter but leaves the stock filter on the block with the adapter sandwiched in between. This does not address the problem of filter access. Further, by moving the filter further from the block, it will ake the resonance problem worse (the vibration problem that caused some filter failures - this was the reason that Volvo went to a shorter filter on the 4 cylinder engines some years ago). This company make claims like - "You never have to change your oil again" which immediately made them suspect in my mind as the additive packages in even the best synthetic oils will eventually wear out or become depleted.

The new AMSOIL dual remote bypass filter is machined from solid billet aluminum and anodized. It is a very clean professional quality piece. The block adapter is still diecast aluminum, but due to the minimal complexity of the casting, there should be no problems with it. Hoses are supplied with the kit - 3000 psi commercial hydraulic hoses with barbed type fittings also certified to 3000 lbs. These hoses will be fine for all non-turbo installations. For turbo installations, I would consider having stainless braid hoses made up. List price for the kit is less than $200. It was written up in the Jul/Aug 98 issue of Rolling with a photo.

I would highly recommend one of these systems for anyone with a turbo that they plan to keep for a long time, one of the older PRV6 engines, or any car that you wantthe best in lubrication for. Note that it does not make much sense to install one of these unless you intend to use one of the top quality synthetic oils - either AMSOIL or Mobil 1, and go for extended change intervals - like 20K to 50K or more with a few oil analyses done in between to verify the oil is good. The additive package in the cheaper synthetic oils will not stand up to the extended use, and the base oil in organic oils will break down too quickly to use for more than 3K to 5K.

Also - note that AMSOIL is not related in any way to the AMWAY group as was suggested. The name AMSOIL was taken from the founder of the company - an ex Air Force F86 saberjet pilot in Korea who figured that if synthetic oil was good for his jet engine, it should be great in his car (he was wrong - at least until he figured out that a much different additive package was needed for a reciprocating internal combustion engine as opposed to the turbojet engine in his fighter.