i have a 98 4.0. If i remove the oil filter adapter can you use the same filter right to the block or is there a different one.

 

not a good idea.
And unless they changed something, you have to take the bolt out of the motor mount to take the filter adaptor off.
Just buy the Oring kit and fix it.

 

I bought this 2 years ago and it leaks from the plate between the adapter and filter,i have tried several different filters and had it done at oil change places but it still leaks not sure if the seal kit will work for this problem.

 

I removed the adapter on my 01', I did not have to remove any motor mount bolts. The stock size oil filter was too big to fit, I had to use a size smaller.

 

From what I've seen, this works great until a motor mount flexes too much or fails and punches a hole in the filter along the trail.

 

O ring replacement takes about 2 hours. I took out the passenger side motor mount and jacked the motor up about 3 in. On my 99 it took a Torx 60. The hardest part was getting enough room to get the adapter out.

 

I've had mine like this for roughly 15,000 miles without issue, but I don't do any serious off-road driving. I'll have to keep an eye on that though, seems like a valid concern, it is a pretty tight fit.