I knocked mine off because I used a Ford Motorsport 90 degree oil filter adapter and laid the filter down. The bottom of the filter is lower than horizontal, so the filter will not drain back. Plus, this gives room to run the FL299 2 quart oil filter. But no, the stand pipe isn't needed as long as you use a filter with a good anti drain back valve. That said, I don't know of any filter with a drain back valve so good that it stops drain back from an upside down filter. lol