Oil filter of choice

notfarnow · 12-08-2008, 07:31 PM

No seriously!

Got bored this weekend and decided to compare a Fram to the Bosch I usually use on VW diesels

http://www.jakesgarage.ca/2008/12/oil-filters-more-than-you-ever-wanted.html

Pretty surprising what a difference there was!

fritzgator · fritzgator's Garage

Wonder how the Mahle compares?

SlowToady · 12-08-2008, 08:02 PM

I prefer Wix...

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Put it this way. Wix or fram will void the warranty on a cummins diesel motor. We use Fleetguard on the trucks and then factory spec brands on everthing else. Mahle on the Porsche. Mann on the VW and Toyota brand on the corolla.

MT930 · 12-08-2008, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fritzgator

Wonder how the Mahle compares?

Very Close to the Bosch in construction. I carved one up last fall looking for metal. Glad I did not find any. I was impressed. Opened a Mahle fuel filter this spring found some grit but not much, it's good stuff. I don't think I would use anything else.

aigel · aigel's Garage

Mahle OEM for the 993. Motorcraft for the Ford trucks in the family, including the Powerstroke Diesel.

George

drew1 · 12-09-2008, 03:59 AM

I like Wix, surprised that they void warranty on a Cummins.

onewhippedpuppy · 12-09-2008, 04:24 AM

Further reason why I don't use Fram. For me, it's always OEM or equivalent like Bosch.

notfarnow · 04:36 AM

One thing I like about my MB is the cartridge-style filter. I get to see the actual filter instead of spinning on a "mystery can". I use Mann on the MB, but for the VWs I've always used Bosch because they are known as a good filter and Canadian Tire stocks them.

FWIW, the Fram was $6.11, the Bosch was $5.89. Maybe orange paint is more expensive than black.

Of all the differences between the two, the low quality of the Fram's paper was the most shocking to me. It felt was really brittle and worn... like cardboard that had been wet. It's hard to imagine it staying intact in use. It was tearing apart just from stretching it out for the pictures.

onewhippedpuppy · 12-09-2008, 04:34 AM

Agreed Jake, I like the MB cartridge. My BMWs always had it too. Easy to see if there's anything nasty circulating in your oil.

notfarnow · 12-09-2008, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Agreed Jake, I like the MB cartridge. My BMWs always had it too. Easy to see if there's anything nasty circulating in your oil.

I think VW uses that type now too, don't they?

The other advantage of that setup is quick oil & filter changes. I have a vacuum pump & tank, and just run a thin line down the dipstick tube and suck it all out while I swap the filter. I can do the whole thing in my nice clothes in under 5 minutes.

legion · 12-09-2008, 04:49 AM

Fram!?

When I bought my new truck, I had to go to three auto parts stores before I found one that didn't stock exclusively Fram.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Shouldn't this be in the PARF section, right next to the Swepco threads?

onewhippedpuppy · 12-09-2008, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notfarnow

I think VW uses that type now too, don't they?

The other advantage of that setup is quick oil & filter changes. I have a vacuum pump & tank, and just run a thin line down the dipstick tube and suck it all out while I swap the filter. I can do the whole thing in my nice clothes in under 5 minutes.

I don't know, I've tried to avoid going to the VAG dark side.

Never tried the pump method, but I know it's quick and easy. The only plus to laying on your back under your car is that you have time to take a look around. Leaks, missing fasteners, worn suspension bushings, they're all easy to see during an oil change.

notfarnow · 12-09-2008, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

only plus to laying on your back under your car is that you have time to take a look around. Leaks, missing fasteners, worn suspension bushings, they're all easy to see during an oil change.

Oh well I am forever underneath the car anyway, pulling out bent and broken parts, chunks of curb, road signs, baby carriages, cyclists, small shrubs...

onewhippedpuppy · 12-09-2008, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notfarnow

Oh well I am forever underneath the car anyway, pulling out bent and broken parts, chunks of curb, road signs, baby carriages, cyclists, small shrubs...

Yes, well you can thank your wife for that.

Porsche_monkey · 12-09-2008, 05:17 AM

bobistheoilguy used to have a good comparison posted. Now it appears to be gone. and the website looks a bit 'professional', so my guess is bob sold out.

Anyway, here is a bit of info:

http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/Filters.html#OilFilters

and here:

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters/reference.html

Rot 911 · 12-09-2008, 05:54 AM

Jake, I wish I had half your energy, seriously. I just looked at your garage blog. Some good, entertaining stuff and you have a radio show!

notfarnow · 06:39 AM

Thanks Kurt! The car blog kinda just made sense, because I read and write a fair bit on these forums, so I figured I might as well try sticking it all together somewhere. Some of the stuff I have there is stuff I post on this, or other, car forums. I'm playing around with the format & navigation a bit, so it's a bit rough still.

The radio column came about when I got a scare at work a while ago, and decided to put some "feelers" out for stuff I really enjoy. One of them was at the CBC. They loved the idea of a weekly car column, and gave me a prime spot... 4:50 on Fridays and I can basically talk about ANYTHING I want. I used to do some freelance commentary writing, where I 'd just go in solo and record a 3-4 minute bit. Doing interview-style is an adjustment, because they will try to stretch it out or condense it to fit it in at the end of the hour. Takes some getting used to and a couple of them have been a bit rough, but it's still a ton of fun. I don't know that I'm great at it, but I am starting to get comfortable with the format and it gives me some neat opportunities. I get to test-drive the new MB s-class next week!