Yes, I can second that... the Purolater (STP) are crap. I'm actually suprised how clean the material is within the Fram.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I have a Knecht/Mahle one made in Austria...The Mann`s I buy are Czech(oil) or Brazil(the fuel one)..The spin-on ones for other applications are all German.
And,yes,I haven`t seen a Hengst filter not made in Germany...
I`ve cut open Mann and Bosch-same crap. Both made in the Czech rep.(in the same factory, I suspect...apart from the brand stamped,the canisters were totally identical,also the media,the filtering paper on the stem and even the color of the scotch tape used....)

I cut up the Mahle over the weekend. Note that this is the 603's filter.

Very impressive. No sticks apparent. Just a pile of packed cotton. Very sturdy all metal can for the structure. This filter is just as good as OE.



You can click on these thumbnails for a larger view.

Mahle/Knecht is one and the same. All of my Mahle filters say Mahle/Knecht in a Mahle box. Knecht is one of the OE providers or at least they were.

Len

I emailed the folks at Purolator about this filter, showed them the pictures, and awaited their reply. According to them, the dirt an the sticks help keep
the cotton fibers apart and keep the cotton from collapsing in the
filtration process. It also helps for the oil to move through the material.

Just a note regarding the content of this thread:

You are free to post anything you wish concerning your use of and your opinion on a given oil filter.

However, the thread is dedicated to those who are willing to cut a filter open, photograph the contents, and the construction, and properly report back with a post.

So, to limit the size of the thread, and to stay on the topic, I will delete all posts that are not relevant to the subject.

Although you may value your opinion on your use of Hengst or Mann or Bosch or OE or whatever, without experimental data on the construction, it's superflous to the intent of the thread. I'm quite sure you could use the Purolator and have "no problems".

This post will also be deleted in a couple of weeks.

Purolators are made right next to my house here in Himachal Pradesh India,I use them regularly on my OM616 turbo without any ill effects and so do thousand others who own diesel vehicles,I also use BOSCH India filters and find them equally good.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

Brian Carlton,
I don't see anywhere that this is a thread only for people willing to cut open an oil filter, if that was the case there would be less than 10 posts because as far as I know that is about how many different types are out there. In fact, the thread is called "oil filters: which one to buy?" So when I posted that I have been having difficulty starting my Benz since putting in a Fram Turkey made filter (which from what I gather is the only filter made similar to how the MB filters were originally made), I think that is something that people need to know when deciding which filter to purchase. I do agree that posts like "I personally like the Mann filter" have no value because they don't give any reasons for their preference, but I really don't understand why you deleted my post?

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87 300D - Running on Veggie oil; 260,000 plus miles; Original #14 head

If you want a thread that relates to starting problems with a given oil filter, you are free to start your own. This thread shall remain devoted to those who understand the intent of the original thread.......now deleted unfortunately........entitled........."What did they put in their filter".

Would you like the oil filter to be cut open post oil change or would you prefer a new unit? I don't exactly have the money to go and buy oil filters just to cut them open, but I'm about to have my oil changed. I can cut open the oil filter that's about to be removed, I believe it's Mahle or Knecht, but I don't know how much you can tell about the filtering media since it's now saturated with used, sooty oil.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

I haven't cut open a new one.........with the exception of the Purolator.

Just leave the old one out in the rain for a few weeks. It will relieve itself of most of its oil. When you cut it open, you'll be able to determine if you have tightly packed cotton or a bunch of loose cotton mixed with sticks and bugs.

Check out the photos of the Mahle that I posted. It was done post engine removal.

ive got a hengst in my 617 right now. in 3 months ill cut it open

It's too bad this thread got killed, I would have been interested to hear about the Turkey Fram and the users opinion of that filter.

Champion makes the Mercedes "FLEECE" oil filters for the newer models.

It may be possible to retrofit an older diesel with a new spin on filter head that
will allow use of the Mobil1 synthetic fiber oil filters (1 micron-ish).

Call Champion and ask about applications for your model's engine.
(Exxon Mobil's tech advice line will have the 'phone number.)

I ordered Mann from Phil. Did I do something wrong?