oil filter, does REALLY it matter which one you pick?
 

Is the Cheapest of these filters one to avoid or should i go ahead and buy a few? allso if i choose to run synthetic oil in my 1984dt, how long can i extend the oil-change intervals?

NO!!!!!! Not again! :eek::eek::eek:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/62342-best-oil-filter-oil.html?highlight=filter

The Made in Turkey Fram is the only one that does not use recycled cotton gin waste.

6000 is a good base for synthetic, only go more if an oil analysis says it's safe.

allright, im staying with dino then. thanks...

You can get a real good filter and not pay a lot for it.

www.fleetfilter.com

I'd skip on the cheap brands.

AWESOME! Do you know which filter numbers (wix) from that website that the MB diesel uses?

The site shows Wix #Napa #Description Price Case Quantity Quantity Order 513851385Oil Filter$8.34 12 almost twice that price on the oil filter:

those prices were from a fleabay auction

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wix-Filters-for-Mercedes-Diesel-300D_W0QQitemZ180142176180QQcmdZViewItem

www.FleetFilter.com shows those same part numbers as:

33149 Fuel Filter #1 for $6.26
33006 Fuel Filter #2 for $1.92
51385 Oil Filter Cartridge for $8.34
42194 Air Cleaner Element for $7.30

One each totals $23.82. The last 51385 I used was a Wix that was "Made in Poland".

i'm pretty sure it doesn't matter what filter you use in these modern times anymore. or a filter at all for that matter. what are you filtering, really? if your engine is clean then what are you gonna filter out? some .000001 micron - soot?
also, it's too simple to make a good filter. any indian can do it according to bosch. if you are able to make a crap one you'll be kicked out of the market soon enough I'd say.
that cotton story seems to stick. how would cotton threads ever get any further than the filter is a mystery to me, or how they could do any damage to the engine anyway, (scratching cylinder walls with cotton?) but app. the turkish made fram is the way to go..

All this conflicting advice from seasoned members. What's a NUB like me to do?! :confused::confused:

It's not the cotton that is the problem. "Cotton gin waste" (ie: floor sweepings) includes rocks, dirt, sticks, insects, etc. I cut open a STP filter (made in India) sold by Autozone and found all of the above items inside. Others have reported similar findings.

Agreed. We cut open about 1/2 dozen filters back in the thread. Most of them were crap.

For the 603, the OE filter and the Mahle are pretty decent, but, I'm sure there is variability among manufacturing facilities.

I personally use the full-flow only (no bypass section) WIX filter number 51385 since I have an external bypass filter. I also blocked off the bypass oil return hole on the oil filter canister's lid with a small setscrew.

http://www.wixconnect.com/images/filters/1364_1.gif