Not all Fram filters are the same. Which model(s) are you referring to?

They'll wear themselves out and quit eventually.

Why all the time devoted to oil filters? You should be out driving and enjoying the trip!

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92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59

go to ************************, their prices will give you a good idea of what's out there as far as O/E filters at a good price. You can also go to EUROPARTSDIRECT.COM. BILL.

One purpose of dispersants, which are not exclusive to diesel oils, is to allow particulate matter to travel to the filter where it can be filtered out of the oil stream. In no way are dispersant oils a substitute for filtration. If any oil did not need to be filtered, it would be the non-dispersant variety.

Here is a quote from a Castrol website:
Dispersant means it will hold small particles in suspension if they do not dissolve, allowing these particles to be carried away from critical areas and filtered out. This helps keep the engine clean.

Some of these pics are previously posted on one of the 2 long Oil Filter Threads. This is a Purolator Oil Filter (Made in India) I got from Pep Boys at $7 each. The STP Oil Filter sold by Autozone appeared to be the same Filter with the exception the Made In India was rubber stamped in a different place.
The central tube in the picture is not sealed on either end and the position of the tube depends on the indentations on the bottome and the top of the Filter and to some estent on the Packing around it to keep it from moving.
On the Euro Filters the Tube is at least sealed at the bottom and cannot shift around.
I do not blame the People from India I blame the Purolator Company for not insisting on a better built Oil Filter and useing their reputation to let us beilieve we are buying a good quality product.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Thanks 911. I read 2 threads. Both were very long and I read them all (every page). I saw that. Pretty scary.

I had a Mann in mine. I cut it open before I threw it away. I should have took a damn picture. It looked really good. Everything was intact and it was difficult to get apart. The center tube was solidly mounted. I plan to cut open the Wix at the next change next month or maybe sooner. I'll get a pic of that one.

The place where I get my Fleetguard Stratopore filters for the Cummins carries Baldwin. So, I will be going and ordering some of the P102's next time I'm up there. I was just in a pinch today. This car will see between 3 to 4 hours of drive time every day for 2 weeks starting Monday.

The fact that good filters are hard to get locally is a problem for these oldies. The material and the Micron rating IS important. I was an Aircraft mechanic for over 10 years and worked on Diesels a bunch on and off during that time and as a mechanic afterwards. I have seen what a bad filter can do to the inside of an engine. IE: Pieces of paper getting into the oil gallery and then plugging a piston cooling nozzle.... Not good.

My main concern with the change was the fact that I had Dino in there for over 4500 miles with the Mann filter. My wife drives this car most of the time. I only drive it occasionally. I just wanted to get the 5/40 in there before the temps. start to drop. It does not get too cold down here, but it sure makes for easier starts none the less.

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AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

I was speaking from first-hand experience. There have been a number of other such reports on this forum. In short, it appears that the media in the bypass portion of some India-made filters was obtained by sweeping the floor at a cotton gin.

It is possible that these filters function magnificently; quality of construction is not necessarily an indication of operational performance. Much like General Pershing felt that a soldier who would not shine his boots would also not clean his rifle, I have a difficult time believing that a manufacturer who take short-cuts in one area doesn't do the same elsewhere.

i wouldn't believe half of the stuff attributed to 'black jack' that i read on the internet after retiring from the navy (do sailors even have rifles, aside from the seals and marines? LOL).

especially since the army now uses boots that don't require polishing

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