Hello all--

I changed the oil this past weekend and when I started the car up I noticed that my oil needle went up VERY slow. I figured it was due to the fact that the oil was filling a new filter. I ran the car for a bit and then shut it off. I did some other maintenance items to the car and then went to start it again. The needle rose just as slow as before. I drove the car and it didn't seem to drive different.

The needle has ALWAYS gone to the #3 mark fast when I start the car up.

I used a different oil filter this time (it was made in India and bought at a local auto store) and I made sure it was the one for my car as I know that the later 80s diesels used a slightly different oil filter (a little smaller I believe). Anyway, I have since parked the car and am waiting for the real deal as I have ordered four filters from fastlane. I am using the same oil as I have always used (Delo 400) and nothing else is different except the filter.

So, does anyone have any ideas as to what is going on? Did I get a bad filter? How could this filter restrict the flow of oil?

Your comments are much appreciated.

mike

Have you replaced the two rubber o-rings on the oil filter stem? These will harden with age and contribute to slow pressure buid up.

Bob D.
1983 300SD
1984 300SD
1983 300SD

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Bob D.
Parrish, FL
1 SDL, 1 D, 1 TD, 1 Mog

I replaced them four months ago.

Yes, it was a STP (Deutch part number 800) bought from Autozone. There was a sticker on the outside of the box that said, "Made in India." The filter didn't look like the Hengst I used for the previous oil change.

I have parked the car until I get the new filters from Fastlane. I don't want to cause any damage.....I hope I haven't already done any with the few miles I drove the car after I finished the oil change.

So, has anyone else experienced a problem with a filter made in India?

TXBILL, did you say that you had some problems with them? I am curious as to why the oil isn't flowing correctly. I may take it apart once I remove it from the car.

I'm usually not a brand name kinda guy. But in this case, I will use only the original stuff.

Thanks for the replys,
mike

I have been involved in the filter business fro over 40 years.

Let me share some facts with you.

Cheap filters, can be the most expensive savings that you can put on any equipment. WHY!

1. The cost of labour to assemble a filter, is around 10%, the rest is made up of material.

2. Therefore to make filter much cheaper, the answer does not lie in finder somewhere, where labour is cheap.

To make the filter cheaper you have to do the following.

a. Put less media in

b. Put poorer quality media in.

3. If its a spin on, they draw the can in a single stage, instead of a dual stage. This action makes the filter can, more prone to failer.

4. Use poor quality adhesive, which breaks down quickly, and then the filter goes into by pass. Which of course defeats its purpose.

5. Leave out the drain back valve or tube, result dry starts on the engine.

6. Cut down on the thickness of the steel, which causes the filter to loose tension on the filter head, this in turn causes the filter to leak.

6. Compromise of the quality of the filter sealing, which can cause lose of oil and or oil pressure.

7. Poorly aligned or defective valves which cause low oil pressure and drain back.

From these comments, it can be seen that low priced filters cannot hack the task. Also can cause some expensive repairs.

Even today, with reputable brands, you need to check their sources, as often what appears to be USA produced products, can really come out of third world countries. Its a bit like cheap oils, they often are not.

Mann & Hummel, are one of the worlds leading manufacturers of
filters, whose prduct is beyond reproach, may cost a little more but the quality is there.

Regards

Col Tigwell Downunder

also have one of those 'made in india' jobs in the car now for about 1000 mi since last last oil change. so far so good pressure up at 3 and just above 2 when idling. if any change will report but now i'm getting to wonder about it..

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1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

I changed the "Made in India" filter for a Mann filter and that solved the problem. If anyone has one of these inferior filters in their car......BEWARE!!!

As I said before, I am not a brand name person. But in this case, I will buy only quality filters.

Mike

Just my two cents cdn,I get my filters at the dealer cheaper than at the discount autoparts place.$4 difference on the oil filter(fram vs knecht),go figure

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Democracy dies in darkness, you have to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight

Just wondering, what's the average price for a Mann filter? And is it M-B's OEM? Where can they be found?

I typically get my filters from the dealer (Ford in my case; I use PSD filters on my IDI's, and they're about $12 apiece) and use Delo 15W-40.

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2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999