I just ordered a Hastings (USA made) after using what I always felt was the best filter, the Mahle from Austria. I saw several people say they really liked them more, the build seems as nice or better and the micron rating on the Hastings is better.

I was wondering if anyone has thoughts on the size differences? The Hastings is slightly smaller. They have a slightly different grommet as well.

It does feel nice. I cant afford to cut them open to see how they are really made but would love to.

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The Mahle comes with two washers and the Oring, while the Hastings came with just the Oring. I dont think I ever used the washers... what are they for?

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My 1987 300TDT needed one washer under the center bolt.

I always prefer Hastings filters when I have a choice. Dodn't know they made filters for these cars.

The washers are for the drain plug on the oil pan. At least they are on the 603.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

One of the washers fits the drain plug, at least in oil filters I got (not Mahle or Hastings).

Some manufacturers must supply bad O-rings, since I saw oil leaking from the cover of my 1985 when my son had it home. I found the O-ring very flat after just 1500 miles. Fortunately, I save the old O-rings (for other things) and had one that was still perfectly round. Sorry, I don't know the brand, but likely MTC or Champ since I have some in the garage and recall buying a group from rock cheap. Both "Made in India". They do have 3 copper washers in the box. India seems to striving for the bottom in quality.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

Why anyone would buy auto parts for a Mercedes from India is beyond me.

Btw I use the insanely nice magnetic drain plug from Dimple

Good stuff. The Hastings LF380 is also the Baldwin P102, one of them makes the same filter for the other or something like that. Same doohickey different box.

I'm aware that millions of engines have gone trillions of miles on Hengst, Mahle, and similar filters, but after taking a can opener to them and popping them open, I won't use them for my engine.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Can you share what you saw in them when you opened them up? What was the main difference?

In a thread from years ago, there were pictures of not only cotton, but also sticks, and some small rocks, in the upper section of the filters.
Other filters use something that looks like twine wrapped around the core. Not sure what is in the Hastings filters.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

It def. feels better overall. You can also see how it would flow a LOT more with the Hastings having all those holes. The upper half is where it filters way down to the smaller micron range I assume.

The Hengst and Mahle filters, among others, contain contaminants as part of the filtration media. I don't have a problem with this, cuts costs and still filters effectively. However, the filters I and others opened didn't prevent said contaminants from escaping the filter and getting into the oil sump. Note that the full flow oil filter is AFTER the oil pump; the pump runs on unfiltered oil, including said contaminants.

One of my previous posts on the subject:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/3269727-post312.html

Someone else's photo of junk escaping the filter:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/3655872-post22.html

As I said before, lots of engines have gone lots of miles on these filters with seemingly no issue. I am likely chicken-littleing. I will continue to refuse to use filters which introduce contaminants to my engine.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Good info, thanks. We need to open fuel filters too. They make one that fits.
https://www.amazon.com/Hastings-GF267-Fuel-Spin-On-Filter/dp/B000C3F1ZE/ref=sr_1_6

Eh, no concerns of cotton field mowings in a fuel filter. Cotton jin works as a filtration media for slow movement low volume, which is why it's used for the bypass function, but would fail miserably in for our relatively large flow fuel filtration needs.

I run a CAT 1R-0750 for fuel. Can plainly see the pleats when looking into it, no concerns about quality there. I'm happy to crack open the old filter when I change filters but it might be awhile.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

I did not read everyons posts.

Research by the members of this forum has only been done on 617.952 Oil Filters. On that Engine the Hastings (or Baldwin) filter compared to the Mahle was that the full flow section of the Hastings (or Baldwin P102) was 18-19 microns and the Mahle and other european makers were in the 22-27 micron range.

The issue people had was with the bypass section of the Oil Filters (the upper part). None of the manufacturers that used waste cotton in that part of the filter knew what microns it filtered to and how much cotton and other pant parts like seed husks mixe in with that cotton varied between makers.

Oil Filter Thread showing Man Filter and pic with micron of filtration at %50 and so on
Post 35 has info on the EABP90 microns of filtration Post 55 has the Baldwin P102 Micron rating It has my Oil Pressure gauge pic in post 64
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/200877-oem-oil-filtration-efficiency-50%25@27-99%25@50.html
When I Emailed Baldwin Filters concerning the Micron Ratings they Claimed: the Full Flow (small lower) section to be 18microns and the by-pass at 15 microns.

Deliveryvalve DELIVERYVALVES LIST OF FILTER MICRONS
NAPA Gold Filters - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

Oil Filter Microns
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/308328-micron-rating-diesel-engine-oil-filters.html#post2828497

If you are really concerned about the issue install a seperate add on bypass oil filter.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel