My 1981 MB 240D was due for an oil change. I decided to try to cut apart the cartridge filter, a Mann PF1055/1. Of course we have known for a long time that other than some Turkish-made Fram filters, the rest were filled with cotton gin waste or similar. I wanted to cut apart a recent one to see if that was still the case. It is, which isn’t surprising.

Enjoy.





Paper media glued to the end caps for the full-flow section...







And the bypass section. Yes that is sticks and hard bits of outer leaves or shells from cotton or a similar plant.













This stuff is kept out of the oil flow by something that is, say, the equivalent of landscaping fabric - not as thick or rigid as filter media, perhaps actually a bit tougher in terms of tear resistance, and probably flows well. Since the leaves and sticks are so large, this fabric need not have tiny filtering capability.





Given that the OM61x engines are amongst if not the longest lived, most robust automotive engines mass produced, it seems like the leaves and sticksare just fine. It’s interesting that such a thing is allowed though...

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

This topic remains interesting, at least to me. I have wanted to do this with a genuine MB filter from a dealer, but haven't gotten around to it.

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Marshall Welch
Seattle, WA
1982 300D-T

Mann supplies a lot of MB oem filters. The last time I checked the similar cartridge type for my om 606, it did not appear to be a Mann however.

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-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

Leaves and sticks are not the least of the problem in some filters. I have found dirt, rocks and yellow jackets by the hundreds in "Made in India" filters.

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

All are like filtering boulders. Super easy to catch/stop.

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

quite a while back I bought some off brand filters from ******** for my W124 - they were clearance items for 2 dollars each. When I got them they were a bit heavier - I used a can opener to cut one and found a lot of coarse saw dust in there Along with cotton waste strings too.

They worked ok for me. I think they were made in the czech republic.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

In order to be caught/stopped by the oil filter, contaminants must first pass through the oil pump.

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

Point being?

The Oil that goes through the upper portion of the Oil Filter goes back to the Oil Pan. So if any of the crap in the top got out it is still going to get filtered by the full flow.

The only thing adverse I have read is someone said that fabric that separates the filter media from getting down into the tube had gotten lodged in the spring loaded valve that is inside of that tube that attaches to the Oil filter Cap. When that happened he experienced Oil draining out of the Oil Filter fast.
I can't remember if it caused low oil pressure at idle but since the O-rings in bad shape can cause low oil pressure at idle I think it is a good guess that the spring loaded valve being held open by that fabric would do the same.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

None of the companies that make the 617.952 Oil Filters that use cotton gin/waste in the top know what sized particles that portion of the filter filters down to.

In some the crap is also loosely packed.

If the filter companies don't know how well the upper portion of the filter filters then how do they do quality control on that portion of the filter?

When I cut apart a made in India STP Oil Filter for my Mercedes I found neither end of the tube was attached to any sort of seal. In the attached pic you can see the tube just sat on top of the metal.

The Lubrifiner oil filter also seemed to be the same filter.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Thais just plain crazy, if they are floor sweepings could have abrasive dust in there too, have you thought about drooping the company a line with his info?

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David


1996 Mercedes S124 E300TD - 129k - rolling restoration project -

1998 Mercedes W210 300TD - 118k (assimilated into above vehicle)

The full flow section is less efficient than the bypass section. If it gets past the bypass (or leaks out), then the full flow portion won't save your bacon.

That is quite correct.

Which makes this incorrect with regards to the "leaks out" option:

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

Gents, we have to be missing something. Either the media is supposed to be this way or we have misunderstood it's purpose, after all we are talking pennies in savings v potential claims for engine wear - that doesn't add up.

Is it supposed to absorb contaminants rather than filter? no idea, but i would speculate something along these lines.

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David


1996 Mercedes S124 E300TD - 129k - rolling restoration project -

1998 Mercedes W210 300TD - 118k (assimilated into above vehicle)

I think the media is supposed to be this way - doesnt matter if its filtering by absorbing soot or getting filtered by paper - the job is getting done more than adequately as these engines are known to wear as fast as anvils.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)