Re: Oil filters

[Jim Griffin <JGriff@pobox.com>]

At 02:53 PM 01/09/97 EST, you wrote:
>
>Ok, I'm torn.. I have used Fram exclusively in both of my Audi's and put
>100k on one before selling (160k) and have put 75k on my current 200t (130k).
>Neither has/had burned any oil along the way. I bought a MB 300e last year and
>used a Fram filter with bad results. On the MB, the filter is mounted upside
>down on top of the engine, and after hearing noisy lifters for 4k miles,
>I realized the importance of the anti-drain valve. I was dry starting the
>car every time. Because of the way the filter is located on the Audi, this
>appears not to be a factor (at least that I can hear). In the case of the 
>MB, it's not a question of "is it better", the Fram filter should not be sold
>for this car.. period. I have been looking for an Allied Signal web site to
>express my opinion but no luck so far. Maybe someone representing Fram could
>confirm/deny some of the findings ? 
>

To further the caveat about buying "just any filter" (or not knowing what
you are getting), I have an interesting story to tell.

After joining the WorldWide Fiero Club (when I had my 1988 Fiero GT;
actually, my wife still has it; I just don't have the wife...), I had
learned that GM had two listings for oil filters for this car. One had the
anti-drainback valve, and one did not. The PF40/PF51 (size difference; the
51 had larger volume) series did NOT have the valve, while the PF47/PF52
(again, size difference only) did have the valve.

Luckily, I learned real early on, shortly after buying the car, that this
car needed the one with the valve, or else suffer the consequences that many
Fiero owners did (remember the early engine failure and oil-related fire
snafu?). In fact, this newsletter went on to state that GM finally realized
this was (part of) the problem, but did not want to admit that their own
engineers could not at first figure out that something as simple as the
wrong filter could (help) cause so much damage. Ultimately, GM did send out
a TSB, but this whole oil-filter "tidbit" did not really become public
knowledge.

Just think how angry I was to find out that, after letting the dealer do the
first oil change (big mistake there... but hey, I didn't "know" the car
yet...), that they put in the one WITHOUT the valve!! ARGHH!! I had done the
second oil change, and that was when I found out!! I had driven the vehicle
through 3k miles, during the critical break-in period, with this notoriously
bad filter!! UGHH!!

Morale of the story: Do some homework, and take the quality of your filters
seriously!! (IMHO)

As the saying goes, "You can pay me now, or pay me later!!" (In fact, wasn't
that Fram's advertising jingle? How ironic!!)

Obligatory Audi content:  Let's see... I'm searching... Okay... make sure to
put a high quality filter in your AUDI !! (I know, I'm stretching it here....)

Happy Filtering!!

                             Jim Griffin
                      JGriff@pobox.com
  http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/4475
                        Maryland, USA
   "Perception is often stronger than reality!"
                               '92 100S
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