Oil Filters - Genuine Vs Aftermarket

[Bailes1992]

I have a Focus with a DV6 derived 1.5TDCi. In fact it is a DV6, the only difference is a short throw crank to reduce it to 1.5 litres for the Indian market as they get heavily penalised for engines over 1500cc.

If you google DV6 Turbo failure or DV6 Oil Issues you will uncover hundreds of threads about the 1.6TDCi/HDi PSA/Ford partnership engine. The tiny 3.8 litre oil capacity simply cannot cope with long service intervals and the oil gets saturated. There's an oil filter inline with the turbo which eventually gets blocked as a result and pop goes the turbo.

Knowing my car was a basically a DV6 when I bought it and that 12 Month / 12,000mile oil changes were pushing the engine a bit I decided to stick to 6 month / 6,000mile intervals. I'm doing the 'in between service' oil changes myself and using a reputable local to do the services.

I've always been told only to use genuine oil filters as they are of a much higher quality than even the best OEM manufacturers. I've been told this hundreds of times by many different people.

I went out to Halfords and got 4litres of oil on trade for £11 and popped to Ford for an oil filter and sump plug washer.

Ford gave me filter number 1.

1) Genuine Ford Filter - £14.72


I must admit I was really dissapointed by the quality. Filter is branded 'Mahle'. I wasn't expecting Ford, but Motorcroft or Bosch at least! A paper bottom and only single pleated in one direction. So I went and purchased another...

2) Genuine Citreon/Peugeot Filter - £12.42

Exactly the same as the Ford one. Both branded 'Mahle'. Both have the same part numbers.

So I decided to pop on Euro Car Parts and see what they had to offer...

3) Bosch Oil Filter - £7.91 delivered

The exact same filter. Same feel, same weight, same size box. However it is branded 'Bosch'.

4) Mann Oil Filter - £6.40 delivered

Once again. The same filter. Branded 'Mann'.

Convinced there must be better alternatives out there I tried Halfords.

5) Filtron Filter - £6.99 Trade

I see a pattern emerging. Branded as 'Filtron'.

I decided to try one more filter before handing in the towel. I popped to my local Motor Factors and picked up this...

6) Wix Filter - £8.04

Branded 'Filtron'

All the filters together...




Even the boxes are identical. Just different printing...


I've only ever bought canister filters so you cannot see what exactly is inside them.
I'm starting to wonder if I've been wasting my money buying genuine the last 5 years because the budget ones seem identical to ones costing over twice as much. Why do people always seem to warn against buying aftermarket oil filters?
It really does seem like all these have been made in the same factory and branded to suit.

Bailes.

[steve_earwig]

Wow! That's pretty amazing, although Goran keeps telling me how the same factory makes parts for different companies, even stuff like engine oil and batteries, and it all just gets put in a different box so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

You're right about the canister filters, we've no idea what's inside them so can only do the "buy from a reputable make" thing but we're obviously being ripped off by doing so.

Btw my first thought was "he's wasted all that money on buying all those filters" but I guess you have the next 36,000 miles covered.

Tempted to put this in the Knowledge Base, I know it's Ford but I'm sure the same principle applies to, erm, just about everything.

[Bailes1992]

Keep it on here for a while. Get some comments on it. I think people are more likely to see it here.

I was doing to take them back. I said to Becca "I think I'll pop most of these back tommorow". She cocked her head and said "Don't be so f***ing stupid, you'll use them in 3 weeks knowing you".

[rwb]

Brilliant research. Thanks Sam

I do think it's a bit naughty of Bosch to be in on it.

Glad I bought a cheapo for the 407 now.

[Bailes1992]

Brilliant research. Thanks Sam

I do think it's a bit naughty of Bosch to be in on it.

Glad I bought a cheapo for the 407 now.

In one way it's really annoyed me.
Not only has it cost me money buying genuine filters over the years but even the genuine filters for my Focus aren't of a great quality.

On the other hand from now on I will just shop around for the cheapest OE quality filter. With oil at £11 for 4 litres (probably cheaper if I buy in bulk from Costco) it makes oil changes a sub £20 no brainer.

[jasper5]

I always use Mahle filters as they are made for most manufacturers and despite what has been said, they are high quality filters.
The other reason is that they conform to "Block Exemption" rules which allow aftermarket parts to be used when the car is under warranty.

[FarmerPug]

Might be something to ask oilman from opie oils whats going on

Ive always used Mhale filters on the 406, dont think it ever had any other type on it, never had any problems, change it every year.
Great bit of a test you did, 6 oil changes worth of filters then haha.

[8Jb9]

I'm mostly using Mann on my 406 V6, but once used a Mahle-filter. In my case the diameter of the Mahle was significantly larger, although the gasket was of course identical. Not sure which other engines they're sharing that filter with, but apparently one that requires more filter media.

I've also seen that the 406 1.8 petrol has the same filter specifications as the V6, except a different part number. Here Mann also makes two different packages, but with the same oil pressure bypass AFAIK. I haven't had a chance to pop them open to compare, but perhaps there's more filter media in the V6-filter to allow a lower flow resistance compared to the 1.8.

[trufflehunt]

TBH, not sure what the underlying point of the original post is..?

Did the boxes say where each filter was manufactured ?
It's quite common for an aftermarket brand, to buy stuff from the original equipment manufacturer,
and have their own box on it. Rather like many well known breakfast cereal companies etc, supply own brand cornflakes
to major supermarkets.

For my car, I've generally used the genuine Peugeot canister oil filter (1109AL). 2 were made in France. One made in
Tunisia, IIRC.

For the last oil change, I was unable to find the Peugeot item for less than £9, so looked for a premium alternative.
'premium' is I think a code for filters that have somekind of extra valve in them that cheaper filters don't. ( I stand to be corrected
on this).

Between them, the big 4 German manufacturers Bosch, Mahle, Hengst and Mann are the Original Equipment suppliers to BMW and Mercedes.
So I went for the best priced filter from them.(OC976).

R0013242.JPG

[steve_earwig]

The (underlying?) point of the original post is... different prices, different make, same thing inside. We've been used to cartridge filters for many years and, by buying a premium brand/OEM you expect to be buying a premium product. This turns out to be bollocks.

Did the boxes say where each filter was manufactured ?

One for Sam I reckon, but be prepared for the box to say where the box was manufactured...

It's quite common for an aftermarket brand, to buy stuff from the original equipment manufacturer,
and have their own box on it.

Nope, it's quite common for OEM co's to buy aftermarket stuff and stick it in a box with their logos all over it, printed in the same place too (see above).

For my car, I've generally used the genuine Peugeot canister oil filter (1109AL). 2 were made in France. One made in Tunisia, IIRC.

And all were probably exactly the same as cheapo stuff inside, just you can't see it 'cos they're in a tin.

For the last oil change, I was unable to find the Peugeot item for less than £9, so looked for a premium alternative.
'premium' is I think a code for filters that have somekind of extra valve in them that cheaper filters don't. ( I stand to be corrected
on this).

I hope they all have the valve, or their garbage.

Between them, the big 4 German manufacturers Bosch, Mahle, Hengst and Mann are the Original Equipment suppliers to BMW and Mercedes.
So I went for the best priced filter from them.(OC976).

I think I may have mentioned this before but a couple of years back Goran, my mate in the car spares store, said he had some guy with a fairly new big Mertc come in, the guy was Hungarian )I think it was), on holiday but he'd had a front wheel bearing give up the ghost. Goran offered him the usual choices, either a good replacement, In this case a SKF for 900€ or oem from Merc for 1,900€. "No, I must have a genuine Mercedes part, I have always bought genuine Mercedes parts, I do not want this Chinese bullshit." Ok, Merc it is. Goran got the part delivered, it came in a shiny box with MB written all over it. Oh, and the words "Made In China" too. Inside the part also had SKF stamped into it. Congratulations, you have just paid 1,000€ for a box. Happy Christmas.

[Bailes1992]

All filters were made in Austria. So like I said, I suspect they were all made in the same factory.

Oil change done today. The old oil must have been past it because the engine is a lot smoother now, I used a Millers Nanodrive oil last time too!
Took the car out and kicked it's head in to get the oil as hot as possible before draining. I can see why these DV6s have such issues with oil, the sump plug is 10mm above the bottom of the sump.

[trufflehunt]

The (underlying?) point of the original post is... different prices, different make, same thing inside. We've been used to cartridge filters for many years and, by buying a premium brand/OEM you expect to be buying a premium product. This turns out to be bollocks.

Did the boxes say where each filter was manufactured ?

One for Sam I reckon, but be prepared for the box to say where the box was manufactured...

It's quite common for an aftermarket brand, to buy stuff from the original equipment manufacturer,
and have their own box on it.

Nope, it's quite common for OEM co's to buy aftermarket stuff and stick it in a box with their logos all over it, printed in the same place too (see above).

For my car, I've generally used the genuine Peugeot canister oil filter (1109AL). 2 were made in France. One made in Tunisia, IIRC.

And all were probably exactly the same as cheapo stuff inside, just you can't see it 'cos they're in a tin.

For the last oil change, I was unable to find the Peugeot item for less than £9, so looked for a premium alternative.
'premium' is I think a code for filters that have somekind of extra valve in them that cheaper filters don't. ( I stand to be corrected
on this).

I hope they all have the valve, or their garbage.

Between them, the big 4 German manufacturers Bosch, Mahle, Hengst and Mann are the Original Equipment suppliers to BMW and Mercedes.
So I went for the best priced filter from them.(OC976).

I think I may have mentioned this before but a couple of years back Goran, my mate in the car spares store, said he had some guy with a fairly new big Mertc come in, the guy was Hungarian )I think it was), on holiday but he'd had a front wheel bearing give up the ghost. Goran offered him the usual choices, either a good replacement, In this case a SKF for 900€ or oem from Merc for 1,900€. "No, I must have a genuine Mercedes part, I have always bought genuine Mercedes parts, I do not want this Chinese bullshit." Ok, Merc it is. Goran got the part delivered, it came in a shiny box with MB written all over it. Oh, and the words "Made In China" too. Inside the part also had SKF stamped into it. Congratulations, you have just paid 1,000€ for a box. Happy Christmas.

Regardless of what Goran might say about the subject, I'll continue to buy either Citroen/Peugeot filters, or the best alternative I can find. For me, as Mahle receives favourable mention on the internet, they would be fine.

When I asked about the underlying reason for the post, it appeared to me that bailles was unhappy with the quality of the part in the Ford box. not just the price. As the other filters were the same, one interpretation is that the design of the filtration on the car is not great. And that whoever makes the various filters, they are making to suit the fitment.

I've never bought filters etc directly from a main dealer, as I've long been aware that for most car manufacturers, much of their profit comes
from service parts and repair.

Hence.... £11 ish + Vat, as I recall, dealer price for a filter for my 406.
Or the same on ebay, currently £8 including postage.
Or £4.50 for a Mahle.
And lots lower for the real cheapies.

[steve_earwig]

Ah, reason. Yes, Sam was unhappy. Although I doubt the post would have happened if he hadn't bought the same filter 6 times.

As for message, going to dealers and buying OEM parts turns out to be almost certainly a waste of money. I should pay more attention to Goran, he was dead right.

[Welly]

In my mind it would be sticking your neck on the block as a manufacturer to design your own oil filter for use in hundreds of thousands of engines because if it failed in some way then......

So in Sam's example it would seem there's only one manufacturer of oil filter for the DV6 engine, question is, who is it?

[steve_earwig]