Re: Filters - Amsoil

["Al Powell" <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu>]

The always-readable Ti Kan said:

> The 2.8 V6 in my 96 A4Q certainly doesn't use the same oil filter
> as my other Audis.  The A4Q filter is much larger.  Also, the
> 4000/5000/100 (normally aspirated) cars use a different factory
> filter than the 5000T/200 (turbo) cars.  If Amsoil lists the same part
> for all these cars I would consider their list suspect.  Perhaps the
> Amsoil will "fit" all of them, but there is a reason why the factory
> designed them with different part numbers, because they ARE different.

**Dislclaimer here: I do not intend the following to be a commercial. 
 But Ti raises a legitimate question which requires specific answers. 
 I have tried to supply them.**

Good point.  Your 96 model is not covered in my book, so the 
information I sent does not necessarily apply to it.  As for the 
difference between the filters in the 4K/5K/100 NA and turbo cars, I 
called Amsoil to ask that great Ross Perot question, "What's the 
deal?"  They say there are some factory filters with either 
anti-drainback valves or bypass valves, while filters for other cars 
in the same line may NOT have one or both. (They point out in passing 
that a vertically oriented filter doesn't really need an anti-drainback valve, 
but one which mounts sideways does.)

Amsoil addresses the valve problem by putting BOTH anti-drainback 
valves and bypass valves in every filter they build.  End of problem.  In 
essence, they build their filters to the MOST demanding application 
and the cars with less demanding applications benefit.  So it's 
quite possible that by making one filter, you are getting a BETTER 
filter in your NA model than the factory spec calls for.  I think few 
of us would protest at that.

I agree that there's a reason that the factory part numbers are 
different - but the explanation does not have to be that the 
aftermarket filters are inferior.  I frankly have little faith in the 
OEM filters from Audi or anyone else.  The only filter I ever blew a 
gasket out of was a Delco on a Chevy - an OEM application if ever 
there was one.  The one exception to this note about factory filters 
is VW Diesel Rabbits (and I note in passing that they're Audi cousins...) 
which I sold in the late 70's.  They ran very high oil pressure, and 
the factory filter was evidently made to hold it without blowing out 
the sealing gasket.  The car dealership used to see about one Diesel 
Rabbit a month come in "on the hook" after it blew the gasket out of 
an aftermarket oil filter which could not handle the oil pressure.
But would I hesitate to use an Amsoil filter on one?  Nope.  The  
gaskets on those filters are much more firmly fixed in place than 
most of the aftermarket filters I have seen.

> Before you put any aftermarket oil filter on your car you should
> check the factory part numbers for your filter and see if it
> crosses over to the other Audi models as listed.

Agreed.  This is only wise.  
 
> The way I see it, although the factory filters are expensive,
> they are only more expensive than the "good" aftermarket units
> in terms of a few dollars a piece.  In the grand scheme of things
> when it comes to the cost of operating and maintaining a car,
> the difference is insignificant.  I would feel a lot better using
> a proper OEM filter that the car was designed to use.

I regert that my list-friend Ti Kan and I may disagree on this topic. 
Having spent some time with a can opener and hacksaw doing surgery on 
oil filters, I can state that I have not found an OEM filter which 
**In my personal opinion** is within light-years of the quality of the 
Amsoil filters.  Their construction is heavier, the filtration medium 
is about 50 times thicker, and the gaskets seem stouter.

As for price - most of the factory filters I *might* have used cost 
considerably less than Amsoil.  I wouldn't pay the extra if I didn't 
think it was worthwhile.

Of course, YMMV.  I am not saying that factory filters are not 
perfectly adequate.  I may be killing a fly with an elephant 
gun...but at least I'm happy in my little delusional world!!  :-)))

Al Powell                           Voice:  409/845-2807
107 Reed McDonald Bldg.             Fax:    409/862-1202
College Station, TX 77843           Email:  a-powell1@tamu.edu 
W3 page - http://agcomwww.tamu.edu/agcom/satellit/alpage.htm
"Baseball is 90 percent mental.  The other half is physical"...
...Yogi Berra.