Oil Filter Madness

[George ( C&C 40 )]

Hi All,


The supply of Deutsch oil filters that came with my boat has finally run out. I've never given much thought to oil filters but I've now been forced to come up with a replacement oil filter for my 1979 Yanmar 3QM30H(F) diesel. I've been amazed by the sheer number of oil filters on the market and differences between competing brands. So much so that I felt I had to share.

First, I find it amazing that just one company produces over 2000 models of oil filter and that there are several companies manufacturing oil filters on this scale-- can there really be that many applications?

Second, I was dismayed to learn that the Fram oil filters I've always used on my other boats and thought were really good are, in fact, the worst ones on the market.

Third, who even makes Yanmar oil filters these days. I noticed that the current oil filter listed for the 3QM30 both looks different and has a different model number from the one listed in the engine manual. What makes a company like Yanmar choose a particular companies oil filter over another one's when they decide to get a new OEM? And what are they really looking for in that filter?

Fourth, I'm amazed at the massive difference between flow rates, particle retension, element surface area, element composition, back pressure numbers, pressure release valve design, etc. All listed for the same application and that cost within a few dollars of each other.

Has the oil filter market always been this crazy. Has anyone else gone through this?


George


P.S. -- For what it's worth I've decided to go with a Wix model # 51568 for my Yanmar ( I haden't even heard of Wix until I started this madnes )

[Tim]

Napa usually offers good filters for any application, including marine. In your research, you probably know more about the Napa specs; I'd be curious how they stack up. They Napa filters are certainly ubiquitous; they seem to be the choice of most marine mechanics, but maybe that's because Napa is so good with parts deliveries.

I'd also heard that Fram filters are not so great, but never researched anything to confirm or refute.

It's too bad that engine designers can't choose between a few standardized types of filters. It seems that almost every engine has a unique filter. I guess it comes down to keeping things compact (a design philosophy that I have railed against before).

Thanks for the info.

[George ( C&C 21)]

Hi Tim,

Napa oil filters are made by Wix and are therefore a good choice. You can start digging into this stuff by following this link.

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfil ... ecommended

George

P.S. -- I won't be in Maine over the holidays this year to say "Hi"; so "Merry Christmas" and a "Happy New Year" from down here in Virginia!

[Tim]

Thanks George!