Long life filters are smaller?

[moribundman]

The last filter that the dealer sold me was an Audi Long Life filter, which is meant to be used with cars that are equipped for Long Life Service. The new filter says on it that it will last 2 years or 30k KM. What I noticed was that this filter was at least one third shorter than the previous Audi, Mann+Hummel, or Mahle filters. It seems as if Audi sells only these filters now.

There are supposedly a few differences between the regular and the long life filters:

- superior filter media
- optimized for synthetic oils
- high quality rubber parts


I've read here before that filters with better filtration will also reduce oil pressure and clog more easily. Here is my question:

In how far does the size of the filter matter in terms of oil pressure? Having owned a few German cars (VW/Audi/Opel) and a couple American cars (Chevy, Buick), I can say I was always surprised by how small the filters on the US cars were.
Interesting, though, the new LL filters are smaller than the regular ones. Shouldn't they actually be bigger, because they have to trap more particles without clogging?

 

[Ken2]

Modern filter media can be made with more holes of the correct size and fewer blank spots. If this is the case, and I do trust Mann, a smaller piece of filter media can do a better job than a larger piece of old style filter media.


Ken

 

[eldawg4100]

still, on all the audis i have seen, the filters are huge!

 

[labman]

I am a serial filter chopper. I never checked a Mann. In filters the same size outside, I have found more than a 3 to one difference in filter area. I have found small filters that had more area than large filters. Filter area is messy, but easy to check and may not relate to the outside of the filter. Quality of the media is another story. I have mostly looked at low priced filters, and it all LOOKED about the same. So a small filter could be packed with quality media and be a much better filter than something much bigger. If you trust Mann or somebody else, I wouldn't avoid a small filter.

 

[moribundman]

Let me clarify, it's the Audi-labeled OEM long life filter that's smaller. I'm not sure if all Bosch/Mann/Mahle filters are bigger, or if there are two versions of each (LL and "regular"). In fact, I have no idea if the Audi-labeled filter is a Bosch, Mann, or Mahle. I suppose it could be either maker, since all of them make OEM filters for Audi.

But yes, Audi cars have huge filters.