OCI with Driveworks filter

[termigator]

I picked up a couple of Driveworks filters for my 95' E320 a few weeks ago (AA sale). Yesterday, I noticed they suggest changing the oil and filter every 3000 miles in order for their filter to be most effective. I'm currently running 5000 mile OCI's on the car with conventional oil. Has anybody run longer OCI's (compared to their recommendation) with those filters. Not sure if I should keep the 5000 mile OCI if they don't recommend going that long on their filters.
FYI, the car has 118,500 miles running with conventional oil on mostly city driving.

 

[randomhero439]

I wouldnt go above 5,000 personally.

 

[bigjl]

Course they do they want you to keep buying filters.

I don't know why anybody would want to be changing oil and filter every 3k.

Though I would probably be running semi synth in your Merc, especially with stop start city use with extended idling.

Never heard of Driveworks filters so can't help on that. I would be using quality Hengst filters, the insert filter as fitted to the European version is £4 from EuroCarParts with the online discount.

Part No 0 986 AF0 004 if it is any use.

At current exchange rate I think they would work out at $6 or so.

I would think if you switched to something like Mobil 1 0w40 with a decent Hengst filter you could easily run to 7500 miles per OCI or perhaps 10k miles, but you might be better off doing a UOA before doing that.

Europe is very different when it comes to filters.

Mobil don't sell filters here for example.

Most people, especially owners of German cars, will get the OE spec ones but under the brand of the OE supplier rather than the same part in a BMW or MB box.

Hence why a lot of drivers in Europe will use Hengst, Bosch, Mann or Purolater.

FRAM do show up now an again, especially if the vehicle is sold with the same engine in the US.

I must admit though, if the manufacturer thinks their product is only good for 3000 miles then I wouldn't fit it on my car.

 

[bullwinkle]

Driveworks is a "Made In China" knockoff-I would say be very careful. If I ever get another car with a rod knock I'm going to run them & see if they'll finish off the motor, make them buy a new one (ha, ha!)!

 

[eljefino]

Corner them and ask if it's a match for your app. If it is then it has to perform as the factory one, including long OCIs (or changing every other time-- 15000 miles) if the factory allows.

The 3000 thing they recommend is probably weasel worded for Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt and not absolutely required.

 

[fdcg27]

The only Driveworks filter that I've ever actually looked at and held in my hand seemed to be pretty solidly constructed, made in China or not.
I would think that it would do just fine for 5K.
Why are you using the wrong oil in your Mercedes anyway?
Not being critical, just wondering.
A mild engine like the one in your car should do fine on short drains using conventional oil.
What grade are you using?

 

[termigator]

If I can get a quality filter for only $6.00, I'd be all over it. As it stands the Driveworks filter is already $8.99 each. I'm sure the 3000 mile claim is to absolve them of any liability concerning damage from dirty oil, but it just doesn't give me any confidence in their reliability.

 

[termigator]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
The only Driveworks filter that I've ever actually looked at and held in my hand seemed to be pretty solidly constructed, made in China or not.
I would think that it would do just fine for 5K.
Why are you using the wrong oil in your Mercedes anyway?
Not being critical, just wondering.
A mild engine like the one in your car should do fine on short drains using conventional oil.
What grade are you using?



Not sure what you mean by "wrong oil". Can you clarify? I use 10w40 (according to the Benz manual). I recently picked up some Valvoline Nextgen Maxlife 10w40, but then I got suckered into the Peak 10w40 conventional deal from Amazon ($24.49 for 15 quarts. Couldn't resist).

 

[MinamiKotaro]

Mom ran her DW-5436 (Ecotec) to ~8000mi. Looked great and had caught a lot of crud. Just from how stout it still was, I think it could easily have gone twice that.

 

[dnewton3]

I see that the DW filter is rated for OEM applications and therefore would be good for OEM OCI durations. If you are operating in a manner that would be defined to 5k miles by the OEM, then the DW filter should be targeted to perform at that standard.

I checked their (AAP) website for details; this is for a DW-4011 filter (may not be your specific one).
Note what I put in bold ...
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/...34-p#fragment-2

Anti-Drainback Valve: Yes
Filter Bypass Relief Valve: No
Filter Type/Category: Spin On
Gasket Inside Diameter: 2.398 in
Gasket Outside Diameter: 2.752 in
Height: 4.74 in
Maximum Burst Pressure: 300 PSI
Micron Rating: > 5 mc
Recommended Change Interval: Use OE Recommendation
Spin On: Yes
Thread Size: M18X1.5-S

If your OEM OCI is 3k miles for your useage factor, then 3k is their limit. If 7.5k miles is your OEM OCI factor, then 7.5k miles is their limit.
By their statement, they would be liable for any warranty claim you made as long as you complied with their implied limit, which is equal to the OEM OCI limit.

 

[ernied]

i have used them in both of my cars for five thousand miles and they work fine.in fact my santafe has one in it now.

 

[Sayjac]

Quote:
..... I checked their (AAP) website for details; this is for a DW-4011 filter (may not be your specific one).....
Anti-Drainback Valve: Yes
Filter Bypass Relief Valve: No
Filter Type/Category: Spin On
Gasket Inside Diameter: 2.398 in
Gasket Outside Diameter: 2.752 in
Height: 4.74 in
Maximum Burst Pressure: 300 PSI
Micron Rating: > 5 mc
Recommended Change Interval: Use OE Recommendation
Spin On: Yes
Thread Size: M18X1.5-S......

> 5mc, what does that mean? Rhetorical question, it means, not much. Afaik, there is no published efficiency for the DW, and the AAP spec/data sheet does nothing to change that. Also the correct abbreviation for micron is um if that's what the mc is supposed to stand for. From viewing several of the AAP oil filter spec sheets, when it comes to filter efficiency, I don't find them to be authoritative.

The DW does look to be a well made filter made for AAP by some unknown manufacturer.

To the topic, I say ~5k would be ok for the DW, 3k is the sell more filters statement. As shown above in the AAP spec sheet it's OE interval rated. That said, unless the DW was part of an AAP oil/filter promo, I'd likely choose a US made Puro Classic for $3.27 everyday at Wally, just me. That and my spec size 14610 is downsized to the smaller 14612 size in the DW and according to AAP site it's everyday price of is $4.49.

 

[termigator]

Originally Posted By: dnewton3
I see that the DW filter is rated for OEM applications and therefore would be good for OEM OCI durations. If you are operating in a manner that would be defined to 5k miles by the OEM, then the DW filter should be targeted to perform at that standard.

I checked their (AAP) website for details; this is for a DW-4011 filter (may not be your specific one).
Note what I put in bold ...
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/...34-p#fragment-2

Anti-Drainback Valve: Yes
Filter Bypass Relief Valve: No
Filter Type/Category: Spin On
Gasket Inside Diameter: 2.398 in
Gasket Outside Diameter: 2.752 in
Height: 4.74 in
Maximum Burst Pressure: 300 PSI
Micron Rating: > 5 mc
Recommended Change Interval: Use OE Recommendation
Spin On: Yes
Thread Size: M18X1.5-S

If your OEM OCI is 3k miles for your useage factor, then 3k is their limit. If 7.5k miles is your OEM OCI factor, then 7.5k miles is their limit.
By their statement, they would be liable for any warranty claim you made as long as you complied with their implied limit, which is equal to the OEM OCI limit.


The OEM OCI is actually 7.5k. I've been doing 5k as a compromise between OEM recommendation and oil manufacturer recommendation.

 

[termigator]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Quote:
..... I checked their (AAP) website for details; this is for a DW-4011 filter (may not be your specific one).....
Anti-Drainback Valve: Yes
Filter Bypass Relief Valve: No
Filter Type/Category: Spin On
Gasket Inside Diameter: 2.398 in
Gasket Outside Diameter: 2.752 in
Height: 4.74 in
Maximum Burst Pressure: 300 PSI
Micron Rating: > 5 mc
Recommended Change Interval: Use OE Recommendation
Spin On: Yes
Thread Size: M18X1.5-S......

> 5mc, what does that mean? Rhetorical question, it means, not much. Afaik, there is no published efficiency for the DW, and the AAP spec/data sheet does nothing to change that. Also the correct abbreviation for micron is um if that's what the mc is supposed to stand for. From viewing several of the AAP oil filter spec sheets, when it comes to filter efficiency, I don't find them to be authoritative.

The DW does look to be a well made filter made for AAP by some unknown manufacturer.

To the topic, I say ~5k would be ok for the DW, 3k is the sell more filters statement. As shown above in the AAP spec sheet it's OE interval rated. That said, unless the DW was part of an AAP oil/filter promo, I'd likely choose a US made Puro Classic for $3.27 everyday at Wally, just me. That and my spec size 14610 is downsized to the smaller 14612 size in the DW and according to AAP site it's everyday price of is $4.49.


As I mentioned before, the DW filter for the Benz costs 8.99. Purolator does offer the Classic filter for the Benz for 10.99. I'd spring extra for the Pureone if they offered it, but they don't.

I also happened to pick up a DW filter for free when I bought a jug of Peak Synthetic for my 96' Prelude VTEC. I did notice that the DW is about half an inch shorter than the purolator filters. Probably shouldn't run too long of an OCI with that filter.

 

[fdcg27]

So Mercedes had no oil spec in 1995?
I know that BMW didn't unitl '98.
I've found Maxlife 10W-40 to work really well in my '95 BMW, and it would easily allow a 5K drain in my cra, based upon the UOA I had done.

 

[termigator]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
So Mercedes had no oil spec in 1995?
I know that BMW didn't unitl '98.
I've found Maxlife 10W-40 to work really well in my '95 BMW, and it would easily allow a 5K drain in my cra, based upon the UOA I had done.


The Mercedes manual didn't say anything about which oil to use, but it was accompanied by a card that listed the best viscosity grades. 5w40 and 10w40 had the widest ranges. Before getting the Peak conventional deal, I already had 36 quarts of Valvoline Nextgen Maxlife 10w40. I'm considering using up the Peak along with the two DW filters I have left for the next two OCI's at 3000 or 4000 miles before using the Maxlife.

 

[fdcg27]

Gotcha.
I hadn't realized that Mercedes did not yet have its own proprietary spec when your car was built.
I was really kidding with the "wrong oil" question.
An engine like the one you have should do very well on a conventional 10W-40 on moderate drain intervals, even if Mercedes did have a spec similar to its current one in 1995.

 

[dnewton3]

Originally Posted By: termigator
Originally Posted By: dnewton3
I see that the DW filter is rated for OEM applications and therefore would be good for OEM OCI durations. If you are operating in a manner that would be defined to 5k miles by the OEM, then the DW filter should be targeted to perform at that standard.

I checked their (AAP) website for details; this is for a DW-4011 filter (may not be your specific one).
Note what I put in bold ...
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/...34-p#fragment-2

Anti-Drainback Valve: Yes
Filter Bypass Relief Valve: No
Filter Type/Category: Spin On
Gasket Inside Diameter: 2.398 in
Gasket Outside Diameter: 2.752 in
Height: 4.74 in
Maximum Burst Pressure: 300 PSI
Micron Rating: > 5 mc
Recommended Change Interval: Use OE Recommendation
Spin On: Yes
Thread Size: M18X1.5-S

If your OEM OCI is 3k miles for your useage factor, then 3k is their limit. If 7.5k miles is your OEM OCI factor, then 7.5k miles is their limit.
By their statement, they would be liable for any warranty claim you made as long as you complied with their implied limit, which is equal to the OEM OCI limit.


The OEM OCI is actually 7.5k. I've been doing 5k as a compromise between OEM recommendation and oil manufacturer recommendation.



I suspect that both the oil and the filter could go the 7.5k miles, and probably more, very safely.