Volve OEM (Mann) Oil Filters

[dgreen]

Does anyone know anything about Volvo's OEM oil filters (made by Mann in Germany)?

My folks just bought a 95 non-turbo Volv0 850. I've heard to only use the OEM because it supposedly contains a check valve that keeps oil in the top of the engine for lubrication at start up.

If that's the truth, I think that's some great engineering. As I understand it, American made aftermarket filters don't have that feature? (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Bottom line - The Volvo dealer sells them for $11. On the internet they are about $6 + another $4-5 in shipping. Or you can buy a 10 pack case for about $45 on the internet and be stocked for a long time (owner's manual states 5K OCI's, but I don't think I'll let it go quite that long).

I could change the oil tonight if I went to AZ and bought a pure one or something comparable. Or I could fork out $11 at the dealer. Or I could pay $10 for one on the net and wait for shipping, or I could order 10 and wait for shipping.

Can anyone out there convince me to use the Mann for this Volvo?

 

[ZR2RANDO]

Check valve = anti-drainback valve = adbv
It's that rubber/silicone flap that you see just inside the smaller holes in that baseplate. Most filter brands have them. Silicone is heat resistant and usually works better, for longer.

 

[Winston]

The Volvo/Mann filters are very good. When you get one from the dealer they usually give you the little copper gasket for the drain plug seal.(a nice plus) However, your dealer's price for the filter seems high. When I had a Volvo I paid about $8 for a filter from the dealer.

 

[Curious Kid]

I was using Purolators myself, both their premium+ and pure1's. Upon disection, things looked O.K., though I wondered about about the extra adhesive that was smeared on the lower endcap possibly becoming dislodged and finding its way past the bypass valve. I also wondered about metal filings that come from treading the mounting plate. Call me paranoid!

I did end-up bying a case of MANN filers from IPD, which come wrapped in plastic. Upon further inspection, the assembly and construction appears very clean and well aligned. Factory maintained vehicles using this filter have been "rumored" to go the mile, so I opted to stick with this one.

The Mobil 1 filter for which I haven't observed, may boast higher filtration though I ponder the results of flow restriction as with the pure1's. My '95 850 has a brief period of lifter tick with M1 5w-30 and temps around 30 F and below at cold start-up, so restriction is a consideration for me, even thought the manual claims this to be "normal". Then there's the bypass valve on the mounting end of the filiter rather than the bottom endcap, so settled debries and potentail water are less apt to find their way into the engine...in theory anyway. There's to is the cost factor, but if works as it claims, then it will probably be worth it.

All this in thinking the worst.

Cost aside, I guess it just comes down to what feels right...which sometimes goes against the facts. Go figure!

 

[Evan R]

www.fcpgroton.com

Mann Filters ARE Volvo OEM, only the paint job is different.

Foreign Car Parts of Groton sells the Mann filters for $3.95 each, or a case of 10 for $35 (about $45 delivered).

$4.50 for the best filter for your car is a BARGAIN. You wouldn't pay much less for a Fram at KMart.

(not that you'd use a Fram filter or shop at KMart, WOULD YOU??)

 

[dgreen]

I try to stay out of the dealers, Walmarts, K-Marts, and the doctor's office!

If they sold the Mann's at the autoparts store I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Guess I'll be going to the dealer and paying their high price because I don't have the patience to wait on shipping. Maybe I'll buy a box of them off the net in the meantime.

Curious Kid, what oil are you using? I'm thinking about switching to Rotella 15/40 for the summer to get a little cleaning going on. Plus, the engine is consuming more of the current 10/30 than I feel it should be (120K miles).

 

[Ken2]

15W-40 is one of the recommended oils for a Volvo of that vintage. You won't see any significant cleaning from a diesel engine oil.

Try the Auto-Rx double treatment. It can work well to reduce oil consumption and return much of the engine's pep. I used the Auto-Rx, Mann filters, and 15W-40 in my '96 turbo 850.


Ken

 

[dgreen]

Paid $13.02 for the OEM at the Volvo dealer today. I'm a bit blown away by that price, but I am pleasantly surprised by the quality "feel" of the filter. Sometimes you can tell a quality product by the way it looks and feels - it's very heavy for a filter and the can feels thick and tough.

 

[wavinwayne]

quote:

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Originally posted by dgreen:
Paid $13.02 for the OEM at the Volvo dealer today. I'm a bit blown away by that price...

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They don't call 'em "stealerships" for nothing.

I get the same

feeling every time I need something from the VW dealer.

 

[labman]

Yeah, for somebody that was used to paying $4 for an AC at Wally's, it was a rude shock to have my Chevy stealer charge me $8 for a cartridge element that didn't even have a metal can.

Most people here like the Mann, but many think something such as the Purolator works just as well. Many of the other brands of filters are actually made by Champion. They have a new design out now, not proven to be as good as most of their filters were in the past. The closest to a consensus you will find on anything here is that, don't buy Fram. They skimp on filter media, and in general are just cheap inside. Their ABDV's are poor. Purolators are a great filter for the money. Some ST's from Wally's are just as good and only $2.

 

[ALS]

I get my filters from FCPGroton since the steelership even with my VCOA discount is over $12. The local foreign parts store stocks them for $6 if I need one today. It's nice to buy by the 10 pack since I have a 87 745T and a 97 960 that use the same filter. Both cars run Mobil 1 10W30 in the engine and Redline oils in the transmission and rear end. These two Volvo's are my 3rd and 4th Volvo's I have owned since 1981 and not one of my cars has ever had any other filter but a OEM or Mann.
Check the phone book for a foreign parts supplier in your area they almost always carry Mann filters. The upside with FCPGroton is it gets delivered in 2 days. To you it is probably 3 business days.
Don't forget to order ALUMINUM washers for the filters.

 

[Curious Kid]

dgreen -

As for your question concerning what oil I'm using, right now I have a blend of 3 qts GC 0w-30 and 2.6 qts of left over m1 5w-30.

Because I have yet to put over 10k a year, I'll be running this mix till next spring. If I decide to change the filter this fall, I'll top up with some left over m1 0w-20. Mixed driving and some towing during the summer months, than mostly short trips during the winter, hense the selection for synthetics and varience in viscosity.

As far as the Mann filter's ADBV, I ponder if it could be further improved with a silicon valve. Unless something else is at fault, I ponder if my current filter's valve has weakened due to heating, because after a day of no use, I don't get a pressure reading for a second or two after the engine has fired and is turning some 1500rpm - no lifter tick thankfully. It may also have something to do with the GC/M1 mix. I've thought to change the filter with a new Mann but have yet to drag out the ramps. Perhaps I'm splitting hairs on something that I just haven't been attuned to before. Attention/awareness can be a funny thing sometimes.

For the record - It's been a month or so since I replaced my radiator (during this OCI), for which had the coolant running at higher than average temps., but still nowhere near the red. Things are much better know.

Happy motoring.

 

[Ken2]

www.ipdusa.com has three packs of Mann Volvo filters on sale for $10 ($14 for the later years).


Ken

 

[NJC]

quote:

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Originally posted by Ken2:
www.ipdusa.com has three packs of Mann Volvo filters on sale for $10 ($14 for the later years).

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Free ground shipping to for any order over $39 at www.eeuroparts.com. Case of 10 Mann is $40.70.