Bought my last Tecnocar filter

[ChazzyD]

I have decided a filter designed for a 1.2 liter Fiat Punto (and others) is not going on my 164. The little wimpy black filters that are "OEM" to the 164 just can't compare to the Baldwin B233 filters from Centerline. Just take a look at the pics. The Baldwin has a nice anti-drainback at the top which you cannot see in the pic, the Technocar has a valve at the bottom that doesn't look as quality. Note also the number of holes at the top. Also after searching on the forum in the other car sections, I have discovered that these little black filters from Italy have gotten smaller over the years. Bought my last one! Baldwins from now on! Going on the Dodge Ram as well, though it may be a different P/N.
Charles

[73veloce]

ChazzyD,

Been using Tecnocar 125 filters from IAP for a number of years with absolutely no problems.The filter fits perfectly in the confined space on my '73GTV. It may be a different story for the 164.

Thanks for the post.

[ChazzyD]

http://www.baldwin-filters.com/
Their website lists a filter for your car as BT5, it is 4 1/4" O.D.!, bigger around than the one for the 164 (3 3/4" O.D.) but is 3 15/16" (B233 is 4 11/32" long) long to fit in the tight space of your GTV. Interesting that their site lists the B163 for the 164 when Centerline sells the B233. The B163 is a little more money, may be the reason.
Charles

R125 fits: FIAT: Brava, Bravo, Duna, Palio, Punto, Regata, Ritmo, Tempra, Tipo, Uno, Ducato, Fiorino, Penny. LANCIA: Dedra, Delta, Prisma. SEAT: Ibiza, Malaga, Ronda. Not cars in the class of a 2.5L or 3.0L Alfa engine! IMHO Look them up on the web, these are mostly TINY cars!

[elite38868]

Pretty much anything but Fram is probably just fine. I'm using a K & N oil filter because a nut is welded to it making it easier to take off. It also was a good price when I bought the air filter.

[karlcchen]

12V v6 164 can use bigger filter than 24V v6 164 engine. The 24V V6 use very small filter, the same size as most 2.0L 4 cylinder engine. Smaller filter need to be replaced sooner. Bigger filter is always better assuming construction is the same, more capacity and less oil pressure drop. Better safety margin, but you can't "feel" any difference. If you use extended mileage oil change, you want the bigger filter.

Karl

[romroc]

I just started using a NAPA 'gold' filter. Cheap and available, quality is good.

[87Sprint]

so is there any correlation between the filter size and engine size? dont most cars use within 1 litre of oil difference between them anyway (4-5 litres)?

that technocar filter is the exact same one i use on my sprint... they are recommended by the local alfa spares place too - are they crap or is it a 'size' thing?

[Alfissimo Int.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87Sprint so is there any correlation between the filter size and engine size? dont most cars use within 1 litre of oil difference between them anyway (4-5 litres)? that technocar filter is the exact same one i use on my sprint... they are recommended by the local alfa spares place too - are they crap or is it a 'size' thing?

[lowmileage]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfissimo Int. I believe that using the larger filter gives a lower oil pressure reading. Jason

[ChazzyD]

Found on a Ferrari forum:
http://www.go2marine.com/category.do?no=17363
a source for Baldwin filters. Hey, if the Ferrari guys like um...
Charles

[karlcchen]

Higher oil pressure reading is not necessary a good thing. If you have a clogged filter, for sure you will get higher oil pressure reading than normal, especially in idle speed.

Karl

>Interesting point I've been using the BIG Puro L20020 and the pressure gauge reading is lower than when I first got the car and it had the smaller sized filter. Next change I'll opt for the smaller size just for comparison.[/quote]

[karlcchen]

Most filters sold are still with conventional "paper media" with one dimensional trap surface. Because of its limited surface area, it can only designed with mostly 35-40 microns trap size. With any lower size, it risk clog the filter too early.

If you really want the best, buy filters with so called "synthetic fiber media". The winner of all synthetic media filter is AMSOIL. With two dimensional "depth trap" media, its has many times of surface area of conventional paper filter. Thus it can reduced its major trap size down to 15 microns. The finest trap size of all full-flow oil filters.

See comparison here:
http://www.go-synthetic.com/superior...or_filters.htm

I don't know how many other brand names also makes syhthetic media oil filters, I think I only see K&N sold in my local auto stores since around 2001. But AMSOIL has been in syhthetic media field for over ten years now. Its newer Ea series filter is a new improvement over its older SDF synthetic series oil filters. While others just started to catch up with old AMSOIL SDF filters, AMSOIL has beat itself again with new Ea series filters.

Karl

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChazzyD Found on a Ferrari forum: http://www.go2marine.com/category.do?no=17363 a source for Baldwin filters. Hey, if the Ferrari guys like um... Charles

[ChazzyD]

According to this website, the Amsoil, Hastings and Baldwin filters are similiar in construction and probably made by the same folks if truth were to be known.
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil...study.html#sae
This fellow says he is using Baldwin and he spent all this time and money cutting up filters, speaks volumes to me! Baldwins seem to be exceptional considering their low cost.
An increase in pressure from a filter would indicate an increase in restriction, considering that oil is non-compressable like any other fluid, the volume of the filter will not increase or decrease pressure in and of itself. Proper pressure is important, but so is flow. My point is that the 164 needs to filter 2 gals (!) of oil, way more than a tiny Fiat. I'll take the larger filter please. Just stay away from a FRAM, QUAKER STATE OR PENNZOIL, all made by FRAM. This is one of those companies seemingly only concerned with BIG volume to the big box stores and the chain auto parts stores not the quality of their filters.
Charles

[Cefali]

Baldwin is a very popular filter for heavy diesel equipment. So are the Napa golds. They are a little more money, but the maintenance professionals figure it's worth it. I use both but the Baldwins are harder to find.

[karlcchen]

I remembered this guy when he first published his result in the web, shortly he said he received warning from xx company (he didn't said which) to remove his report otherwise he will face lawsuit. I don't remember when he started, but I think it maybe somewhere around 2000. He removed the report for a while (half year?)and then this info is now widely spread all over the internet.

Very funny, because his report is next to useless as far as filter engineering is concern. What I am interested are:

1. Filtration efficiency on various particle sizes. For example ISO 4548-12 test.
2. Oil pressure drop measurement at specified flow rate. or measure flow rate at certain oil pressure.
3. Measure by-pass valve opening pressure when filter clogged.
4. Measure element burst pressure
5. Test durability of element over specified period at maximum permitted oil temperature. See if resin that hold element together would come apart.

This kind of test is absolute beyond what anyone can do in his garage. It requires advanced filter test lab with proper equipments and properly trained staff to conduct each test scientifically.

All he has done was causal visual inspection and his personal viewpoint on construction of various filters. He didn’t know what are the critical areas to look for in visual inspection either.

For example the most bascis:
What kind of filter material and design used in each filter? Paper or synthetic fiber element?
What kind of rubber material used in the gasket and the anti drain back valve?

BTW, his test samples were too old too. Quite a few companies has re-designed their filters since then. AMSOIL has made great progress on their "Ea" oil filters.

Karl

>>According to this website, the Amsoil, Hastings and Baldwin filters are similiar in construction and probably made by the same folks if truth were to be known.
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil...study.html#sae
This fellow says he is using Baldwin and he spent all this time and money cutting up filters, speaks volumes to me! Baldwins seem to be exceptional considering their low cost.