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MG MGB Technical - Oil fileter - PH2825 - substitute?

Hello,
I have one fo the Victoria Brit spin-on oil filter adapters (filter hangs down) on my '67B and it's oil change time.
The instructions say use a PH2825, which of course my parts store doesn't carry. The one they gave me instead, Purolator L30042 (I think) is too long (hits the frame).

I've searched the archives and found several other numbers, PH43, PH966B, PH3614.

Does anyone know what filter is readily available for my adapter?

Thanks in advance, David
David Steverson

I use fram PH3600. My spin on adapter is upright.
Fred H

Dave,
I use K&N HP 2009 with my bottom adapter
Robert Dougherty

I have the Moss adapter, which came with the PH3600, but the VB adapter must be a different size.


I did a cross check on the PH2825:

NAPA Gold: 1034 Height 4.526"

Purolator: L20064
L24457
L30042

AC Delco: PF60

Going back to Fram, the following would be your choices:

Napa 1034 => PH2825
Purolator L20064 => Fram PH2825, PH2825A
Purolator L24457 => Fram PH2825, PH3682
Purolator L30042 => Fram PH2825
AC Delco PF60 => PH2870A


Around where I live, Walmart has a big selection of Fram filters and Advance Auto has Purolator. If you check out the filters listed above, you may be able to find the size you want.

Hope this helps.




Bill Barge

Thanks Bill, that's very helpful! David
David Steverson

I use the 3614 -- it's a small filter, but that makes it easy to replace every 3K miles.

They are available everywhere.

Just another thought.
glg

Previous threads on the topic of oil filters recommend avoiding FRAM filters - they aint what they used to be. Innards made of cardboard and string apparently and not much else.
Andrew Blackley

Volvo filter works...they use Mann filters with drainback...

rn
RN Lipow

Fram filters suck!!!!! My newly rebuilt Datsun Roadster engine blew up when a Fram 2825 filter cracked and spewed all my oil over the road and the rest of my car. I'm not the only one to experience this. Fram used to be good but no longer. I use AC Delco PF34s or Purolator L20064s now. Penske filters are built by Fram too.
Mike MaGee

Great! I just last night put the Fram 3614 on my car.

glg, have you had any trouble with Fram?

David
David Steverson

Yes, they "suck" according to previous posts here or on MGBExeperience.
J.T. Bamford

The problem with Fram that I have experienced is a lack of drain-back protection-that is, all the oil drains out of the filter when the engine is turned off. It then takes up to 5 seconds for the car to build oil pressure at morning resart. Not at all good for engine life in the long run! I have used K&N, Castrol, Purolator, and Mann with good results.

David: I wouldn't worry too much about using Fram this one time-just switch out at next oil change. And always keep an eye on your pressure gauge no matter what filter you use.
Terry

From time to time a web link will pop up where someone has torn apart some oil filters to see what's inside. From memory, Fram tends to end up low on the score, as they don't use as much or as high quality filtering media. From the same memory, Wix and AC Delco rated high. Naturally, this isn't MGB specific, but doesn't hurt from a rule of thumb. I know Mann has never been in a study that I have seen.
Matt Kulka

Matt-
Here it is. Click on this: http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/oil_filter_study/
Steve S.

the study as I recall is several years old. Things can change a lot in that time period
Barry
Barry Parkinson

The study is at least a few years old. I had always used FRAM filters, so last spring I cut one open. I also bought a Purolator filter to cut open. Both were as the study described.


Bill Barge

I've read that study, and the guy did a lot of work to buy all those filters, cut them open and compare the construction.

The only problem I have with it, is that simply measuring the filter area is an indirect measure of the filter's performance. By that I mean that a better measure would be an actual, laboratory controlled test, in which the level of contaminants in the oil was measured before and after running the engine for a long period of time.

What really counts is, after the recommended oil change interval, say 3000 miles, is the filter still keeping the oil contamination to acceptable levels? If it is, does it really matter what material it is constructed of, or how many square inches of filter area there are? Does the $10 filter even provide significantly lower contamination levels that the $4 filter? If not, the $6 is wasted. If it does, at least you can argue that you like to keep your car, not just to acceptable levels, but to excellent levels.

Such a study would be expensive and time-consuming. The guy who did the study mentioned has still done us a great service, although I think that the results must be viewed carefully.

Now, some features, like anti-drainback valves can make a big difference, especially in MGB's, where many have the inverted filter that is prone to draining oil after engine shutoff. But those features are specified by the engine manufacturer. I doubt if Fram or anyone else can market a filter, for a particulare application, without an anti-drainback valve, if the engine maker says it should have one.
Paul Noble

David --

On the 3614 filter -- generally use Purolator or the Castrol brands.

When I replaced the original 1962-67 Tecalemit/Hanging Purolator with the spin off, it was just by chance I found the 3614 as a suitable (for me) filter.

Given the range of filter prices, I've found regular changes at 3000 miles not in my ability to do the high end K&N. Have used a Fram on occasion but no explosions yet.

As with oil brand, weights, and filters, these things get to a personal level of satisfaction. I hate and despise shopping at Wal-mart, but $7 for 5 quarts of Castrol is the best price I've found. Also, with the number of K-Marts etc Walmart drives out of business, that provides some good filter shopping at the closing stores.

I picked up a bag full of Castrol MaxPro Plus filters for a few bucks each.


Just some more babbling's on oil and filters.
glg

Just a couple more cents worth...

I used Fram oil filters on my '86 Chevy from new until I got rid of it with 156,000 miles on it. Did not have any problems. The people I sold it to just passed 300,000 with no problems.

By contrast, my '94 Chevy "only" had about 220,000 when it needed an engine rebuild. The quick-change place I took it to used Purolator filters.

The mechanic who did the work said the recommended oil weight (5W-30) is too light, and that is why the engine needed work. The '86 recommended 10W-40.

So, Fram filters do seem to do a good job. I switched from Fram because I was concerned with the cardboard endcaps in the filter. Maybe they have always been that way. I don't know. I use the NAPA Gold filter on my '64 MGB now. Why? Recommendations from two auto mechanics and one boat mechanic.
Bill Barge

Speaking of oil prices, I used to buy Castrol at Wal-mart, which I despised. Now, Advance Auto Parts regularly run a sell which makes it even cheaper than Sam's club and I buy a couple of cases.
Greg Bowman

Here are few others I researched for the 966B filter, FWIW

Substitutes for the Fram PH-966B oil filter
Deutsch D-366
Bosch 3330
Car Quest 84023
Champion SD-3
Flag C-3614
AC SD
Motorcraft FL-793
Bob Muenchausen

I meant to mention that I converted my 68 GT to the "hangs down filter" head used on some mid 70s Bs back in '89 and I also had the "spin on adapter (or hanging) adapter" on an 18G engine in the MGA I used to own. I have used 2825s and their equivalents as well as the 966B and its equivalents with no particular problems with oil drain back in either instance.

I think the reason is that filters that mount with their mounting base facing up ("upside down mounting" as some folks call it) don't really drain back. At least, there always seems to have been a full filter when I've changed the oil. The inverted spin-on filters (filter mounting base facing down) as used in most of the 1970-80 MGBs can drain, however, by force of gravity, and often do.

Bob Muenchausen

This thread was discussed between 09/09/2003 and 18/09/2003

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