seifert@mako.UUCP (Snoopy) (01/20/85)
A Fram rep gave a talk on filters at a BMWCCA meeting once, and
told us about the VW diesel oil filter problem.
VW contracted with Fram to design the oil filter for their diesel engine.
Fram declined to make the filters, since due to various design constraints,
you would have had to turn the filter TEN (10) TURNS after the gasket
touched. (Normal oil filters require 1.5 turns after the gasket touches)
Fram knew good and well that nobody was going to tighten the filters
down that hard, and weren't interested in lawsuits for engine damage.
I forget what they changed, but either VW or Fram found a way around this,
and I'm pretty sure that Fram does make oil filters for the diesel.
I kinda suspect you still need to screw the thing on good and tight.
If your engine does turn out to be damaged, you might contact Fram
and ask for the whole story. I suspect that the filter wasn't
installed properly. (don't quote me in court) Also check the instructions
on the box the filter comes in and see if there's anything unusual.
And that's for an engine that was designed with a diesel conversion
in mind, by a competant engineering team. You should have heard what
the gasket company rep told us about the head gaskets for the Olds
diesel. *snicker*
_____
|___| the Bavarian Beagle
_|___|_ Snoopy
\_____/ tektronix!mako!seifert
\___/
The information given in this article is true to the best of my
knowledge, but cannot be guaranteed. I have no financial involvement
with VW, Sears, or Fram other than as a customer.