Hello Folks,
I have bought a supply of oil filters for my Vauxhall Monterey from Milner Offroad in Matlock.
Thye were around £4.00 ea. compared with £11.50+ with my usual pattern ones. I don't even want to think about what OEM ones cost. With oil changes at 4500, this means quite a saving
Milner are a long-established operation, and they say that they can sell at this price as they import themselves and buy in bulk. They say that they have never had problems with them.
The filter looks well-made, with a plastic membrane over the "business end". Yes, I know you have to remove it before fitting. It comes with a set of O-rings as per other pattern filters. Filter case of decent gauge steel.
Has anyone heard of "Boshi Auto Products" or "Bo Tay Filter Mfg Co."? The box looks fine, lettering in english with a box giving application for the "Big Horn" (as the Trooper is marketed in the Far East) and "it seems to work".
What do manufacturers usually skimp on if they save money on filter manufacture? I have heard horror stories of filter "wadding" parting company and going for a voyage around the lubrication system. Or is it a case of "a filter is a filter" these days? Does synthetic oil have a detrimental effect on sub-standard filters?
Any feedback welcome.
Rob
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I had always believed that OEM filters were worth the extra money, as the surface area inside for the oil to pass through was larger (apparently 4x larger, I read somewhere) and the better quality filters would catch finer particles...
I don't know about filter innards becoming detached, I suppose if they are made from low quality materials then the quality of construction might also be questionable, as money will have been saved wherever possible.
Saying that, if you've bought them from a reputable offroad specialist with a name to protect, they will probably have researched the quality of these filters and decided they meet their own standards, so you're probably alright. Caveat emptor again...
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BTF Co is Hong Kong based so actual product is probably Chinese manufacture. Quite conceivable these also sold direct to famous names for assembly anywhere you like to name for sale in UK
style packaging at your local autoparts branch with 1000% mark up.
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Could the word 'Boshi' be the chinese trying to confuse the unwary into thinking they are buying Bosch?
I'd stick to a known brand, European or US made.
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For a detailed but general introduction to what lies under the case of a typical disposible filter you could do worse than spend an hour or so reading
minimopar.net/oilfilterstudy.html
written by Russ W. Knize (last updated 20 June 2000) a Chrysler car nut.
also be sure to check out the email sent to the author of the study by a former Allied-Signal FRAM engineer at:
minimopar.net/oilfilter-fram1.txt
Classic stuff!
CMark
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CMark,
I have just skim-read it and e-mailed the chap to see if he can shed any light.
Very useful - thanks for your help.
rg
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Rob
I'd be careful about quality on such a critical component. Have you actually checked the main dealer price? Vx charge about £4 for a genuine Astra/Vectra filter and even BMW only £6 for a 323i.
Even if you're looking at pattern filters I'd avoid names I didn't know, and stick to Fram, Champion etc. A few extra £ at each service could save £££££ later!
Regards
John S
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Thanks, everyone.
John, I pay around £9.50-£10.50 for a "Blue point" or similar pattern filter, including an "Gesundheit","Lebensraum" (or something) German one. Halfords are selling around £11.40.
Following the pattern of Isuzu parts, I would guess that they are up around £15.00 or worse. A set of rear brake pads bought in an emergency from a main dealer far from home set me back around £70.00. Ouch.
BTW, I saw 70ah batteries in Halfords at around £70.00 each today. The Monterey takes two. What's a sensibile "ballpark" for one of these?
Rob
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I paid £70 each for the 2 batteries for my Land Cruiser from Toyota with a proper 3yr guarantee. So it's always worth checking with the dealer.
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70AH super heavy duty German made battery was £40 from a certain supplier of "German & Swedish" car parts whose name I am now too embarrassed to mention, as I have put in so many plugs for them. However, Japanese batteries have odd sized terminals and are made in much smaller quantities, so prices will be higher. New Euro size battery terminal clamps are around £2 each, so the solution is obvious....
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com
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Have heard that some vehicles require a oil filter with a non-return valve to keep the filter full when the engine is turned off.
However so many things we buy today with a British name are made elsewhere so I imagine they are up to the required standard.
Every time I go to my local carspares shop for an oil filter they have a different manufacturers name from the last time, and it dosn't say where they are made on the box although I believe this is supposed to be mandatory. Asked the man who runs it and he says "no idea we just receive our order from an wholesaler"
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Hello Rob,
I ran across this product some years ago here in Dubai.It was Bo Tay Filter Co Ltd.
The contact was Gordon Chen,
Tel 852 23238871
Fax 852 23236016.
I do not know if the contact details are any good as it has been many years since I met them.
Good Luck.
Best regards
Nigel
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Something to watch out for is that some filters have a built in relief and bypass mechanism. It is there so that in the event of the filter blocking the differential pressure across the filter will open the relief, and bypass albeit unfiltered oil to the engine rather than staunching the flow and starving the engine of any lubricant. Cheaper filters may not have this facility and the bypass pressure should be matched to the particular engine operating pressures.
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In all my years of dealing with cars I have only ever had 1 faulty filter (vauxhall original supplied).
Since then I have always used quality aftermarket (mahle is my 1st choice).
never heard of boshi or other names mentioned but probably good filters if used by a quality outlet. But mahle filter for a monterey from mahle is around £3.50 so I wouldnt even entertain the unknown brand.
But I think you will be very unlucky if you get a problem! The big question though is, if you do get a problem; what happens? who pays etc?
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I'd be suspicious of any product that seemed to imitate a leading manufacturer's name and give it a wide berth.
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I am astonished that anyone would take the risk on this component for the sake of a fiver or so. Better to twist the VX dealers arm for some discount.
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Vauxhall are usually great at discount on consumables, such as wipers, oil and filters. Sometimes you have to buy 4 to get trade club prices. They used to put my purchases on with a local taxi firm's membership number.
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Since the OP was made in Oct02 I think he has already made his decision 10x's over
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