Amsoil Filters - changing recommendations?

[jbas]

Interesting...Do any of the Amsoil elites know why Amsoil now recommends a Hastings LF565 instead of their prior recommended SDF20 for the Hyundai/Kia 3.5L V6? I also noted that Amsoil's web site did not show stocking the LF565 as of Monday. I sent the Amsoil techies an email on this a couple of days ago with no response from them yet.

I will post their response(s), if any.

 

[Mike_dup1]

Its probably because the Hastings filter is not as fine a media as the Hasting manuf. Amsoil is and therefore, flow (always more important) is not impeded.

 

[jbas]

Plausible reasons indeed, but if so, raise some questions, like...

o what about folks, like me, that bought some SDF20s and stored them for future use? (exchange them?)

o what caused Amsoil to make the changes? (customer complaints, test findings, engine failures, Hastings' decision?)

o and why isn't the LF565 available through Amsoil's website?

Inquiring BITOG minds want to know...

 

[Winston]

I have an '03 Montero with a 3.8L V6. Previously Amsoil stated that they did not recommend the SDF20 for this car because of the extremely high oil pressures that can occur during startup. I looked it up now and sure enough it says to use the LF565. So, the Hastings filter must be able to withstand higher pressures.

 

[Ken2]

Amsoil usually only recommends Hastings filters when they do not offer an Amsoil labeled filter.

Availability?...telephone Amsoil. Maybe their web site is not updated or in error.

Clarcor makes Amsoil, Hastings, Baldwin, and Casite brand filters. Casite is lower quality. We do not know for sure if Amsoil filters are indeed higher quality than Hastings and the identical Baldwin filters.


Ken

 

[Mike_dup1]

Clarcor is the parent company, they bought up Hastings, Baldwin, Casite and other companies. Just like GM is of Chevy, Pontiac etc. While they are all made by GM, many at the same plant, each model has differences yet share many of the same components etc.

You cannot assume Hastings, Amsoil, and Bladwin are 100% identical filters, 'looks alike' does not me 'is alike'.

Hastings makes the filters, its a real company. I have talked with them as trade shows. They claim Asmoil SDF filters are similar in construction to Hastings but use a finer filtering media and HD components (can and by-pass valve) designed for extended drain intervals, in other words a HD version of a Hastings.

Here is the reason, from a Amsoil TSB

quote:

---

DESCRIPTION
TSB: FT-2004-03-01
Date: 3/16/2004
Product Description: AMSOIL full flow oil filter SDF-20

Subject: Application Notice
The engine oil systems of certain Mitsubishi applications may produce abnormally high oil pressure, exceeding the structural capacity of standard spin-on oil filters, including the
AMSOIL SDF-20. Improper operation of the pressure-regulating valve in the engine causes the high oil pressure, resulting in over-pressurization of the lubricating
system and damage to the oil filter.
AMSOIL has decided to withdraw recommendation
of the SDF-20 in place of the Mitsubishi part number MZ690116
oil filter. The AMSOIL SDF-20 continues
to be the recommended filter for
many other applications not associated
with this problem.

Affected Mitsubishi Models
Year Model Engine
2001-03 Montero Sport V6-213 (3.5 L) SFI 24 Valve
2001-03 Montero Sport V6-181 (3.0 L) SFI 24 Valve
2001-02 Montero V6-213 (3.5 L) MFI 14 Valve
1999-00 Montero Sport V6-213 (3.5 L) SFI or MFI
1997-00 Montero V6-213 (3.5 L) MFI
1994-96 Montero V6-214 (3.5 L

---

[ June 11, 2005, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: Mike ]

 

[TooSlick]

If Amsoil recommends a Hastings filter instead of an Amsoil SDF, it is generally because the internal bypass valve setting on the Amsoil filter does not match the OEM spec.

Many of the Amsoil filters for domestic engines use an 8-11 psid (differential pressure) bypass valve setting and many European/Japanese OEM's spec a setting in the 25-35 psid range. You'll find that almost all these European applications now call for Hastings filters in the 2005 Amsoil filter guide.

Note that the Amsoil SDF10/SDF13/SDF20/SDF44 - there may be several others - do use the higher bypass valve setting for specific Japanese engines that run very high oil pressures....

Tooslick

 

[Filter guy]

Hastings plant is in Michigan.

Baldwins plant is in Nebraska.

Two seperate companies under the same corporate umbrella.

 

[Mike_dup1]

Where in Michigan, Hastings?

Hastings, Michigan

 

[Mike_dup1]

I just got a couple of Hastings LF574 filters for my 2005 Honda Rancher and they were made in Korea.

 

[RealWing]

Interesting!!! I had a SDF20 failure on my 2003 Honda Accord in 2003 and reported it to Amsoil. I was sure there were design problems with this filter (unsupported center tube). Details are posted here: http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000720

 

[jbas]

Whoa, RealWing! Hadn't counted on that result.

Mmmmm...Amsoil still hasn't responded to my original inquiry (see first post above). Note that they have gone back into history and now recommending the (in my case) LF565 for preceding years as well. And the Amsoil website still does not list the Hastings LF565 as available. It's also interesting that the Hastings cross reference to the Amsoil SDF20 is not the LF565, but the LF592.

Ok, so for all those SDF20s sold to customers, which are now not recommended, can the customers get their back money? exchange? (I stocked one). I will send another email to Amsoil, and post any response.