In a message dated 06/02/2007 1:09:50 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

If the  Hengst H14W04  filter you are using, and selling to your
customers, is  the same as the  MAHLE/KNECHT 0C 108, as you identify it
to be, then  that is the same filter structurally as the Mann/Mahle
filters that are  recommended on the list routinely and sold by many list
vendors.  It  also has the same properties as the OEM filter - i.e., the
valving inside,  that is absent on the Bosch and Fram filters.

According to a post from  Jim Thompson about 18 months ago, "Mann 719/12
= Mahle OC 108 = 070 115 561  = Vanagon 1.9/2.1 VW specifically calls for
this filter for the Vanagon and  nothin' else."

Bus Depot sells both the Mann 719/12 and Mahle OC 108  filters as the
only ones appropriate for the Vanagon's WBX.  At least  one other filter
from each of these companies will fit, but it doesn't have  the anti
drain back valve and therefore isn't the right filter.

So,  what you are doing in not something different from OEM - it is  an
appropriate filter with same valve deemed so advantageous for the  WBX
engine.   This is good.

I write this so folks wouldn't  interpret your post to mean that it was
OK to use filters other than those  with the anti drain back valve.  This
valve insures sufficient oil in  the engine at start up.

The following is from a post by Ron Salmon,  from the same thread as the
Jim Thompson quote above:  "As for the  differences, this issue has come
up on the list many times throughout the  years. At one point a
listmember actually emailed Mahle in Germany to ask  them the difference
and whether it really mattered. Here was  Mahle/Germany's reply:

'The main difference between OC 108 and OC 47 is  inside these filters.
OC108 has an anti-drain valve at the filter, OC 47  not. When you use OC
47 for your car (VW Tranporter/Vanagon) than you can  get problems when
you start your car. The motor is at this time always to  long without
oil. OC 108 have also a better paper quality than OC 47, and  the
pressure bypass is different. Please use for your car OC 108, to get  no
damage at your car or motor.'

So there you have it, right from  the horse's mouth."  (end of Ron's post)

Sam, right on, good of you  to post all that.  I was not advocating using any
other filter than the  proper one with the anti-drain back valve.  Just
trying to point out that  there are many other brands of filters on the market with
the anti-drain back  valve so it is not always absolutely necessary to use
only the OEM filter.   This OEM filter story gets so strewn around that most
don't understand.   There are hundreds of waterboxer engines running around in
our world quite  successfully without the OEM filter.  The do have a proper
anti-drain back  filter though !  Now all that said all the filters with the
anti-drain back  feature are not equal.  The next important part is the filter
medium.   So it would be best to have the best.  This part we have to rely on
experience from engine builders who have seen the end results of using the
different filters.  The filter is really not needed until there is some  material
in the engine oil that needs to be filtered out, so when that happens  it's too
late to change the filter to the better one !

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection
for  sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon  Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007