Hi there,

Filter I've never seen mentioned in this group is the Bosch.  It's easy to
go to the FLAPS, get Bosch air, oil, and fuel filters all at once, and that
is exactly what I've been doing.  Where does Bosch fit in on the quality
curve?

Thanks,

Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: Alan Bosch <arbosch@RA.ROCKWELL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 9:42 AM
Subject: Re: My First Oil Filter Failure

> <<<snip>>> Changed to a Mobil filter and evil appears to be punished.  The
> morals here are:
> Don't skimp on the filter
> Fram is a product of satan <<<snip>>>
>
> I'm no expert - I don't even play one on TV - but I've had enough VW's
under my
> belt to have picked up a thing or two.  While there has never been an oil,
or
> oil filter, related failure in any on my VW's, I'd like to think that's a
result
> of regular oil and filter changes.  Having used Fram filters on my
Rabbits,
> Jetta, Fox, and Passat, I find them to be a good filter for those cars.
They
> are certainly readily available, inexpensive, and with due diligence,
reliable.
> That said, however, I would NEVER - well, okay, only if I was stranded,
and
> couldn't get a Mahle aired in from somewhere - put one on my Vanagon.
> Everything I have read suggests - emphasis on suggests! - the Frams are
too
> restrictive, and do not have the proper by-pass characteristics necessary
for
> the optimal function of the wasserboxer engine.  So I wonder if the Fram
that
> gave you problems was just the result of being a little used.  If that's
the
> case, then the Mobil filter you substituted will, in due course, allow the
same
> problem to surface.  If you don't want to skimp, then buy the right filter
in
> the first place - Mahle, or, if you have deeper pockets, genuine VW.
>
> My $0.02, YMMV, and assorted other disclaimers...
>
> Alan Bosch
> Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)
>