Champ PH561 Oil Filter. Thread engagement discovery

[Zoltan]

Champion Laboratories makes the better kind of oil filters. HOWEVER, I do not recommend Champ PH561 (listed for the '82 SD22 on their web site). When I screwed this on, it barely caught the thread. Even after pressing down on the filter I could only put 2-3 turns on it. Upon closer inspection, the end plate of the filter sits too deep compared to the Bosch filter.

[asavage]

Is Champion Labs the mfgr of Champ filters? I didn't think so, but I'm too lazy to research it.

[later] Yeah, I see that they are.

Just looking at the picture, it doesn't look like the Champ has an Anti-Drainback valve. Suitable only for vertical (mounting flange facing up) orientation applications. See below.

Hmmm. For 1982, the Wix online lookup lists the 51512. That Champ number crosses into an old VW/Porsche (Type IV engine, if anybody cares: vertical mount, flange up applications). I think you have the wrong filter there.

[later]
Hmmm. Champ's online filter finder does list the PH561. Well, you discovered that it doesn't fit; I wonder if it's a typo. [later] No, if you put Wix's number (51512) into Champ's online cross-reference, it comes back to the PH561, so it's not a typo.

What can I say? My local FLAPS carries two filter lines: the Wix for those of us who know better, and Champ for the Schucks/Kragen/Checker folks.

Wix has a silicone anti-drainback valve. Others use nitrile. Nitrile is OK if you don't extend the oil drain interval, but becomes brittle and does not seal after extended use. Silicone remains pliant much longer.

I recently removed a Fram oil filter from one of our shop vans. It had not been run in four days. The filter was effectively "dry". I made sure that my boss saw it that way. Fram is Jiffy-Lube's house brand, which is where the van was serviced last.

[philip]

-SNIP- I recently removed a Fram oil filter from one of our shop vans. It had not been run in four days. The filter was effectively "dry". I made sure that my boss saw it that way. Fram is Jiffy-Lube's house brand, which is where the van was serviced last.

My 5,000 mile oil (NAPA All-Fleet) with Carquest B81 filter (WIX product) test is about up. The filter has a drain-back valve/disc but I don't think it holds up overnight ... judging by the 5 seconds or so that it takes to extinguish the pressure lamp on cold start-up.

EVERYTHING has been better at retaining oil overnight compared to those junk OE+ (OF-1460) filters you see on eBay.

[asavage]

Wix makes at least three different "quality levels" that I know about, the most famous being NAPA's "Select" (nee "Silver") line: filter part Nos. begin with the number "2". They are Wix products but have a noticeably lighter case steel gauge, and nitrile ADV instead of the orange silicone. They are quite a bit cheaper than the "standard" Wix.

NAPA sells the std Wix filters and drops the leading digit, so Wix 51512 becomes NAPA 1512 (and the cheaper NAPA Select becomes 21512).

I use Wix filters.

[philip]

Champ's online cross-reference

I break the rules. I need a shorter filter so I can get at the smoke setscrew on occasion without pulling the filter. The shorter PH8A has done fine ... Napa 1068, Purolator 14670, Carquest B81, etc.

Since my DPC / IPC injection pump controller is functional, were the filter to suddenly blow off (resulting in oil pressure loss), the engine would be shut down automatically.

[asavage]

I break the rules. I need a shorter filter so I can get at the smoke setscrew on occasion without pulling the filter. The shorter PH8A has done fine ... Napa 1068 . . .

From memory, the PH8A = NAPA 1515 (Ford). The 1068 is the shorter version that was popular on Chrysler V8s for years. Pretty much the same diameter, I put the 1515 on Mopars that have clearance to accomodate it.

[philip]

When I screwed this on, it barely caught the thread. Even after pressing down on the filter I could only put 2-3 turns on it.

Zoltan: I have an assortment of filters on hand for the SD. One filter came with the truck ... a "Genuine (diesel) Oil Filter". It is still in the shrink wrap. It is dark blue, has installation instructions, and part number 15209 Y7502. Loads of Japanese characters on it too. So, that is the baseline filter for me.

From the top of the o-ring/gasket surface to the top of the threads is 3.5mm.

The aftermarket equivalent "OE+" filter has the same measurement.

Both screw on 1-3/4 to 2 turns before contacting the filter adaptor's sealing surface.

Next, two WIX filters (rebadged private labels), and a Purolator PureOne. Now these all had the familiar square section compression gasket. Each had a 2-3mm distance from the gasket surface to the top of the first thread.

All three screwed on 1 to 1-1/4 turns to contact.

Never lost a filter or had a leak. If you ever did blow a filter, the DPC system would automatically shut down the engine the moment the oil pressure light switched ON.

Interesting / distressing is finding the oil filter stand pipe seems to be pressed into the filter adaptor. So what's a fella to do? Be sure to tighten according to the filter manufacturer's spec.

[Zoltan]

I e-mailed Champion labs customer service with my concerns and they responded the next morning !!

Here's what they wrote:

Paul Ankenbrandt/IL/ChampLabs

02/26/2007 10:55 AM

To
Tom Cantwell/IL/ChampLabs@ChampLabs
cc
Ron Kinkade/IL/ChampLabs@ChampLabs, Kris Stanhope/IL/ChampLabs@ChampLabs, Hotline/IL/ChampLabs@ChampLabs
Subject
Re: Fw: Poor fitting oil filterLink


Tom,
The Champ and Bosch filters shown in Mr. Szabo picture are both manufactured by Champion. The gasket to first thread dimension on the Champ filter is .26 inch and the Bosch filter is .22 inch. This equates into about 2/3 turn more engagement with the Bosch filter. Mr. Szabo stated the Champ filter had 2 to 3 turns of thread engage which is sufficient and common on automotive vehicles. The Bosch filter would have slightly more thread engagement ;however, either filter would fit and function correctly. There is not a problem with the recommended Champ PH561 on a 1982 Nissan 720 pickup with the diesel engine.

A tidbit of info:Champion does not manufacture Bosch filters any more.

From the top of the o-ring/gasket surface to the top of the threads is 3.5mm.

.26 inches = 6.6 mm, quite a bit farther here.


So perhaps I am just worried unnecessarily... but I never head an oil filter that touched down to the gasket after one turn, although I owned quite a few cars. It is VERY assuring to know that my DPC works as it should .

[glenlloyd]

(snip)... but I never head an oil filter that touched down to the gasket after one turn, although I owned quite a few cars. It is VERY assuring to know that my DPC works as it should .

Neither have I, and I wouldn't use it, the cost difference between the poor filters and the good filters isn't worth it.

steve a

[philip]

From the top of the o-ring/gasket surface to the top of the threads is 3.5mm.

.26 inches = 6.6 mm, quite a bit farther here.

So perhaps I am just worried unnecessarily... but I never head an oil filter that touched down to the gasket after one turn, although I owned quite a few cars. It is VERY assuring to know that my DPC works as it should .

"Don't worry ... be happy". You have DPC protection.

There may be a difference in the gasket-to-thread dimension. I think the more important thing is the number of turns from thread engagement to gasket contact + tightening spec.

Sure I'd be happier with 3-5 spins but I'm not losing sleep over the 2-3 spins I've been getting with a variety of filters.

[philip]

Steve: The GENUINE factory filter spins only 1-3/4 turns to make contact. The "good" filters you allude to have less thread engagement.

Perhaps, but at least I would know that the quality of the filter media and the other materials used would be better. SNIP

No "perhaps." Is your thinking that there is a link between filter media quality and the number of turns a filter requires to seat properly?

Might you figure out a way to lengthen the filter stand pipe? Take a look at an SD filter adaptor before you answer.

I haven't seen the filter stand for this application yet, so my only inclination at this point would be to go with a remote filter setup.

steve a

I did request you examine before responding.

[Zoltan]

An update on the Champ PH 561 filter: it's still on, never fell off (since February)!

[philip]

An update on the Champ PH 561 filter: it's still on, never fell off (since February)!

"Since my DPC / IPC injection pump controller is functional, were the filter to suddenly blow off (resulting in oil pressure loss), the engine would be shut down automatically."

I hope your Oil Pressure Switch is still operating because ... if the OPS wire is unconnected, the DPC will start/on/off but not OFF when oil pressure fails.

So besure the wire terminal is firmly plugged to the OPS.

[Nissan_Ranger]

I use the Wix 51515 filter... Lots of filtering capacity and no problem getting pressure on start up.

N_R

[Knucklehead]

It just occured to me that the length of the steel threaded pipe in the aluminum oil filter "bracket" may not be uniformly deep. All the problem might not be with the filters.