LN Engineering Spin-On Oil filters in the EU
 

Hey everyone,

As I am trying to keep my 986 fed with clean oil I just ordered an LN Engineering spin-on oil filter kit ( https://www.ebay.com/itm/121844438036 ) which has two Bosch-branded filters included.

This raised an interesting situation:

Are the included Bosch filters any good or should I not even bother with them?

I'm trying to source Napa Gold 1042's or WIX 51042's from Europe but I am not having much luck. Is there some other filters which are of equal qualities for the 986 which are easier/cheaper to obtain in the EU that I should be sourcing instead?

Thanks for any and all advice you might be able to provide,

√

My opinion is LN Engineering would not include Bosch filters if they were crap so go ahead and use them . Bosch , NAPA Gold , Wix and Mobil 1 are all filters I would use . Because they are available to me I primarily use the Wix on mine .

Mobil 1 works, m1-107

also K&N HP-1007

Oil filters to use: Napa Gold 1348, Wix 51348, K&N HP-h1002

Not sure if it is LN Engineerings kit or if it is the sellers kit.

I got that kit. It's excellent! My unbiased and uninformed opinion is that the Bosch filters are just fine for our older Boxsters. I chose the kit because it included a couple of free name brand filters.

Wix 51348 oil filter is available at Amazon UK, expensive and you have to buy a dozen. On US Ebay, there's this https://www.ebay.com/itm/1348-NAPA-GOLD-OIL-FILTER-51348-WIX-Master-Pack-Of-12/162753804500?epid=1617931285&hash=item25e4e1f8d4:g :MHMAAOSwdDBZe5vC&vxp=mtr#shpCntId shipping and import duties are awful!

NAPA Gold filters are manufactured by Wix.

My guess is that it's the sellers kit.

Here's a rating table on various filters, kinda interesting. Untitled Document It looks to me like the highest rated, by far, is the Fram (!) XG3506 or 3675. Gets an overall B+ to A-

These? https://www.ebay.com/itm/6-PACK-FRAM-Ultra-Synthetic-Oil-Filter-Top-of-the-Line-FRAMs-Best-XG3506-/161962671106

Look (weirdly) cheap?

FRAM used to be garbage, but they have gotten their act together and are as good as other brands now. I don't have the link, but I read an article about this. They took a tour of the FRAM factory, and tested the filters, finding them to be top-notch.

That said, I still usually buy either the NAPA Gold or Wix, which of course are the same filter. But I've used Bosch many times on my motorcycle. I can't remember who makes the Bosch, but I read a test where they did well.

These are the filter if the IMS Solution is installed with its version of the spin on adapter (and is a cross for a lot of Toyota filters) - I bought one a while back by accident but was able to use it on my Tacoma :)

• Regular non-IMS solution LN spin on adapter - Wix 51042 and crosses
• IMS solution spin-on adapter - Wix 51348 and crosses

Steve,

Correct. Forgive me, I didn’t catch that he was using the “non-solution” version.

I'm surprised they just didn't use the same filter for both, I think they are the same height (3.404"). The only different seems to be the thread, and that the 51042 is a full flow filter with no bypass valve and max flow of 9-11 GPM flow, and the 51348 has a bypass valve and is rated for 7-9 GPMmax flow with the bypass set to open between 8-11 PSI.

Thanks for posting that, I bought the six pack. I had a bunch of Ebay bucks so the filters were no cost to me. :D

It might help drive the oil to the IMS having a slightly lower pressure max? Good in theory anyway! ;)

NAPA Update
 

Should anyone run across this old thread, LN no longer recommends the NAPA Gold filters as production has been moved to China. The Wix 51348 is recommended.

We just received 2 cases of the Wix 51348XP, which use the hybrid synthetic media, and they are all marked "Made in the USA".

I've always wondered if this was a big enough filter and if there was a similar filter that might be an inch longer?

There probably is, but I don't know that would really buy you anything other than slightly more engine oil volume. We have been using the Wix XP filters on cars with the IMS Solution installed for several years, and also recommending customers use a suitably sized Filter Mag, which most do. As we always cut open filters when servicing these cars, we have found this combination does an excellent job of trapping any debris, and the Filter Mag shows any ferrous fines if they start to show up. Customer oil analysis has also born out the combination's effectiveness.

Thanks!

Sydney (my CSS) will sleep better tonight knowing she's fully protected.

I suspect we're probably splitting hairs as far as any significant difference in quality, JFP, but do you see any reason to switch from Wix 51042 (what I've been using for years) to the 51348XP?

I believe the 51042's are made in Mexico, but I seem to recall reading about LNE recommending them. (And you too, IIRC.)

You are correct, the reason we switched to the 51348XP was the overwhelming move to customers using the IMS Solution, which used this style filter from the beginning (the Solution kits shipped with this filter). When Wix released the XP version with the hybrid synthetic media, we gave them a try and liked what we saw, so we stayed with them, and continue to like them. ;)