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MG MGB Technical - Oil filters

Hi Guys

I know that this subject has been covered loads of times in the archives. Only problem is that it is always US part numbers that are mentioned.

I have a 74 BGT and everytime i go to get an oil filter (screw on type) the one that the list shows as the correct one (PH2875A i think??) looks a lot bigger than the one that is on at the moment.

I've only had the car 3 months and me and my dad have been restoring it. The bodyworks done - we just need to service the engine.

The oil filter that is listed is the same as the one that goes on the V8. It is quite a bit bigger than the one that's on.

Is it the right one or does anyone know the British part number of a good filter that fits.

Thanks

Adam
A J Cooper

When you say bigger, are you talking about the length or the diametre. So long as the diametre is the same, then the length should not be an issue as long as it fits in the engine bay.
Hope that helps.
Martin

Hi Martin.

The new filter is shorter in length and bigger in diameter than the one that is on. On previous threads people have mentioned other filters which fit (volvos??)

Any ideas on what the numbers are for them??

Cheers
A J Cooper

Not off hand, but the correct filter is GFE121. The Fram version with a better drainback valve is GFE121F.

HTH,
Tim.
Tim Jenner

Thanks for your help Guys!!!

I'll get a few of them i think, so i don't have this "blonde" moment again!!

Happy MGing!!!
A J Cooper

The Volvo number for the filter that fits is 3517857 and I highly recommend it. Have recently switched to them after using Unipart and there is a huge difference in time oil pressure takes to build up (nil in the case of the Volvo) and 5-10 secs of engine wearing clatter with Unipart..
Hope this is of some use
Regards
Fay
F Cunningham

Despite a couple warnings about oil pressure, I tried one of the K&N high-performance filters. It's worked fine with no affect on oil pressure or buildup time.
Steve Simmons

I use a Motorcraft FL-300, works fine.
Pressure comes up immediately on start up.
William Bourne

Here are some references of filtrers with anti drain back valve from european or british manufacturers:

Coopers Z27A
Crosland 529/1
Fiaam FT4826
Mann W 916/1
JM Thély

We had a bit of a problem!!!!

I got the Volvo filter that F Cunningham mentioned!

We had a right job getting it on, as we had to pass the filter up from the underneath. When we finally got the tread lined up we tighted it as much as possible and put oil in the engine.

Started it up and there was oil pissing out of the filter - sh*t - cut the engine straight away!!

Used the strap tool to get the filter on as tight as possible, but it is still leaking, just a little now though!!

Gunna have to try and get a GFE121F I think!!

Thanks for your help guys!!
A J Cooper

A very common problem is the old rubber seal hiding in the groove in the adapter.
Fred H

A J Cooper - I suppose that you did lubricate the seal on the new filter before fitting it to your engine.
Marc

AJ Cooper
Sorry if you think I handed out bum advice!! I fit my own and never had any probs with getting it in place or leaking!! 70MGB UK spec.
Hope you get one that is perfect and if you find it please share the info.
Cheers
Fay
F Cunningham

A major oversight on the part of most parts references is that not all MGB's take the same filter. There is the more common (and physically larger) top-loading filter, but also the less common (and physically smaller) bottom-loading filter - which is usually the same part number as for the midget. All books list the top-loading filter, yet only a few books list the alternative bottom-loading filter. I've been using the bottom loading Wix 51374 (NAPA 1374). The only way to arrive at the Wix 51374 was via cross referencing, so that could be a little shaky. Anyone know the definitive answer? The next filter to go on is a K&N HP1002 (this week as it so happens), which, again, was the part number for the Midget. I can't say what the year range is for this oddity, but it applies to my chrome bumpered '74 GT which had a build date of August '73.

Dean
Dean Lake

Not accusing anyone of bum advise!!!!!

The guys at the shop said they have sold this filter for MGB's before!!

The filter goes on a thread that points down towards the sump!!! As this filter was wider than the original we had to pass it up from underneath. And yes, my dad is a mechanic and worked on cars for 30 years, so he knows have to fit an oil filter!!.

Anyway - we have the old one, which is a Cooper's filter - gunna stick with the family name and get the equivalent of the one that was on.

Didn't mean to offend anyone, just thought i'd better let you know!!

Will let you know of the one that i get this week!!!

Adam
A J Cooper

AJ,

From your description, I'd say you need to try the bottom-loading smaller filter as is listed for a Midget of the same year. You can't go wrong sourcing the same one you had on there before (especially with your namesake!). Surely no one meant to give bum advice, as you say. Since most references make no mention of an alternative filter housing, any B owner who has the more common top-loading filter might never be made aware of the existance of the alternative. Your B and mine are of the same year. I wonder, does anyone else have a bottom loading filter and what year is your B?

Dean
Dean Lake

Dean,

Re: top loading filter years. You have an early '74 with the bottom loading filter. My '74 was built late in the model year - June I think. And it has the top loading filter. So it seems that the change was made during the '74 model year.

I don't own a Clausager's, but have been led to believe that the filter was changed in conjunction with the starter. When the longer non-Bendix starter was instituted, it collided with the bottom-mount filter. So the adapter was changed in response.

Others may correct me.
Matt Kulka

Yep, mine is an early 74 too.

First registered in Jan 74. It might be that the 74.5 model had a different filter set up.

Anyway - I'm gunna get the new filter on Wednesday, so I've let you all know the one that I get which will be for the bottom loading B owners out there.

This has turned out to be quite an education!!!!

Adam
A J Cooper

Adam

You have been lead up the garden path.
I have an MGB and a V8. Both use the PH2875A filter. You have probably fitter a new filter by now.

Don't be side tracked by what people have to use overseas. There are plenty of parts for MGBs in the UK.

Iain
Iain Hallifax

Dean & Matt-
According to Clausager's "Original MGB", the downward-hanging cartridge oil filter stand was introduced in December 1973 on cars #338791 (Roadster) and #338568(GT), but was dropped at cars #343303 (Roadster) and #343761 (GT) in February 1974.
Steve S.

Iain

I got a PH2875A and we couldn't even fit it through the gap to get to screw it on.

It is how Steve S. says, for a short time they produced an engine with the filter underneath so the filter has to be narrower to fit through the gap.

Gettin the new one on Wednesday, so will let you guys know what the fram no is!!

Adam
A J Cooper

My early 74 B #337102 has a hang down filter. It requires the same filter as used in late 1275 Midgets. I have owned both and Purolator lists L10028 for both cars. I have used them for over six years. I don't know if you have Purolator in the UK, so I did some searching and found some cross references for oil filter elements used in 18V hang down filters. There is not enough space for the big filters to fit. Here is one crossreference list I found. FWIW, Clifton

> Hey everyone,
>
> I have the stock hanging oil filter on my 18v motor in my car. I was going
> to buy what I thought was the correct oil filter on New Years Day from
> NAPA, but they were closed. I instead bought the Purolator L10028 at Pep
> Boys. They actually had both types of filters listed in their catalog and
> we found the one for my car. I was shocked as I thought those guys could
> do anything w/o the computer, its good to find a good counter guy once and
> a while.
>
> I just got back from NAPA to get another filter for the second oil change,
> and the filter I thought I needed to get (NAPA 1068) was not right. That
> is from the inverted filter as best as I can tell. After researching from
> here, I never found anyone else on-line that specifies the hanging filter,
> just the inverted one. Below are the cross references I did find. I tried
> to compile a list of both type filters, please look over this and let me
> know if I'm wrong.... Thanks, Patton
>
> Hanging Spin-Filters (O.E.M. offset type)
> WIX 51374
> Purolator L10028
> Fram PH966B
> Beck-Arnley 041-9888
> Pipercross OF106-RBT
> Baldwin B288
> Hastings LF155
> Casite CF966
> Bosch OF106
Clifton Gordon

Thanks AJ for posting this in the first place - the results have been enlightening for those of us in the affected production run. Matt, Steve, Clifton - thanks to each of you for taking the time to 'lead us up the garden path' to clarification. ;-)

Clifton, of those hanging filters, I have personally used:

> WIX 51374
and
> Fram PH966B

Dean

Dean Lake

Cheers guys

I finally have the correct number which fits the downward facing oil filter setup.

It's the PH966B

Wahhhhhhhaeeeeyyy!!!

Thanks for all your help guys. It's been emotional!!!!

Adam
A J Cooper

This thread was discussed between 21/09/2003 and 06/10/2003

MG MGB Technical index

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