Oil filter

[StewartG]

It seems the 2litre Vx engine as fitted in a Caterham does not use a standard Astra GTE or something similar oil filter, the thread is different. What oil filter does it use or is the filter exclusive to Caterham. Caterham supply a short filter and a crossflow filter fits and is a bit longer the Halfords Vx filter is half the price of the Caterham unit pity it doesn't fit.

[AndreK]

Don't know about the 2.0 litre Vx. The 1600Vx engine takes a short filter also, Unipart reference GFE 210. One of the reasons for the 3000 mile oil change interval. Cost about £4.50 from your local Rover dealer. If the filter was any longer it could be damaged by kerbs, sleeping policemen etc.

[Alex Wong1697456877]

Champion C116 or equvalent is what you need. There is a Halfords equivalent HOF 238.

 

They're Renault 4 filters I think but they fit and are the right length.

 

Alex

[Andrew Russell]

I'd been told that it was actually from a Reliant Robin or someothersuch power tool! Fram reference is PH2834.

 

Andrew

[AndreK]

Whichever filter make you get make sure it has the spring loaded valve in the bottom, the Unipart certainly does

[Alex Wong1697456877]

Champion and Halfords does.

 

What does the spring do?

 

Alex

[AndreK]

I could be talking b******s but I think it is some sort of non return valve, perhaps to stop too much of the oil draining back to the sump. If so then this will be more important when the filter is not vertical or nearly so? It is always present on VW/Audi filter types, but then my other car's a diesel!!!

[Paul Ranson]

> What does the spring do?

 

I think it bypasses the filtering bits when they get clogged, on the basis that dirty oil is better than no oil.

 

So if you're changing oil regularly then you're probably better off with a plain filter.

 

On the K Series the part sold by Rover dealers for a K Series has a bypass, the part supplied by Caterham doesn't.

 

Paul

 

 

[R2D2]

Most diesels have a filter with a spring loaded baffle to stop the oil pump emptying completly when the engine stops.

 

This keeps the pump full of oil and allows pressure to be developed more quickly when the engine starts.

 

The short delay that can occur can be bad for bearings especially if you 'blip' the throttle when the engine fires. You can notice the delay very easily on a crossflow engine.

I have run 'diesel' style filters for years as keeping the pump full seems a good idea.

 

[Paul McKenzie]

Alex is right - I've used both of these on my VX

[Peter Carmichael]

Caterham have started supplying the filter with the bypass for the k-series, I think by default rather than through a planned change.

 

I think the unipart numbers were GFE171 and GFE280. Don't remember which way round.