Questions on Oil Filters for 11 HP Uni Diesel

[Blue Crab]

Prepping for oil change on my Uni 5411. The Uni part is 300209 with M20x1.5 threads and 8-11 psi on relief valve. $15 bucks. Google says there are 535 exchangeable filters. [?!]

OP left a boxtop for a Fram PH2870A ($4.00) that specs at 3/4x16 threads and 22psi. The Fram is taller but not an issue. I am not at boat to see what's on there atm.

Fram PH2808 appears to be the metric equivalent threading and psi.

Q 1 is whether those thread differences are inconsequential?
Q2 is whether the higher psi is risky?

I already own a couple of PH 3614s that are the correct size and the correct psi but imperial threading 3/4 x 16 If I have an imperial thread on there now, it might be less harmful to continue with it?

Q3: What say you gents/ladies?

 

[SloopJonB]

I wouldn't fuck around trying to save a couple of bucks on an oil filter.

Remember the old ad "You can pay me now or pay me later"?

That was about oil filters.

Auto suppliers have books of interchange info and cities usually have places that only sell oil filters - they know what fits what.

 

[Blue Crab]

I'm hoping to use Frams ... that was the filter in the ads. And by now I'm an informed consumer on threads and psi of the range of filters in play. We all know there are a limited # of factories that produce all these brands.

It's not the money ... it's the threads and psi. Buying the correct metric threaded filter might be a bad move now if the OP always screwed on imperial threaded filters.

 

[longy]

OP states he has some correct filters with metric threads - installing one of those will resolve any damage q's. I'd be more concerned with the different relief pressures

 

[Blue Crab]

I dread that first install. But perhaps it's the thread in the filter that gets slightly modified.

The correct version of the metric Fram is the same psi.

 

[Quickstep192]

I hope you find that the Fram box top was left in error. I can’t imagine what damage someone would have to do to get a 3/4” filter thread onto a 20mm stem. The stem is almost a full mm larger.

Unless… the PO somehow changed the stem in the filter head on the engine.

 

[SASSAFRASS]

Most of the filters out there are all made by the same company and rebranded.
No, you absolutely do not want to mix metric and standard threads. If it's a spin on then there are a ton of options for other filters. Get the OEM filter info and check one of the on line cross reference guides. What you want to make sure of is the thread ports matching, flow rate and the micron rating of the filter. NAPA is great as a resource if you are in the US. They generally have everything in stock. WIX is one of the major brands that get rebranded to whatever. Some reliable brands in the US are, Fram Baldwin WIX NAPA Fleetguard. One thing to pay attention on a oil filter is volume, there are several filters that will fit the same housing but don't have the same flow rating.

The best option is to stick to OEM cross reference.

 

[Son of Hans]

My first question would be, what filter is screwed on there now? That should tell you what the threads are. If it's different from stock, either the OP changed out the stud (unlikely), or messed up the threads.

 

[Blue Crab]

Yep. Maybe Tuesday. I'll report back.

 

[Son of Hans]

Sorry, I didn't notice that you said in the orginal post that you weren't able to look right now. The good news is that a filter change can be done any time - it doesn't have to be coordinated with an oil change although that is convenient to dispose of the drainage.

 

[Blue Crab]

Yeah. I'm hauled and winterized but will change just the filter Tuesday. Gotta know if those threads are compromised sooner rather than later.

 

[Mendigo Diver]

I have found this to be a great resource, particularly when in remote/3rd world locations

Oil filter cross reference

Convert one oil filter brand to another. Huge database covering >2000 different brands and hundreds of thousands of oil filters.

www.oilfilter-crossreference.com

there is also a fuel filter cross reference

 

[Blue Crab]

Et voila! on Sailnet I found: "SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 5 DATE: 2003 MODEL: Universal & Westerbeke Propulsion Engines SUBJECT: Oil Filter Hazard - 20 mm filter on 3/4" adapter
Over the years Universal diesel marine engines have been fitted with oil filter adapters (the threaded stud that holds the filter onto the engine) with both metric and imperial threads ... while
the Universal M15, 5411, M-20, 5416, M-30, and 5424 use an imperial thread filter (#299381)."

I'd have noticed if any filter when on too sloppily and definitely think the OP would have as well, so that explains the aftermarket box top I found. I'll now make sure it matches the psi and gpm, as mentioned above.

Thanks all.