Mann vs Volvo Oil Filter Comparison with Pictures

emrfaruk · Jul 23rd, 2018, 08:23

Hi, just did an oil change on my 2001 S40 1.8 A/T. Bought both Mann and original Volvo filters to compare them. Volvo is clearly better built as can be seen. And took an image of 5600 miles used Mann filter. It didn't look much promising to me.
By the way, for the last 1000 miles my oil light was going out 1-2 seconds later than usual on hot startup. I think this explains why.
Here are the pictures:
(Couldn't upload them here. Added imgur link)
https://imgur.com/a/xKIZp1j

AndyV7o · Jul 23rd, 2018, 08:50

Mann are good quality filters though, and make a lot of Volvo filters, that volvo filter says made in Austria so is most likely Mahle, and it looks like a Mahle with the white fibre cap.

The main name-brand to steer clear of is Fram, many people have inspected many variants of fram filters which have all been shockingly poor in terms of filter media and construction.

bobthecabbage · Jul 24th, 2018, 10:00

The oil wizard would say that your Mann filters need to be made in Germany. There is a definite difference in quality compared to the like of the spanish one you have there.

The diesels have the old screw on type filter so you can't really see the quality unless you cut one open.

Did you change oils recently? I know the likes of shells helix ultra tends to dissolve all the varnish and gunk from inside the engine left by lesser oils.

Some oils tend to leave the inside of the engine all brown and stained whilst others are known to leave it looking like new.

volvoid · Jul 24th, 2018, 15:36

they look about the same to me. whats the problem ?
what one cant do easily is test the filtration properties
The Mann filter used looks like a dirty used filter, they go black very quickly, so what ?

AndyV7o · Jul 24th, 2018, 16:53

I can only think its the warping of the ends as the 'caps' are made of a soft-ish rubber type stuff. It doesnt make any difference, filters do warp a bit, so long as the core is as it should be, which it is, and the ends havent separated allowing bypass, which they havent, its ok.
I think the inference was that the volvo (mahle made it would seem) end caps are a bit more rigid, but they'll soon warp a little with some heat and oil pressure. The cores are a different 'lattice' but then each company has to vary to avoid any copyright etc.

emrfaruk · Jul 24th, 2018, 19:28

Oil is changed in this car every 6k miles. Was using regular 10w40 stuff until 2 years ago. Changed to mobil 5w-40 back then. That fully synthetic stuff really cleans things up. All I can see was black sludge under the filler cap. Now, even the cap itself is completely stain-free.
I will be using Motul 5w40 now on. It looks even better(at least in the technical papers) than mobil.

The problem with the mann filter is, it is warped too much if you compare it with a used volvo one. Previously I put a volvo in there and it came out in a better shape than Mann. Of course it was black and dirty but there wasn't any warpage.
As bobthecabbage mentioned Mann oil filters we get here (Istanbul) is made in Spain. Unlike the air filters which are made in Germany. So there is a chance that Spain builts are less quality.

AndyV7o · Jul 24th, 2018, 19:58

Motul 8100 xcess 5w40 is certainly better than mobil 1 5w40 which is a good oil but average amongst its peers.

Jul 23rd, 2018, 08:23	#1
emrfaruk Junior Member Last Online: Aug 5th, 2023 12:39 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Istanbul	Mann vs Volvo Oil Filter Comparison with Pictures Hi, just did an oil change on my 2001 S40 1.8 A/T. Bought both Mann and original Volvo filters to compare them. Volvo is clearly better built as can be seen. And took an image of 5600 miles used Mann filter. It didn't look much promising to me. By the way, for the last 1000 miles my oil light was going out 1-2 seconds later than usual on hot startup. I think this explains why. Here are the pictures: (Couldn't upload them here. Added imgur link) https://imgur.com/a/xKIZp1j Last edited by emrfaruk; Jul 23rd, 2018 at 08:33.

Jul 24th, 2018, 10:00	#3
bobthecabbage Premier Member Last Online: Aug 12th, 2020 21:26 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Plymouth	The oil wizard would say that your Mann filters need to be made in Germany. There is a definite difference in quality compared to the like of the spanish one you have there. The diesels have the old screw on type filter so you can't really see the quality unless you cut one open. Did you change oils recently? I know the likes of shells helix ultra tends to dissolve all the varnish and gunk from inside the engine left by lesser oils. Some oils tend to leave the inside of the engine all brown and stained whilst others are known to leave it looking like new. __________________ '04 V40 1.9D

Jul 24th, 2018, 15:36	#4
volvoid Monster Raving Loony Last Online: Nov 12th, 2018 20:03 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: hitchin	they look about the same to me. whats the problem ? what one cant do easily is test the filtration properties The Mann filter used looks like a dirty used filter, they go black very quickly, so what ? __________________ 1994 850 2.0 bought at 32,000 miles used daily now 45,000. Still like a nearly-new car 2004 filthy polluting diesel VW

Jul 23rd, 2018, 08:50	#2
AndyV7o Premier Member Last Online: Jun 21st, 2021 20:47 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Creswell	Mann are good quality filters though, and make a lot of Volvo filters, that volvo filter says made in Austria so is most likely Mahle, and it looks like a Mahle with the white fibre cap. The main name-brand to steer clear of is Fram, many people have inspected many variants of fram filters which have all been shockingly poor in terms of filter media and construction.

Jul 24th, 2018, 16:53	#5
AndyV7o Premier Member Last Online: Jun 21st, 2021 20:47 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Creswell	I can only think its the warping of the ends as the 'caps' are made of a soft-ish rubber type stuff. It doesnt make any difference, filters do warp a bit, so long as the core is as it should be, which it is, and the ends havent separated allowing bypass, which they havent, its ok. I think the inference was that the volvo (mahle made it would seem) end caps are a bit more rigid, but they'll soon warp a little with some heat and oil pressure. The cores are a different 'lattice' but then each company has to vary to avoid any copyright etc.

Jul 24th, 2018, 19:28	#6
emrfaruk Junior Member Last Online: Aug 5th, 2023 12:39 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Istanbul	Oil is changed in this car every 6k miles. Was using regular 10w40 stuff until 2 years ago. Changed to mobil 5w-40 back then. That fully synthetic stuff really cleans things up. All I can see was black sludge under the filler cap. Now, even the cap itself is completely stain-free. I will be using Motul 5w40 now on. It looks even better(at least in the technical papers) than mobil. The problem with the mann filter is, it is warped too much if you compare it with a used volvo one. Previously I put a volvo in there and it came out in a better shape than Mann. Of course it was black and dirty but there wasn't any warpage. As bobthecabbage mentioned Mann oil filters we get here (Istanbul) is made in Spain. Unlike the air filters which are made in Germany. So there is a chance that Spain builts are less quality.

Jul 24th, 2018, 19:58	#7
AndyV7o Premier Member Last Online: Jun 21st, 2021 20:47 Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Creswell	Motul 8100 xcess 5w40 is certainly better than mobil 1 5w40 which is a good oil but average amongst its peers.

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