Ryco oil filters

[Stuey]

Hi all,

What are the opinions out there on Ryco oil filters? Specifically for Aussies (and Kiwis since they're made there), are Ryco filters as good as they get? The one for the R12 is certainly a whopper - it's twice the size of a genuine sized one. (I know the smaller ones have the paper convoluted two ways so that the surface area is similar.)

I've always wondered as I've read that they can have a valve in them that isn't set correctly in very cheap filters - but as far as I'm aware, the only valve in them is a bypass valve, which would only open if the filter clogged. And of course, none of us Froggy's fans filters would ever get to that stage Some Ryco's have an anti drain back valve dpendng on the car, but this obviously wouldn't be affected critically by release spring pressure.

Ryco's have also been around since at least the early 70's as we used to sell them in the roadhouse we owned. I'm sure they must be good, otherwise they wouldn't enjoy such a huge market - but I've got nothing to back this up.

Comments?

Stuey

[Simon]

I was told many years ago when I first got my 12 that the Ryco oil filters for a Renault did not have the drain back valve. I would imagine (or hope) that has been changed now. Since that time though, I have always used genuine Renault or the OEM Purflux filters which seem a relatively reasonable price at around $9.

But as you say Ryco probably would not be in existance now if their filters were of poor quality.

Simon

[Alan S]

I've used quite a few Ryco over the years in the CX without any problems. Used one in my 16V and did have the odd problem with the rattly tappet on start up but changed the filter to Purflux at a premature oil change where we also went to Mobil 1 in the oil so I have always given the oil the benefit of the credit for losing the problem; may have been a bit of both.
Have had a nasty experience with a "REPco" oil filters though. My son was setting up the engine management system on his CX with the computer and had someone driving at set (and fairly high) revs when he smelt oil one night. Upon inspection he found he'd dumped the sump over about a klm on a fairly busy rural road near us He repeated the dose twice more before the problem was found.
Instead of a flat rubber ring as a seal on the filter, they use a big skinny "O" ring. :p It simply blows out due to the high pressure a CX pumps at that speed - we found out later by attaching a gauge, it was hitting 72 psi and the "O" ring set up just wasn't good enough
As a side note, the coppers were unreal with their attitude about the oil on the road. He went out of his way to go to the local gendarmes to warn them that he had put an oil slick down. Fat lazy bas!@&d$ were too tired to organize anything to fix it. He repeated the dose on 2 subsequent occasions would you believe along the same stretch of road so after the third time made an anonymous phone call to the council who didn't clean it up but simply put a couple of "Traffic Hazard" signs up.
Is that why they join "the Force." To sell tickets to the annual Police Ball, write parking tickets and avoid work in general? Or is that just Queensland Police

Alan S

[charles]

hi .i only use the purflux filters,have had fuego and 20 ts come in with rattles,change the filter bingo noise gone.the purflux filters have a longer change interval so they work out cheaper.have 505 sti with rattles also,filters change fix them too.they have a lot more filter element in them along with the valves.the life of you motor is the filters so why risk it. just my thoughts stuart.

[Stuey]

Charles, the filter shouldn't cause rattles that occur while the car's running, should it? Is this what you mean? The non-return valve keeps oil in the filter when you switch off so COULD affect rattles on start-up, but even this depends on the design of the oil system and the siting of the filter. I suppose a really cheap filter could prevent oil from passing through it a bit therefore reducing pressure after the filter, but I doubt if the Ryco's have crappy elements in them.

BTW the only reason I ask is because for me buying Purflux or similar relies on mail order from Caravelle (bit inconvenient) or rip-off 2x Caravelle's price from the main Renault dealers over here.

Looks like I might have to mail order a few at a time...unless any of you WA'ers know of a good source?

Stuey

[Alan S]

Stuey,

Have you ever thougt of giving Repco a try for the Purflux filters?
I haven't bought from them, but I did once ask the question and the guy reckoned they could get them for me if I ordered them. I have bought quite a few parts off them for my Cits and have found them to be dearer than where I normally get my bits in South Aust. but a lot cheaper than Citroen dealers or specialised repairers.
Don't be afraid to ask for trade price either, as they seem to be doing it a bit hard at the moment and although they don't give you a genuine trade price, it's a bloody sight better than normal retail or Cit dealer prices.

Alan S

[george]

Can anyone tell me where I can buy a Purflux oil filter in Sydney. My local Repco shop did not even have a listing for a Pug 306 oil filter.

thanks
george

[Alan S]

George,

I would suggest possibly European Car care or Continental cars. Tom Dolan I would imagine would also be a source. Also isn't there a company called "Dayco?" who sells bits for Froggys too?
With Repco, providing you get someone to serve you that can even spell the name of the car I usually get them to look it up in Ryco or Repco then go to the cross reference section, get the number of the brand I want from that and then ask them to get it in.
With the CX I think you'll find the oil filter to suit is the same as a Mazda 1.8 litre motor and with the 2.5 Gti I think is the same as a Mazda 2 litre donk. From memory one is a Ryco R-134a so I ask for a Purflux flilter the equivalent of a Ryco R-134a. Never had a problem. It's just the old story of panic setting in when you say the words "French" and "Car" in the one sentence

Alan S

[DoubleChevron]

Yikes!!!

Alan, mate, it's Z-142a. I usualy buy them from Target for about $10-12bucks. I've also recently discovered it fits all CX's & the BX . Here's me buying in the purflux filters for the BX. I've never had a problem (ever) with Ryco filters so I'm going to use them on the BX as well. The CX has been running on them for years with no problems. Why would they be so common if they were no good?? If peoples engines were being damaged by them I'm sure we would here about it!

seeya,
Shane L.

[george]

Thanks Alan S, I had forgotten all about Dayco.
I'll give them a go.

Cheers

george

[Pugsly]

Where is Dayco? is it one of these?

Dayco Eastman Sales
160 -162 Newton Rd Wetherill Park 2164
(02) 9616 7666

Dayco Pacific Pty Ltd
160 -162 Newton Rd Wetherill Park 2164

same add, diff names?

[bob]

On Alan S' seal problem - the kiwi replacements for the ones that I get for our ancient HiLux tray have a different seal to the ones that used to be made in oz. The kiwi one is D shaped and pops out of position, surprise surprise the old Oz one was flat and sealed properly.

Ryco supply the right seal by mail on ringing them up and asking, gratis and for nothing so far.

Otherwise, I have used Ryco filters for about the last 30 years or so without problems. The old ones did not have any anti drain back valve, but we didn't have auto chokes etc then and you could fire up being aware of the problem. Also, on a change, half fill the filter before installing.

Bob

[David Cavanagh]

Hmmm Ryco oil filters, I recon I could tell a story or two.
I remember about 20 years or more ago, Bruno at Citro Motors told me that in 30 years of business the only Citroen motors he'd ever rebiult were the ones using ryco filters, I thought, yer sure Bruno your only trying to sell me geniune filters, since I've started French Connection (about 17 years) I've got to agree with him, about 6/7 years ago we put on an old French Citroen mechanic, i remember when he started the first thing he asked me was what brand of filters I use, I replied geniune or Purflux and he said good, I refuse to fit ryco. A few months ago, a neighbouring workshop serviced a 505GR and it kept coming back with a leaking oil filter, the mechanic finally asked me what I use, I sold him a Purflux and no more oil leak. Twice this year when I've run out of Purflux I've used ryco, once on a late model Fuego and once on a 505STI, two different filters both with the same problem, the thread was wrong and they couldn't be done up, now according to the books they were correct but neither would screw on, the Fuego we did managed to get on but it leaked, the 505 forget it. I now agree with Bruno and won't use anything else and when I've sold Purflux over the counter the customer often has replied "wow, is that all, thats cheaper than ryco".
Seeyas,
David.

[JohnW]

Another interesting one. I've used both, with no personal links between filter type and engines.

I always use Purflux now because they are smaller and I've bought a great ring spanner device to get them off, which is much better than a screwdriver and hammer!! The strap wrench was always a problem with the R8 due to lack of space by the oil pressure guage fitting, but the Purflux fits easily. Not too scientific but it works for me.

[DoubleChevron]

Hi Dave,

that's very intersting. I wonder if it's the filter, or the fact someone that's willing to fit a 'non standard' filter, probably doesn't give a flying crap about servicing there car. And it's probably only had the oil changed twice in 200,000km's??? Surely the only difference would be from a cold start with no anti-drain back valve??

seeya,
Shane L.

[Simon]

Sounds like the Ryco filter on the Fuego may have been fitted with the wrong thread or painted with the wrong code. Renault changed the thread on the filters from 3/4" to 20 mm in 1984, so you have to be careful on Renault's around that age, as the 20mm thread filter will fit but won't tighten properly. Perhaps the Ryco quality control wasn't too good on a certain batch.

One reason you would like the anti drain valve on things like 8's and 10's is that they are "old tech" motors designed to be flushed. So all the oil drops back to the sump when the motor is not running, having a little reserve in the filter certainly helps on initial start up. The 12 & 16 are different, the valve gear and cam sit in a nice oil bath. However the 4 seems to get by without a filter OK.

Simon

[davemcbean]

I like Purflux filters too, and $15 for a filter isn't all that much when you think a tank of petrol is over $40.

I've been told that what they say about Purflux filters being the only ones to have a non-return valve is a load of garbage. Apparently most if not all brands of filters have a non-return valve.

A friend of mine has found a $5 Holden filter that screws right onto the 504, but I don't like the fact that it's quite small. I think I'll stick with Purflux.

Dave

[bob]

ok ok SOLD my next change will be Purflux, alright !

Bob

[Simon]

In my message, I was specific about the Ryco not having a non return valve as that was the question. I know the old Ryco ones for a Renault 8/10/12/15/16/17/18/20 and early Fuego didn't have but things may have changed in the last few years.

Fram filters (the Australian Renault OEM manufacturer in the 70's) did have a valve. So at this stage other makes of filter may or may not have had a non return valve.

Simon

[DeKa]

George,

Auto France in Artarmon: 9439 8145 or 9439 3022
Pick up an aussifrogs sticker while you're there!

Derek

[charles]

hi stuey,sorry to take so long to get back,i have been flat out with chrismas car dramas.the cars with he noisy motors were running at the time,not just started.i dont know exactly what causes it but hey i think the lack of oil would be a good place to start.just changing to puflux fixed it,one of the other local parts guys in s.a. tells me the same story he has heard from his customers. stuart.

[Stuey]

Simon,

The Rycos with an 'anti drain back valve' are clearly marked as such on the box. The R12 one isn't marked, so I assume it hasn't got one, and things haven't changed...

Ryco's website alludes to the fact that some of their filters don't have one, but as I said first up, I'm pretty sure the engine design would affect whether or not one was needed. Like which way up the filter sits, and whether the galleries leading to it would drain by gravity or not.

Anyway, sounds like it's not worth using your car as a test bed to see if Ryco's are OK !

Stuey

[george]

Pugsly,
Sorry mate I'm currently overseas for business and I don't have the address with me. Unfortunately it's not either of the one's you have listed. I'll try to remember to post the address when I get home.

Derek
I've already got my stickers, thanks anyway.

Cheers
george

[Simon]

Stuey,

Unfortunately there is no point in my car being a test bed as it would involve more hassle for me to go out and buy a Ryco instead of popping into the shed to pick out a Purflux :-).

My poor 12 gets no special treatment apart from an oil filter and change every 5000k's, coolant every two years and gearbox oil when I think it needs to be done usually every 20,000k's.

Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to all!

Simon

[george]

Pugsly,

Sorry for the delay, but in case you were still waiting here it is:

Dapco, 52 Stanley St Penshurst NSW
Phone No 95345388

Cheers
george