Alfetta GTV6 Oil filter

[alanm]

After much cross referencing etc I have come to the conclusion that the Ryco Z89A is the correct oil filter for GTV6
This is not an easy process because Ryco does not list GTV6

Here's the questions:
Does anyone know of any reason why I shouldn't fit the Ryco?

Does anyone know if the UFI equivalent is smaller and easier to install in a tight space?

FROM THE RYCO WEBSITE
(Ryco) Oil filters work in a multi-pass system that allows engine oil to continually pass through the filter and remove dirt. A vehicle's entire oil supply is filtered between four and five times every minute and their function is to allow only clean filtered oil through to the engine.

Cheers,
Alan

[Steve S]

Have you noticed this thread?
http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=11524.msg70491#new

What did you cross reference the Z89A from?

www.ryco.co.nz does list a Z89A for a GTV6 so I cant see any problem using it! Z418 is a smaller version and is listed for the 916 GTV6 so I can't see any problem using that either.

Mann lists the same w717/2 as an Alfa 33. This is a smaller filter UFI 23.444.00 / Z614. However UFI only list an enormous 23.124.00 for the USA market.

[colcol]

Ahh yes the good old days when all Alfa Romeo's in the 80's all used the same oil filter, the Z84, which was superceded by the Z89.
The Z89 is a very easy to obtain filter from the usual suspects, Repco, Supercheap and Autobahn and they are Chinese made and are cheap, for a European oil filter by UFI, try Italian Automotive Spares in Brunswick, Colin.

[alanm]

Thanks for your replies guys.
How bizarre that the Ryco NZ website lists the GTV6 and the Australian site does not.
Perhaps the criticisms of the Australian site are warranted
I am going to fit the Z89A.

Cheers,
Alan

[Domenic]

As Steve mentioned earlier, UFI list the 23.124.00 for the GTV6, which originally is correct, but it is insanely huge!!
Years after it was superseded by the factory to the Alfetta oil filter which is UFI 23.127.00, which is still a big filter, but smaller than the original.
Finally after that, Alfa superseded that one to a smaller one, which many people used after as it was easier to get on/off as it was a tight squeeze with all the air con components. The smaller one refers to UFI 23.445.00. So either of the 3 filters you can use, it just depends if you want the car looking original with the proper "big filter" or to make oil changes heaps easier use the smaller one.

Hope that helps.

[Steve S]

The smaller one refers to UFI 23.445.00.

Interesting, that filter is the same as the 23.444.00 only without the anti-siphon valve. Just what you want.

[bonkfrog]

I had the feeling that the Z89A had the anti-return valve and was a development of the Z89. Anyway, I've never been sure about the quality - is there a Wix alternative? Is it any better anyway?

[Steve S]

I had the feeling that the Z89A had the anti-return valve and was a development of the Z89. Anyway, I've never been sure about the quality - is there a Wix alternative? Is it any better anyway?

Z89A superseded the good old Z10 which was just a short version of the Z9. It does have an anti return valve but not an anti siphon valve. Anti siphon valves are not very common.

I think the quality of Ryco filters are fine but they cost a premium. Wix and Baldwin are of equal or higher quality and are usually cheaper than Ryco. I order in Baldwins through Bursons or collect from Petrogas. SCA filters are also constructed well, nothing wrong with them.

Z89A crosses to Wix 51307 and Baldwin B163

[alanm]

Okay, have the Z89A – says 'with anti drain-back valve' on the box.
I will fit on the weekend and report back on size relative to the UFI (and ease of fitment)!

Cheers,
Alan

[colcol]

No matter what oil filter you buy, just make sure you change it regulary, in 1990 a Ryco oil filter was about $20 and it was made in Australia, then they shifted production to New Zealand, then they went to South Africa, now for about the last 10 years they have been made in China, the last time i purchased a Z89 from K-Mart about 4 years ago they were about $8.
Fiats also use Z89's and those Italian Diesel motors they use in Range Rovers as well, Colin.

[colcol]

This is turning about to be like "whats the best oil to use in my Alfa Romeo".
Does any body remember the 'toilet paper oil filters' from the 70's?, the way they used to work was the hollow oil filter you would buy from a dodgy mail order place and instead of a filter with filtering material, you would insert a roll of toilet paper, [ not used! ], put the cap on the filter and screw it back onto your car.
Used to work with a bloke that used them on his fleet of Rover cars from the 50's - 70's, claimed the genuine Rover Leyland ones were too dear!, and he was really tight, [ thats how he owned 5 houses ], and he used to dump the used toilet paper filtering material in the bin at work and steal the toilet paper rolls from work.
We used to stir him about it, like what was the best toilet paper for filters?, home brand, extra soft or heavy duty?.
Have never seen them for sale myself, but always remembered it, has anyone out there in Alfa Romeo land ever heard of them?.
With the way the Automotive spare parts indutry works, make something too expensive and your compeditor will undercut you and steal your sales, you can always buy a cheaper filter, but make sure its a well known brand with some sort of warranty, and even better have a look and see if it is manufactured within some sort of quality system such as 9000 or the German TUV standard, Colin.





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[alanm]

Okay Mahle OC136 came out (made in Austria) and Ryco Z89A has gone in.
Dimensions almost identical.

Secret to efficient changing of the oil filter in a GTV6 is not the dimensions of the filter but the size of the tool (filter remover tool that is).
Access to the filter from under the car is via a narrow gap – about 25mm.
Too small a tool and it might not have the diameter to grip the filter, too big a tool and it wont go through the narrow gap.

Of course you could also follow the instructions in the owners handbook, removing the filter from above – having removed the air filter assembly first!

Cheers,
Alan

[colcol]

If access is a problem then go with the small filter and use a strap wrench to get it off, they are quite thin, the normal oil filter wrench are hard to get into smaller places, just be thankfull your 'busso' V-6 isn't in a 156, then you would have something to complain about, Colin.

[alfagtv152]

Hi Colin,
Yes I remember the dunny paper oil filter,never had one but I was told they cleaned the oil real good!.
Cheers
Andrew

[colcol]

Jeez Andrew, you must be as old as me!, i was told that they worked too good and filtered out all the good bits of the oil, whatever that was, the very thought of your car having its vital blood stream filtered by dunny paper, to save a few $$$, is so silly, thats why you don't see them anymore...although there may be a new generation of gullible car owners that get conned easily on snake oil they have never heard of before, Colin.