Bosch makes other crappy things besides spark plugs...

[entirelyturbo]

The last time I changed my oil, I put a Bosch oil filter on, because I was in this mindset that the most expensive is always the best. Well, today I changed my oil and as I took hold of the filter I found it rather difficult to get off by hand (I usually can). Next, I grab a rubber glove and put it on so I can grab hold of it better, still won't budge. No problem, I have strap wrenches and filter wrenches all over the place. Strap wrenches, no good. Slipped and awkward position...

Now I'm getting a little perturbed. Filter wrench, awkward position, but I have grip on filter. I use all the muscles in my upper body (which isn't much anymore ) and I put a dent in the filter and BREAK the filter wrench!!! Now I'm super-pissed. I've already drained the oil, and I don't want to put new oil in with an old, and now damaged, filter. So I call my gramps to come pick me up to save my ass and go to Discount to get a cup-type filter wrench. After other minor, but very irritating, inconveniences along the way, I get back and get the Bosch filter off, and put the proper Purolator L14460 on, which I understand is what Subaru uses for OEM...

I was infuriated. Mind you, I only tightened this Bosch filter hand-tight, and yes I oiled the filter gasket before I put it on, and the 3 other filters I've ever changed have never done this. I will be writing Bosch a nasty letter, not only for their crappy-ass platinums, but their oil filters as well!

Oh and I also have Bosch wipers on my car too, and they are streaking already, nowhere close to theis expected lifetime, so I'll add that in there too...

Needless to say, my car won't ever have the misfortune of using Bosch products again!!!

[vrg3]

Wow. I wonder what about the oil filter design could make it stick like that. Maybe a weird type of gasket?

As for the wipers, I have to question whether you're letting your general feelings toward Bosch color that experience. Bosch wipers are generally considered to be the best ones out there (particularly the Micro Edge XL ones). They're super expensive, but they work really really well. The streaking could be due to dirt on the wiper blades or the windshield, which would happen with any wiper.

Consumer Reports rated Anco the best wipers, but said Bosch wipers performed better. The Anco ones cost much less.

I remember oan ld newsgroup thread on rec.autos.tech where someone asked what type of wiper to put on his car; many people responded that it doesn't matter as long as he kept them clean and replaced them often enough. Of those who did state a preference, though, nearly all recommended Bosch.

I've always had great experiences with Bosch wipers. Bosch electrical parts like relays are good too. The plugs are trash, and now I'll avoid the filters. It's weird; I guess they're essentially two completely different companies that share a name.

[Legacy777]

bosch wipers are rather good. I've been happy with the ones I've used.

As vrg3 mentioned....bosch makes quite a bit of different stuff, and their electronics are good....as well as some of their other products.

I don't necessarily think their plugs are crap......I just don't think they run well in subies.

Put them in a german car, and they run like a top.....don't ask me why.....I don't have a clue....


Hey vrg3....on an unrelated note......you mentioned a little while back you knew a junkyard where you could get some old alternators. You think you could still find some? I think mine could be needing to be replaced......and I'd like to send one to get it rewound......

[vrg3]

You're right... I was a bit harsh when I said the plugs were trash. They work well in European cars, and NGKs work well in Asian cars. It's kind of weird. I wonder which ones work best in American cars.

I'll look for an alternator. My mom guilted me and my brother into visiting her this weekend, and any road trip with my brother means we're stopping at a junk yard. :) A lot of older cars in yards already have their alternators pulled, but I'll look for one.

[Legacy777]

Cool.....I appreciate it

[Ogre]

When it comes to a newer vehicle, I usually run Mobile One oil with a Mobile One Filter. Its more expensive, but check this out, my Cherokee has over 1 million miles on it. It's a 1996 4 Banger... and it's still running. Recently I have had to go to a heavier 20W50... but this Jeep has had a long and hard life full of daily stop and go and suprise cross country road trips. I firmly believe that the reason of this Jeep's longevity has been proper regular maintanance and the use of Synth oil.

I remember reading a big oil filter test online... this cat worked for FRAM and he opened up all these filters and examined them. He testing almost everything out there. The number one filter was Mobile One. The FRAM filters went into bipass after only 500 miles.
That means the filters only filtered for the first 500 miles, and then didn't filter a thing for the other 2000 miles. That is not cool.

I've been thinking about going to a synthetic, but I don't think I can in this Suby. I am blowing a bit of blue smoke until the engine warms up and I'm going through a quart of oil every 2 weeks. Going to a thinner, lighter oil that 20W50 would aggrivate that and I'd have a lot more valve noise than I already have.

[paf]

I use 5w30 full synthetic with absolutely no problem
I personally thing that running a heavier than reccommended spec oil is useless and harder an the engine and gas mileage
thats my opinion

[Ogre]

I read in one Suby manual (Chiltons or Haynes... don't remember) that 20W50 was the recommended oil.

[paf]

well its not haynes or the manufaturers manual for sure.
They Both reccomend 5W30 in cold and 10W30 in hot

[IggDawg]

next time, stab a screwdriver through the filter and use it as a handle to turn it. messy, but it works.

Josh - I can look for one too. I'll give you a shout next time I'm going ot head down toi the pick-apart and see if you still need one.

[Legacy777]

igg thanks for the offer.

vrg3 emailed me, said he picked one up.

[123c]

Being a German Car owner, I can vouch that some stuff Bosch makes is good, and some stuff is junk.

The oil filters and air filters, and most of the other filter are all junk, since they are cheaply made in India.

Most of the electronics are good, like the alternators and starters (when these go out on my Subaru I am going to replace them with Bosch remanufactured units). The spark plugs are ok, just depends on what they are going on. The glow plugs suck, they have a tendency of burning out.

Bosch wipers can be ok, just depending on the application. I know the OE wiper blades used by Mercedes-Benz are better than the after market ones they make.

As for filters on my Subaru, I am sticking with OE ones, they don't really cost that much more, and I know I am getting something that will fit right.

[czo79]

I recall reading something about bosch oil filters recently that said they were made by some other crap company for them and that they were junk. I almost want to say they were made by fram...but it might have been someone else.
Micum

[evolutionmovement]

FRAM!! I have driven over 250K miles and changed my oil accordingly and I just put a Fram oil filter on (all they had) and it pissed two quarts of Mobil 1 all over the street! I had to tighten it with a strap wrench and grip it with two hands to get it so that it only leaks a little. Thank Christ I had extra oil around. I have never had trouble with an oil filter before, so I know it's not me. Absolute garbage.

Sorry, had to vent.

Steve

[mTk]

I'm just the opposite, I've never had a problem with fram, at all. Then again i've never really had a problem with any oil filter.


MK