I am still completely amazed at the things dealerships tell you....
 

I called my dealer to confirm the change in oil filter starting with the 2004.5 MY and he says to me "Yup, I have a bulletin right here that the 2004.5 has a larger oil filter" So I tell him that i'd like to get it for my 2003 and he says "No way. Not a good idea at all. It takes the liability completely out of our hands. If you have an engine failure, there's no way we'd be able to cover it"

Number 1, if I have an engine failure than they won't be covering it regardless because I have the MTM Stage 3.

Number 2, his statment makes absolutely no sense. The reason Audi instituted the larger filter was to increase oil capacity thereby reducing oil temps and increasing oil lubrication.

So I say to the parts manager, "Ahh, why is it ok to run this filter on the 04.5, but not on my 03 car if it is the same engine? And do you happen to know why they decided to run a larger oil filter?"

He gets all mad and says, "Look all I have here is a bulletin that says it's for the 2004.5, so if you want to go messing with it, i'll sell you the larger filter all day long. And no I don't know why in the world they use a larger oil filter now. AoA doesnt tell us anything."

Idiots! That is all. Cheers! Mike
Pic stolen from AggregatVier...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/20982/a4ofsside.jpg">

Do they have the larger filter for the 3.0's as well?

Don't think so. No need on the 3.0.

Ok, thanks!

Question...
 

It looks larger in diameter. Do the threads match up?

That's what I was wondering.

Yup, everything matches up just fine. It's the same engine AMB.

Hmm...something puzzles me....m...
 

Being in automotive, end of life and service requirements are a big deal: 10 years after last date of production, etc. So, when we have the opportunity to specify a newer component that is backward compatible with a previous part, as long as it is technically feasible, reliable, etc., we usually issue a service part number/bulletin saying so. I'm kind of surprised that Audi has not done so in this case, which leads me to wonder if there is a piece to this puzzle that we don't know about yet that explains why the new filter is not specified in the TSB for previous model years.

It would help if we could talk to someone on the inside that may shed some light on this. Maybe Jow at VW Vortex has some contacts? :-)

its on all 04's, cause i have it too

Why would you expect the parts guy to know he's not a tech? Plus, he's covering a$$ for liability.

My dealer told me the SAME THING and offered no explanation....
 

makes me kinda worried that they just do what AoA tells them rather than giving it a little thought. Since the 15k oil change is on me - i'm gonna use the larger filter and hopefully they will just see it's the larger filter - know my car is an 04 and then just use the larger filter when they do the oil change at 20k :-)

Ding! Be amazed at Audi and why it's not backward compaitble - not the dealership or service guy.

Consider the alternative. Do you really want those guys "thinking" for you?
 

Potentially spewing damaging misinformation as fact? We've heard plenty of stories of this happening.

I'm not an engineer, and neither are most service guys. There might be a ligitimate reason why Audi didnt list the filter as backward compatible...then again, maybe there isnt.

Could have been a simple typo or oversight.

Maybe Audi is contractually obligated to a crapload of the old filter supply.

The bottom line is that nobody knows for sure. The dealerships and service guys would be stupid to go against Audi's directives.

Does using a larger oil filter required a more powerful oil pump?

I wonder if their changing the service (oil change) intervals on 2004.5 &amp; 2005 models.

You can even void your warranty by simply connecting a VAG tool to your OBD.

Oh Bhvrdr! i got my dealer to cover that inlet tube rip under warranty!!! im good

I understand your point and no I don't want them thinking for me.......
 

that's the last thing I'd want. What I want is a good explanation. IMO - if the engine codes are the same - there is NO reason you cannot use it. My problem is that people who can't think are working on my car, that is the scariest part of it all.

It's not on all 04's - I have an early build and don't have it, it's listed by VIN
 

and somewhere during production they switched.

That's like saying you wouldn't expect your pharmacist to know about the illness your drugs are for
 

A parts guy should at the very least know what the heck his parts may be useful for. I'm not expecting him to know how to fix my car, since the techs don't even know how to do that. I do expect for him to have some type of basic knowledge of the parts and their utility. Otherwise they should replace his a$$ with a computer catalog system. Yunno, come to think of it, they should replace that guy with a computer. At least it's hard getting frustrated with a computer when you know it's just doing what it's programmed to do.

Have those VIN numbers by any chance?
 

I wanna se if i have the larger one.

Man you are good! Hope you didn't have to do anything you'll regret in order to get that service :)

I heard they can void your warranty if you just say the word "chip"...even in the context of a snack

The point is that there is absolutely no evidence that it ISN'T backwards compatible.

UPDATE: I spoke with Champion and they were given the ok by AOA to continue use of the...
 

Mobil 1 filter M1-205 that has been used on B5 and B6 1.8T engine since the beginning. AOA has ok'd this filter for use in place of the larger 2004.5 filter. This, too me, states that the new filter IS backwards compatible and is safe for use in the other audi a4 1.8T applications. Cheers! Mike

It is safe to mention jelly beans?

Dude, you're really looking to p1ss some one off at you dealer aren't you? :)

Oh, you said OBD....nevermind

what evidence do you have that says it is?

Read the above update to this post. That's pretty solid.

Unfortunately not - you can probably just look in the engine compartment and see
 

it's pretty big.

The ONLY issue would be bypass pressure and considering the fact that the engine is the same
 

and no changes were made to the internal engine oiling system - then they would be backward compatible. All it does is increase oil capacity. In fact - the transverse 1.8T's all have greater capacity than the longitudenals due to the layout of the engine allowing for a bigger oil pan.

See link for technical service bulletin regarding filter...
 

<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/623068.phtml">https://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/msgs/623068.phtml</a</li></ul>

I have a TSB in my hands...and it clearly states that dealers...
 

not to use the new filters on other cars...or repairs will not be covered by warranty...there service person you spoke with was only stating what he knew...

ALL 2004s AFTER VIN 8E 4A146322

Uhhh, that's my point. They are telling us not to use a filter that will help our engine.

my point was that you shouldn't bash the service manager on a public forum for telling you
 

what he knows....the TSB is ALL AoA sends dealers...period...they are on their own from there.

Uhh, I shouldnt' know more about my car than my dealer does sir...
 

I don't get paid to follow them around and correct their mistakes. Period. When they start acting like first rate dealers that charge over $100 and hour is when I stop fairly criticizing them.

I don't know your technical background, but I'd be willing to bet that
 

you have far less knowledge of the vehicles, different sytems, and components than Audi technicians do. Yes, many people can do their own breaks, suspension work, maybe even hang an exhaust (with proper equipment). However, not many people can diagnose, disassemble, and reassemble an engin in a matter of hours Most repairs at dealers revolve around trouble shooting. In some cases it can be very difficult to diagnose a car. I realize that there are times that technicians mis-diagnose problems, but I fail to see the reason you should bash them. Have you tried other dealers before? I highly doubt that all Audi dealers have "second rate" techs and over charge their clients for the services they provide.

I didn't say I DID know more, I said I SHOULDN'T know more and...
 

I get a little perturbed when I find out that in many cases they are making errors. You yourself stated that all they go by is tech bulletins, so I shouldnt expect them to know more than AOA has told them. I do expect more from them. As for diagnosing a problem...so they know how to hook up a Vag-Com cable. Not that hard. Cheers! Mike