Oil Filter - Silly Question?

[E55BOF]

Does anybody know the reason why the Hengst/Mann oil filters for the M113 (and no doubt other) MB engines have to be fitted with the black line round the outside of the filter element the correct way up? I ask because I have a Bosch oil filter, supplied by ECP by mail order, which has no such black line. Apart from that it looks absolutely identical to the Hengst item, Bosch is a good supplier, and I doubt ECP would get it wrong on such a common part. Anybody know?

 

[lim]

Silly Answer?

Does anybody know the reason why the Hengst/Mann oil filters for the M113 (and no doubt other) MB engines have to be fitted with the black line round the outside of the filter element the correct way up? I ask because I have a Bosch oil filter, supplied by ECP by mail order, which has no such black line. Apart from that it looks absolutely identical to the Hengst item, Bosch is a good supplier, and I doubt ECP would get it wrong on such a common part. Anybody know?

I have used filters from Mahle, Mann and Hengst in my W204 and I recall that one brand (I think it was the Hengst solution) had a circumferential line around the filter, the purpose of which was to provide an indication of proper engagement in the filter housing/holder.

Regards, lim

 

[E55BOF]

Makes sense, though I can't see how anyone but a complete thick-fingered numpty could get it wrong. Thank you.