Parts Woes

[themixtoo]

You'all are go'n'a love this one. Went to my favorite:rolleyes: dealer the other day for an oil filter for my '98 2.5RS Impreza. New guy at the counter, I told him what I needed, he brought me a 15208AA100. I then told him I needed the drain plug gasket (got that deer in the headlights look) so I showed him where they were hanging (this is one of the dealerships I used to work at years ago). When I got home I noticed this new filter box looked smaller than I had remembered from the last time I purchased a filter(I change oil every 3000 w/Mobil 1 Synthetic); got out my reference catalog (great book issued to Subaru parts departments in the late '90's) given to me by the parts manager 5 years ago. This book confirmed my suspision, filter should have been 15208AA060. Next day I called a different Subie dealer, parts person double-checked and yes I was right and he had the correct filter on the shelf. Last night I took the 'wrong' filter back just to exchange (I didn't want to make a big deal out of it). Parts person let me wait at the counter for 20 minutes (even after the receptionist paged first, then came out of her office and went into the parts department looking for him) and this was at 6:45 in the evening (I know he saw me because there is a two way mirror on the wall facing the parts counter,used to work there) When he finally appeared (by this time another customer had now been there about 5 minutes less than me) his attitude was 'why are you bothering me' I asked him just to exchange the filters and he gave me this big lecture about supperseeded part numbers. SO 15208AA060 GOES TO 15208AA080 AND THAT GOES TO 15208AA100. Which means if you use a filter wrench not a screwdriver or channel lock pliers to remove your filter you will now need a new oil filter wrench (which the dealership will be glad to sell you). I asked for a refund (kept the drain plug gaskets, they looked right) and will go to the other dealer on Saturday (assuming they are even open) and get the 'right' filter. Then again maybe he's full of it too. Gary

[ferret]

Gary, If you search this board, you will find this has been discussed here. The new smaller filter will replace all EJ 4 cylinder engines when the older stock is gone. The 6 cylinders will still have a seperate filter number. So when all the dealers are out of ..AA060, then the dealer will sub it up to ..AA100.

 

This was also discussed in reference to using filter wrenches here:

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24402&highlight=oil+filter

 

I am not sure what OEM manufacturers (Fram, Purolator, etc) will do. If they will phase out the older numbers also or keep them.

 

The new filter, even in a smaller package, does have a larger filter surface area, But a lower bypass valve pressure rating.

 

My $.02 is up.....

[themixtoo]

 

I am not sure what OEM manufacturers (Fram, Purolator, etc) will do. If they will phase out the older numbers also or keep them.

 

The new filter, even in a smaller package, does have a larger filter surface area, But a lower bypass valve pressure rating.

Yes, I'm familiar with this "let's put everything in a smaller package deal" I am the parts manager of a Toyota dealership and 'yota does this all the time. What I don't appreciate is the parts person's attitude (at the time he and I worked side by side he treated all Subaru customer's with the same contempt because this dealership was originally a VW dealership only) Just last nite that view was reinforced as I walked past the service counter, I overhead the service write-up dude informing a VW customer of the importance of using synthetic oil in his Passat. This past summer, I brought my 'Ru in for its 60K mile maintance. So what do you think they did for $400? Well I got new spark plugs, regular oil, oil filter and nothing else (I'm wise to the check this check that stuff). I even left the maintance book on the passenger's seat so they could at least initial it. When I got home I changed the oil back to synthetic and then discovered they didn't sign my maintaince book because I 'didn't put it (the book) in the write-up person's hand'.........What a CROCK!!!