Oil Filter Cannister Types and Decals
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- Category: Research & Identification
Photos submitted by Ken Daugherty — Text by Ken Daugherty and Barry Lee Brisco, with additional material courtesy of Marco Marinello and Jim Breazeale
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Note: replacement decals for Fram, H Filter, and Mann oil canisters are available from NLA and Stoddards. |
The colors of the cannisters varied, but it is common to see H Filters painted silver with a matching or black top, Frams painted orange or silver with a black or matching top, and the Mann painted green. More detailed information is shown below the photos.
Questions or comments, please email to Barry Lee Brisco, Website Technical Editor, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The early factory filters were generally Fram, orange with a black top and a big wing nut for the top (see additional comments below from Jim Breazeale). Often they had a drain and the strap was wide and similar in design as the coil bracket. Common manufacturing practice is to order a supply of items (in our situation the oil filters) and the PA would go by price and availability. Both Fram and H filter were suppliers. When the stock ran low, Mann could be supplied.
As a general rule the early Fram filters were orange with a black top. I have never seen an orange H filter. Later the Fram and H filters were silver with a black top, and finally all silver. The large Fram decal was only used on the orange filter cans. Later Fram units only had a decal on the top and the inlet designation, as did the H filter.
Top of H filter
Closeup of small logo on top of H filter. This decal is not available as a repro, as far as I know.
Pre A filter cannister — The first factory oil filters were in 1953, according to the parts book. Prior to that, they were dealer/owner installed. The filters could be purchased at tractor supply houses and the oil lines were home grown. The labels would be in English.
Unrestored Mann filter showing original decals and placement.
Restored Mann filter — Ken Daugherty first saw a green Mann oil filter can on a 1957 1600N, serial number P66929. He has also seen Mann filters on some 912's. These were silver. Some had drains, some had a blank off disc where the drain plug wound have been and some, nothing.
Restored orange and black Fram filter with top decal (side decal missing)
Photo by Barry Lee Brisco
Restored silver Fram filter, top decal
Photo by Barry Lee Brisco
Restored silver Fram filter, side decal
Photo by Barry Lee Brisco
[From Marco Marinello] The Fram shown below was an "after market" filter for Porsche 356 and VW that were produced new without oil filters. FRAM had an outlet in the US. That's why the text is in English. The exact same filter but with different stickers would be used by Porsche. For some time all Normal engines had no filter, only the Super had them. For Normal engines it was optional. I think, though I am not sure, that in late 1954 Porsche decided to install filters on all engines.
Photo by Marco Marinello
Photo by Marco Marinello
Photo by Marco Marinello
Oil filter Ken Daugherty removed from a 1952 356 engine. Porsche did not have oil filters on their engines until 1953, so apparently this was added. It has been cleaned and repainted to match the dark red color of the old paint. It appears to be a Fram. Nothing is known about what kind of decals it would have had. Photo by Ken Daugherty
Photos submitted by Ken Daugherty — Text by Ken Daugherty and Barry Lee Brisco, with additional material courtesy of Marco Marinello and Jim Breazeale
|
Note: replacement decals for Fram, H Filter, and Mann oil canisters are available from NLA and Stoddards. |
The colors of the cannisters varied, but it is common to see H Filters painted silver with a matching or black top, Frams painted orange or silver with a black or matching top, and the Mann painted green. More detailed information is shown below the photos.
Questions or comments, please email to Barry Lee Brisco, Website Technical Editor, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The early factory filters were generally Fram, orange with a black top and a big wing nut for the top (see additional comments below from Jim Breazeale). Often they had a drain and the strap was wide and similar in design as the coil bracket. Common manufacturing practice is to order a supply of items (in our situation the oil filters) and the PA would go by price and availability. Both Fram and H filter were suppliers. When the stock ran low, Mann could be supplied.
As a general rule the early Fram filters were orange with a black top. I have never seen an orange H filter. Later the Fram and H filters were silver with a black top, and finally all silver. The large Fram decal was only used on the orange filter cans. Later Fram units only had a decal on the top and the inlet designation, as did the H filter.
Top of H filter
Closeup of small logo on top of H filter. This decal is not available as a repro, as far as I know.
Pre A filter cannister — The first factory oil filters were in 1953, according to the parts book. Prior to that, they were dealer/owner installed. The filters could be purchased at tractor supply houses and the oil lines were home grown. The labels would be in English.
Unrestored Mann filter showing original decals and placement.
Restored Mann filter — Ken Daugherty first saw a green Mann oil filter can on a 1957 1600N, serial number P66929. He has also seen Mann filters on some 912's. These were silver. Some had drains, some had a blank off disc where the drain plug wound have been and some, nothing.
Restored orange and black Fram filter with top decal (side decal missing)
Photo by Barry Lee Brisco
Restored silver Fram filter, top decal
Photo by Barry Lee Brisco
Restored silver Fram filter, side decal
Photo by Barry Lee Brisco
[From Marco Marinello] The Fram shown below was an "after market" filter for Porsche 356 and VW that were produced new without oil filters. FRAM had an outlet in the US. That's why the text is in English. The exact same filter but with different stickers would be used by Porsche. For some time all Normal engines had no filter, only the Super had them. For Normal engines it was optional. I think, though I am not sure, that in late 1954 Porsche decided to install filters on all engines.
Photo by Marco Marinello
Photo by Marco Marinello
Photo by Marco Marinello
(From Jim Breazeale) The early Fram filters were "period correct" aftermarket parts, they did not come from the factory. There was also a "toilet paper" filter that was installed on more than a few 356s "back in the day". Yes, the filter element was a roll of toilet paper!
Early Fram filter
Photo by Jim Breazeale
Early "Toilet Paper" filter
Photo by Jim Breazeale
Early "Toilet Paper" filter
Photo by Jim Breazeale
