my 1.3spi mk3 is due an oil change so I've just bought 5 litres of Mobil's finest and a champion oil filter. The little book in halfords said 'C161' so that's what I got. Looking in the engine bay though, my oil filter looks different. it looks as though there's a big fat bolt through the middle of it. The champion one has no big bolty thing in it. Can someone confirm that C161 is correct for my polo please?

Usually cheap filters don't have the nut on the end where as the genuine one or better quality ones usually have a nut on the end.

Or so it was with my Jetta anyway...!

Yeah the better ones are a smaller canister with a nut on the end which is useful when they are tight.

I was hoping that was the case. It'll only be changed again in a few thousand miles again anyway. cheers :)

The Haynes isn't very clear on this. They say that AAV from 07/92 is C161, but don't specify what should be fitted to earlier ones. In any case, god only knows why there are 3 different filter types for the MK3, when they all require the same (genuine or OEM) filter regardless of cc and age.

As has been pointed out, OEM ones have a removal 'nut' welded to the end, whereas others don't.

fuck it, its an oil filter

i say as long as it fits, stick it in there

as far as i can remember MK2's use the 056115561G and MK3's use the 030115561AB but either will be ok for both MK's

fuck it, its an oil filter

i say as long as it fits, stick it in there

I like your way of thinking. This is entirely the attitude I like to take with my car... I must never let myself get a 'good' or complicated one...

cheers guys