Oil Filters Are Unobtanium
 

Both the Champion CH48108-1 and Tempest AA48108-2 oil filters (that fit our planes) are out-of-stock with every aviation supply house I could find. There was one on Ebay for over $100 but I'm not that desperate yet.

In all my days, I've never seen a major oil filter be 100% unavailable.

Do any of you guys have a stash of oil filters???

I've had some on order with an expected back-in-stock date of 7/27/22. Today, the expected day was rolled back to 10/14/22.

All that is going on sure makes it a uphill battle to continue.

Sometimes you can buy the six-pack when the individual filters are sold out. I bought a six-pack earlier this year.

Joel, the order I referenced above is for the six-pack.

OMG
What next.

Solutions To Oil Filter Shortage
 

SOLUTION #1: Challenger Lifetime Oil Filter - Never buy an oil filter again! $315 to fit the Skymaster
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...clickkey=38453
https://kandpengineering.com/technical-information/

SOLUTION #2: Install automotive filters that fit perfectly (and do the same or better job of filtering) - this comes from Beechtalk.com, where they have the same issue with their IO550's:

The Donaldson P169071 and Lifeguard LF3487 have outstanding filtration properties and utilize top of the line synthetic media for finer filtration than conventional paper media and could be seen to have the same thread size and dimensional equivalent of the CH48109 filter. It is believed that Donaldson and Fleetguard/Lifeguard are made by the same manufacturer.

Donaldson is about $18 https://www.dieselequipmentinc.com/products/p169071

and Fleetguard may be found for even less https://puredieselpower.com/products...er-lf3487.html

The WIX functional equivalent to the LF3487 is PN: 51515 but may only use conventional paper media (do your research on that), as it is priced at about $6 each https://www.amazon.com/WIX-Filters-5.../?tag=btalk-20
A case of 12 here for $50 :eek:http://www.discountfleetsupply.com/wix51515mp.html

K&N makes one that looks like a Champion - it has the hex nut on top and has safety wire holes. Not sure which model, post if you find out. Maybe this one? https://www.summitracing.com/parts/knn-hp-2004

SOLUTION #3. Use a Tempest AA48109 (If you can find one). They are now LEGAL for the IO360 and TSIO360: See advisory Letter attached. This filter is taller, so it may not fit???

:) KEEP 'EM FLYING BOYS! DO WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO KEEP THAT BIRD IN THE AIR!

Discussed with my IA yesterday and he likewise mentioned the challenger filter option. He’s got a few filters left that he keeps on hand for “corporate” clients who are blowing through the hours but is thinking he’s going to have to have some customers convert over to the challenger system to keep them going. His order is moving further and further out too. Flight school owner there obviously intensely listening…they haven’t hit the brick wall yet but sees it coming…

As a note, the Challenger filters, both the CP48108C and CP48109C, are out of stock nationwide until Sep/Oct. I also have had a six-pack, X2, order in with Tempest and spoke with them this morning. They will not be shipping until Oct at the earliest. They are also going to stop taking retail orders.

K&N HP-2004 is a match!
 

The K&N HP-2004 high performance filter is a match for the Champion CH48108-1 and the Tempest AA48108-2.

See photos below. Its almost 100% exact, only minor differences.

Has the correct backflow and bypass valves, and has safety wire holes.

$15.99 at Autozone, but available at most auto supply houses.

Oil Filters Are Unobtanium
 

MSHAC
I bought a 6 pack last year, so I have plenty. If you need a couple, I can sell you two? But here's the deal. $40 each plus shipping and replace them when you get yours? Let me know.
Regards, BILLS

Oil Filters Are Unobtanium
 

Question to ALL.
How can an automotive oil filter be used when they don't have safety wire holes? and they are NOT listed in our Continental/STC approved parts lists?? I understand the need to used other sources for parts, but I don't think I'll trust an automotive oil filter? FYI!
Regards, BILLS

UPDATE:

Aircraft Spruce has again pushed back our filter's expected availability date.

Now they're saying October 3rd for the Tempest filter to come back in stock.

October 24th on Champion filters being back in stock.

As many times as they've changed the date, I wouldn't hold my breath.

Aircraft Spruce Canada Shows

CH48108-1 - Single Expected to ship: Friday, Dec. 16
12 Pack - No Stock (Canada) no shipping date

Tempest AA48108-2 - Single - Expected to ship: Thursday, Feb. 2
6 Pack - Expected to ship: Monday, Jan. 30

My Challenger filters order continue having a rolling 30 day expected date.

Did what I had to do.
 

I did what I had to do because I'm not going to allow this shortage to ground my aircraft. The same decision was made by many Bonanza owners over on the Beechcraft forums. There have been no reports of any difficulties using the filters I described in the previous post in this thread. I personally feel the K&N high performance filter is the best choice. It has listed performance that is superior to the aviation filters we normally use. The K&N filter is designed for auto racing and accepts safety wire. These auto racing engines can see north of 8000 RPM with geared cams. Our engines will never see north of 2800 rpm. The K&N auto filter lives in a far more demanding environment than any aviation oil filter.

I may or may not have put one on my plane but if I did it's working perfectly. ;')

Did some work on the 337 today at my IA shop. He does maintenance for a small but busy flight school. He’s got a few filters but they’re depleting faster than what few come in. He’s already purchased some K&N’s. When the time comes (soon) he’s going to call the FSDO and tell them there’s no choice, will have to use K&N Or ground some flight school and number of corporate planes he takes care of on the field as well as personal aircraft. Busiest airport in the state, so not a small following might back that up. Also, we discussed “owner manufactured” parts solutions allowed by the regs when nothing else available. Alternative is that this be considered owner “manufactured” part solution. I guess you can document it that way.

Found this interesting in Cessna flyers:

https://www.cessnaflyer.org/maintena...lications.html

AC 23-27 & AC 20-62() provide good information on this topic.

See attached.

Thanks LearJetter, the documents are helpful. They mention having data available for the part you wish to substitute.

Society of Automotive Engineering Aerospace Recommend Practice (ARP) 1400B is considered the “gold standard” for piston aircraft oil filtration.

I've attached the data for the K&N HP-2004 filter. FYI the "Burst Pressure" is listed at 550psi, which exceeds the 500psi required by ARP. Interestingly, the Tempest filter became deformed at 496 psi (according to Champion's testing).

Here is a link to Champion's testing: https://www.championaerospace.com/wp...e-Analysis.pdf

Champion and Tempest filter to 25 micron, the K&N filters to 10 micron. You would think this would effect flow rate, but I'm not seeing specific flow rates for any of these filters. K&N claims their filters are "High Flow Rate" but don't back that claim up with any data that I can find.

YMMV.

My Challenger Oil Filters shipped from ASC today.

Found some
 

my local airport parts dealer has 2 tempest boxes in stock...he was only able to sell me 2, I tried to get 4 total (2) for anyone here in the forum but he wouldnt sell me more than I needed. He told me that he will only supply the local area airport.

BUT he also told me that his supplier said that Tempest filters supply issue should end and will be available back in stock next month. We will see.

My plane is going in for an annual next week, If the issue continues I will have my mechanic get 2 more filters, If he can...I should have 2 on hand for anyone here who desperately needs it.