During maintenance or repair work on vehicles, in spite of the high level of professionalism of the operators, it is always possible that some mishaps occur. And this can also happen in the field of filter replacement.
Possible problems can be the result of mistakes made when choosing the component for a certain car model. The strong similarity between some filters, which also have different characteristics, can be misleading. However, the accuracy and ease of consultation of SOFIMA Filter’s catalogues and technical aids make it possible to avoid errors that affect the quality of work in the workshop. SOFIMA’s online catalogues also allow you to download and print the product sheets, which contain the image and detailed information on dimensions and applications for each filter.
SOFIMA filters, with quality and performance equal to that of original equipment products, are therefore the first choice for fail-safe maintenance.
The importance of codes
In order to understand what mistakes an operator may be at risk of making, it may be useful to analyse some cases where the similarity between filters makes it difficult to identify which is the correct one to fit.
For the fuel filters of some Nissan and Renault cars, for example, it is necessary to pay attention to the model year of the car on which work is to be done.
SOFIMA fuel filters marked S 1061 NR, S 4095 NR and S 1095 NR are externally very similar to each other. The difference lies in the filter element and the sensor assembly. In particular, the filter element of the S 4095 NR filter provides better performance than that of the S 1061 NR filter. In addition, the sensor assembly in the S 1095 NR filter differs from that in the S 1061 NR and S 4095 NR filters in the way it communicates with the control unit. If the wrong filter is chosen and installed, the filter will signal the presence of water in the system, which in reality does not exist.
Each of these filters also has different applications, which must be taken into account. The S 1061 NR filter, in fact, is suitable for Nissan Qashqai J10E series (also in the +2 version) with 96 kW-130 hp engines. The S 4095 NR filter, on the other hand, is suitable for Nissan Qashqai II J11 series with 1.5 DCI 110 81 kW-110 hp and 1.6 DCI 96 kW-130 hp diesel engines (also in 4WD version) and for Nissan X-Trail with 1.6 DCI 96 kW-131 hp diesel engines (also in 4WD version).
The S 1095 NR filter has a wider range of applications. It is suitable, in fact, for Nissan Qashqai II series J11 with 1.5 DCI (81 kW-110 hp) and 1.6 DCI (96 kW-130 hp, also 4WD) engines and X-Trail with 1.6 DCI 96 kW-131 hp (both 2WD and 4WD) engines. However, it can also be used on some Renault models. Specifically, these are the Renault Kadjar with 1.5 DCI 81 kW-110 hp and 1.6 DCI 96 kW-130 hp diesel engines (also 4WD) and the Renault Koleos II (HZG) with 1.6 DCI 96 kW-130 hp engine.
Another difference can arise from the fact that some products, again intended for Nissan and Renault models, are available in both heater-equipped and non-heater-equipped versions. Each is distinguished by a different code. Thus, the filter S 7095 NR is a replacement for the one with the code S 1095 NR, which is equipped with a heater. The
S 6095 NR filter is a replacement for the S 0954 NR filter, which is equipped with a heater.
The necessary precautions for Stellantis and Ford
Errors in the choice of the right component to install do not, of course, only affect Renault and Nissan models. Another example is the SOFIMA fuel filter with DFM (Deep Filtration Media) intended for some Stellantis Group cars. The SOFIMA S 6052 NE filter is often mistaken for the S 0H20 NE filter. The fundamental difference stems from the absence in the former of the external hydrophobic network, which is present in the latter.
The first is suitable for a wide range of models with turbodiesel engines from the Stellantis brands Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot and Vauxhall. The second is suitable for fitting Alfa Romeo Stelvio models with 2.2 JTDm engines in various power ratings (150, 160, 180, 190 and 210 hp).
Other inconveniences can occur due to problems arising during the installation of the fuel filter. This happens, for example, with the S 6074 NE diesel filter, which is intended for application on Ford Transit and Tourneo commercial vehicles. To avoid possible errors, SOFIMA provides instructions for correct assembly inside the filter packaging.
With online catalogues and supplementary documentation, SOFIMA always enables operators to choose the right filter for each vehicle model and to carry out a foolproof installation.
