If you need to replace an MP Filtri filter element, read the code first. The CS series (spin-on, for MPS heads) and the MP series (cartridge) both encode media and micron rating in the part number, and most common codes cross-reference to Hydac, Donaldson, Parker, Pall or Mahle. Match series, media and microns, confirm dimensions, and the replacement is a drop-in.
Which MP Filtri element is on your machine
Before cross-referencing, identify what is actually installed. Three checks usually settle it:
- Read the nameplate on the filter head or housing. It names the filter model — MPF, FHP, FMP, MPS — and this tells you which element family it takes. MPS heads take CS spin-on elements; MPF and FHP/FMP housings take MP cartridge elements.
- Look at the element itself. A spin-on canister has a threaded end cap and is replaced by unscrewing. A cartridge is a bare tube with open ends or a single sealed end, held in place by a spring and cover inside the housing.
- Note the mounting position. Suction filters, return-line filters and high-pressure line filters take different elements. An element from a return-line housing must not be used at line pressure — the housing sets the pressure rating, and the element must suit the duty it was designed for.
MP Filtri makes suction, return-line and pressure filters across these families. The CS spin-on range and the MP cartridge range together cover the vast majority of machines in machine tools, injection moulding, metallurgy, construction equipment and mobile hydraulics, which is where cross-reference requests most often come from.
Read the code: what CS050P10 tells you
An MP Filtri element code is built in four parts. Take CS050P10 as an example:
| Code part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CS | Element family. CS = spin-on element for MPS filter heads; MP = cartridge element for return-line or pressure housings |
| 050 | Size group. CS elements come in 050, 070, 100 and 150 sizes, each with its own length, diameter and connection thread |
| P | Filter media. A = glass fibre (absolute rating), P = impregnated cellulose (nominal rating), M = wire mesh (nominal rating) |
| 10 | Filtration rating in micrometres, for example A03 / A06 / A10 / P10 / P25 / M60 / M90 |
A trailing letter on some codes (for example CS050A06A) marks a version or seal variant. Keep the full original code when ordering so nothing is lost in the cross-reference.
Spin-on (CS) or cartridge (MP): pick the right family first
The two families fit completely different housings, so identify the family before anything else.
- CS series — spin-on elements. They screw directly onto an MPS filter head, are replaced by spinning the old canister off, and are matched by thread size (3/4” or 1-1/4”) plus element length. CS050 and CS070 use a 3/4” connection; CS100 and CS150 use 1-1/4”. Length grows within a thread size, so a CS070 is the longer sibling of a CS050, and a CS150 is the longer sibling of a CS100.
- MP series — cartridge elements. These drop inside return-line or pressure housings with a double-open-end or single-open-end design. They are matched by overall length, outside diameter and end-cap sealing, not by thread. Media is usually microglass, and the same housing accepts several micron ratings.
If you are unsure which family you have, a photo of the housing plus the element code settles it in minutes.
Media letter: A, P or M — which rating for which circuit
Do not buy on micron number alone. The media letter changes what the number means:
- A — glass fibre, absolute rating. The micron number is a true β-rated filtration point. This is the right choice for servo and proportional valves, variable-displacement pumps and any circuit with clearances in the low-micron range. Choose A03 or A06 for the tightest duties, A10 for controlled industrial circuits.
- P — impregnated cellulose, nominal rating. The number is a nominal rating, so the element is a coarser filter than a glass element of the same number. This suits standard industrial circuits with gear or vane pumps, where target cleanliness is ISO 4406 19/17/14 or similar. P10 and P25 cover most machine-tool, injection-moulding and general return-line duty.
- M — wire mesh, nominal rating. Coarse, washable protection for suction strainers and heavy return duty, typically M60 or M90. Not for pumps with tight internal clearances.
Rule of thumb: the more sensitive the pump or valve, the lower the micron number and the more likely you want glass fibre (A) rather than cellulose (P). If you are replacing an old element of unknown media, an A-rated glass element of the same micron number is the safe upgrade.
Common mistakes when cross-referencing
Most cross-reference failures come from four avoidable errors:
- Treating spin-on and cartridge elements as interchangeable. They are not — one screws on, the other drops in. Confirming the family first avoids the largest share of mismatches.
- Cross-referencing on micron number alone. A 10 µm cellulose element and a 10 µm glass element are not equivalent in efficiency, and a 10 µm element with the wrong media can starve a sensitive valve or pass the contamination it was meant to catch.
- Ignoring dimensions. Length, outside diameter and the seal arrangement decide whether an element seats correctly. A shorter element of the same thread will not compress the seal ring properly and will leak or bypass unfiltered.
- Forgetting the seal and temperature rating. NBR seals suit mineral oils to about 100 °C; FKM suits higher temperatures and aggressive fluids. If the element code carries a trailing version letter, keep it — it usually marks exactly this kind of variant.
If you only have the old part number and no housing photo, the safest step is to send the number together with a photo of the element and its seal arrangement. That combination lets a specialist confirm the family, media, rating and dimensions in one pass instead of guessing.
Cross-reference: MP Filtri codes and mainstream equivalents
MP Filtri elements are widely interchangeable with equivalent codes from other filter manufacturers. The table below lists the most commonly requested elements with the published equivalents we work from:
| MP Filtri element | Media / rating | Hydac | Parker | Donaldson | Dimensions and fit notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS050P10 | Spin-on, cellulose, 10 µm nominal | 0060R010BN4HC | 924458 | P550595 | CS050 size group, 3/4” thread, approx. 145 × 96 mm; same-size group needed for spin-on interchange |
| MP8304 | Cartridge, microglass, 3 µm | 50318D03BN | 925798 | P174245 | 18.5” × 3.9” OD, double open end; fits the same housing as MP8306 |
| MP8306 | Cartridge, microglass, 20 µm | 50318D20BN | 931020Q | P174260 | 18.5” × 3.9” OD, double open end; lower-cost coarse option in the same housing |
Other frequently requested MP series codes — such as the MP9554 return-line element and the MP5168 pressure element — cross to Hydac 0240R020BNHC and Parker 938280Q / 932266Q respectively. Because these fit a range of housings, always confirm the element length, outside diameter and end-cap seal against your housing before ordering.
How to confirm a drop-in before you order
The cross-reference table is a starting point. Five checks turn it into a safe replacement:
- Family. Spin-on (CS) or cartridge (MP)? They are not interchangeable.
- Connection. Thread size and type for spin-on elements; end-cap and seal style for cartridges.
- Dimensions. Overall length and outside diameter. A 10 µm element that is 20 mm short will not seal.
- Media and rating. Match the media letter (A / P / M) to the circuit, not just the micron number.
- Seal and version. NBR or FKM seals, and any trailing code letter, must match the application temperature.
If any of these is uncertain, send us a photo of the housing nameplate and the old element. We check the candidate against your photos, confirm the media and rating, and return a cross-reference with price and lead time.
Why source through a specialist
A cross-reference only works if the data is right and the part is genuine. We keep MP Filtri housings, elements and indicators on file, cross-check equivalents from Hydac, Parker, Donaldson, Pall and Mahle, and supply only original, new components with procurement documentation. Popular CS and MP elements are stocked and ship quickly; less common codes are sourced to order through the manufacturer and established channels.
Get a quote
Send the element code — current or obsolete — with a photo of the housing, and we will confirm a direct replacement within one business day.
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