Normal for an oil filter to be smaller than the one already on the car?

[RambleOn]

My dad bought a 2001 Camry LE, 2.2 liter 4 banger. He asked me to change oil for him since he wasn't sure when it was last done, (car has 18k miles) and he just bought it 3 weeks ago. So anyway, the old filter was a plain Mobil filter (not Mobil 1), and the new filter i bought was the Purolator blue ones (the more expensive ones). I noticed that the Purolator was smaller in size than the Mobil that was already on there, is this normal? I looked it up in the book in the auto parts store and definitely bought the right model.............. not sure what the reason is

 

[PsychoAndy]

*shrugs* everybody makes things the way they want. AFAIK, as long as it goes on ok, you dont cross thread it, or put double gaskets on you should be fine

 

[spanky]

if it isn't outrageously smaller... i think it's normal.

 

[Rallispec]

as long as it fits... it will be okay.

my old sentra took little midget filters. they were real tiny.

 

[Passions]

LMAO what the hell? Uhh...yeah.

 

[amdskip]

so it's shorter than the one thats on there?

 

[yakko]

That is why I like my car. If I want I can use the larger filter off of the diesel engines.

 

[RambleOn]

Yeah, the original filter than came with the car was a Mobil. The Purolator I picked up at Auto Zone was quite a bit smaller than the original one. It fit fine, and the car seems to be running so fine, so I guess I shouldn't worry?

 

[Muadib]

I wouldn't worry about it. You have a top notch filter on it now.

 

[Thegonagle]

Actually, the original filter would be a Toyota filter, which is painted black. I'd try to stick with the original equipment, or Napa Gold for oil filters, and never buy anything that is smaler than the OE.

 

[etech]

It is possible that the previous owner was running an oversize filter on it in place of the one called for. When you get a chance, check out the size of the Mobile One that is called out for your car and see what size it is as compared to the Purealator.

This site is a little dated now but still has some interesting information on it.

Engine Oil Filter Study

I run an oversized filter on my Jeep. The MobileOne M1-301 fits in place of the M1-204 that the book calls for.

size differences

 

[thedarkwolf]

I run the same filter on my big block ford as I do on my 2.5l dodge . The stock 2.5l filter is puny.

 

[evergreen96]

yakko

<<That is why I like my car. If I want I can use the larger filter off of the diesel engines. >>



thedarkwolf
<<I run the same filter on my big block ford as I do on my 2.5l dodge . The stock 2.5l filter is puny. >>



What is your make/model car and what is your "original oil filer" and which with Oversized oil filters do you use?

 

[thedarkwolf]

Its an 89 caravan turbo. I can't remember the stock filter number but I run a purulator pl3001 and I think the Fram number is ph8a. Its about twice as big as the stock one. Your suspost to also be able to fit 3.0l dodge v6 filters and sb dodge filters on there just depends on how much room you have.