Oil filters

[CADsortaGUY]

OK, so there has been tons of discussion about the type of oil one should use but not much in the way of what oil filter to use.

I've always just used FRAM filters in my vehicles and never had a problem but I've also always had older used cars so the oil/filter history was unknown so I didn't care much. However, we now have a 2006 Sebring with very low miles so I'm wondering if I should be buying a "better" oil filter than just the regular Fram filters.

Any insights?

 

[steppinthrax]

Do a google on "oil filter study" it's usually the first link. The guy bought about 50 or so oil filters and cut them apart to see the material inside. Fram from what he says is probably the lowest quality oil filter you can put in your car. The AC delco filter there is about a dollar or so more and is better then some of the 5 dollar filters. He of course didn't do flow test or any sophisticated exam but in one fram filter he got it had rust in it. But what did you expect you can pick fram up from wal-mart.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Do a google on "oil filter study" it's usually the first link. The guy bought about 50 or so oil filters and cut them apart to see the material inside. Fram from what he says is probably the lowest quality oil filter you can put in your car. The AC delco filter there is about a dollar or so more and is better then some of the 5 dollar filters. He of course didn't do flow test or any sophisticated exam but in one fram filter he got it had rust in it. But what did you expect you can pick fram up from wal-mart.

I'll look for that study. And yes, I know FRAM is cheap and not the best quality but on my old cars it didn't matter much because the cars were pretty high milage and almost used up. I'm attempting to figure out what might be the best quality bang for the buck.

Thanks

 

[CaptnKirk]

Wheather the filter is 'cheap' or 'expensive', I think that the determining factor is more in the frequency of maintenance.

Even the toilet-paper in the special pressure can will work, but if say, a Fram does the job and you change out the cartridge
when you change oil every 3000 or 6000 miless with the modern oil blends technology there should never be a problem.


(in theory)


What I do hear is that an older car should not be converted to a synthetic if it has high miles, and that a high milage car
should not be refilled with a high-detergent oil if it has been running a non-detergent blend.

 

[CrackRabbit]

I try to use Wix/Napa Gold filters made by Dana. They usually have the best price/performance ratio.
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html <--- is the oil filter study steppinthrax was talking about.
A high quality oil filter is always a good idea, and if you have a 2.7ltr V-6 in that Sebring you are going to need to try and keep it as clean as possible to help prevent the sludging death that is all to common with those motors.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
I try to use Wix/Napa Gold filters made by Dana. They usually have the best price/performance ratio.
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html <--- is the oil filter study steppinthrax was talking about.
A high quality oil filter is always a good idea, and if you have a 2.7ltr V-6 in that Sebring you are going to need to try and keep it as clean as possible to help prevent the sludging death that is all to common with those motors.

Yeah, I picked up the AC Delco filter as I couldn't find the Napa/Wix one. I usually change oil and filter at about 3500 miles so I hope to avoid the sludge issue. In fact, that's why I started this thread because I have read about the issue with that 2.7L. I thought about running a synth blend or full synth but I'm not sure that's going to decrease my chances of sludge.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
I try to use Wix/Napa Gold filters made by Dana. They usually have the best price/performance ratio.
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html <--- is the oil filter study steppinthrax was talking about.
A high quality oil filter is always a good idea, and if you have a 2.7ltr V-6 in that Sebring you are going to need to try and keep it as clean as possible to help prevent the sludging death that is all to common with those motors.

Yeah, I picked up the AC Delco filter as I couldn't find the Napa/Wix one. I usually change oil and filter at about 3500 miles so I hope to avoid the sludge issue. In fact, that's why I started this thread because I have read about the issue with that 2.7L. I thought about running a synth blend or full synth but I'm not sure that's going to decrease my chances of sludge.

:thumbsup:
running synth or synth-blend may help. I cant say for sure.
If you aren't already a member of the forums over a http://www.allpar.com I would suggest you join. Lots of smart and helpful people there. They might be able to give you better guidance on what what type of oil to use to help prolong the life your engine.

 

[zerocool84]

I either use K&N or Mobil 1 oil filters. Yes they are more expensive but I don't like to cheap out on parts.

 

[Pacfanweb]

I went to Ford's 5-day engine school years ago. The engineer there had a whole row of filters cut open so we could see how much filtration element was inside.
The Motorcraft (factory Ford), Delco (factory GM) and Mopar(factory Dodge/Chrysler) were by FAR the best filters of the bunch. The standard Fram paled in comparison.
The Fram HP was pretty close. All the rest weren't. Those lube shop filters were particularly pitiful.

I've always used factory filters since then. One case in which the factory part is truly the best.

 

[alkemyst]

With oil/filter changes being done at 3k mile intervals now it makes no sense buying ultra high end filters. You can't go dirt cheap though. I stick with factory filters. You have to figure they are using them and giving a powertrain warranty along with it.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
I try to use Wix/Napa Gold filters made by Dana. They usually have the best price/performance ratio.
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html <--- is the oil filter study steppinthrax was talking about.
A high quality oil filter is always a good idea, and if you have a 2.7ltr V-6 in that Sebring you are going to need to try and keep it as clean as possible to help prevent the sludging death that is all to common with those motors.

Yeah, I picked up the AC Delco filter as I couldn't find the Napa/Wix one. I usually change oil and filter at about 3500 miles so I hope to avoid the sludge issue. In fact, that's why I started this thread because I have read about the issue with that 2.7L. I thought about running a synth blend or full synth but I'm not sure that's going to decrease my chances of sludge.

:thumbsup:
running synth or synth-blend may help. I cant say for sure.
If you aren't already a member of the forums over a http://www.allpar.com I would suggest you join. Lots of smart and helpful people there. They might be able to give you better guidance on what what type of oil to use to help prolong the life your engine.

Well, the way I see it, it is a engine design flaw so if it's going to sludge up - it'll sludge up with synth too but maybe not as quickly. Maybe I should just go with full synth and hope for the best.

 

[Tyrant222]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
I try to use Wix/Napa Gold filters made by Dana. They usually have the best price/performance ratio.
http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html <--- is the oil filter study steppinthrax was talking about.
A high quality oil filter is always a good idea, and if you have a 2.7ltr V-6 in that Sebring you are going to need to try and keep it as clean as possible to help prevent the sludging death that is all to common with those motors.

Yeah, I picked up the AC Delco filter as I couldn't find the Napa/Wix one. I usually change oil and filter at about 3500 miles so I hope to avoid the sludge issue. In fact, that's why I started this thread because I have read about the issue with that 2.7L. I thought about running a synth blend or full synth but I'm not sure that's going to decrease my chances of sludge.

I would stick with the AC Delco filters. You can usually buy in bulk online.

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I went to Ford's 5-day engine school years ago. The engineer there had a whole row of filters cut open so we could see how much filtration element was inside.
The Motorcraft (factory Ford), Delco (factory GM) and Mopar(factory Dodge/Chrysler) were by FAR the best filters of the bunch. The standard Fram paled in comparison.
The Fram HP was pretty close. All the rest weren't. Those lube shop filters were particularly pitiful.

I've always used factory filters since then. One case in which the factory part is truly the best.

Filters alsy vary widely in construction depending on what car they go on. Judging by the handfull he may have cut open isn't a good sampling of the industry as a whole.

Personally, before I decide on a new filter for my car (in sig not my beater) I go buy a few various brands and cut them all open.

 

[Squisher]

I did oil changes myself on my three GM vehicles for the first time.
After research I decided to use the delco filters from Murray's on the Trailblazer and Intrigue. I used a Mobile one on the Z28.


After not doing an oil change myself for years I was surprised by the smallness of the new filters and because I didn't have a wrench that small I found out that the thread pitch must be much finer nowadays, because I was surprised by how easy I spun them off with just my hands and you now spin them a whole turn after touching (again by hand). As opposed to the 1/3 turn you used to do.

I'm recently retired, so I'm revisiting the tasks that I've been allocating to others, to save money for beer.

 

[AmigaMan]

Nothing but Purolator PureOne on my 2004 Toyota Tacoma. They're easy to find, have a decent price, and are well regarded on studies I've seen on the Net. I'm still in the infant stages for my engine with only 38K miles on it, but the wife says it's my last new vehicle. Therefore it needs to last a LONG time.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Do a google on "oil filter study" it's usually the first link. The guy bought about 50 or so oil filters and cut them apart to see the material inside. Fram from what he says is probably the lowest quality oil filter you can put in your car. The AC delco filter there is about a dollar or so more and is better then some of the 5 dollar filters. He of course didn't do flow test or any sophisticated exam but in one fram filter he got it had rust in it. But what did you expect you can pick fram up from wal-mart.

I'll look for that study. And yes, I know FRAM is cheap and not the best quality but on my old cars it didn't matter much because the cars were pretty high milage and almost used up. I'm attempting to figure out what might be the best quality bang for the buck.

Thanks

Yeah, I've used fram for 6 years on my saturn. It lasted 200K. But it also burned oil as well (about a quart every 3K). However, I'm not using them anymore in any of my new cars. I heard from someone that they put a fram in their car and the filter media crushed under pressure and the engine seized. But I think that could happen to any filter given the conditions.

 

[steppinthrax]

What every the hell happened to those drop in cartridge filters where you simply change the filter media and the actuall can was in the car?

 

[steppinthrax]

Also

What do you guys think of this??

http://www.gopurepower.com/sto...p?itemID=8400&dia=true

Reuseable oil filter?