Oil Filters, whose is best, and Why?

armtdm

I guess if you change the oil that often there is no need to change the filter. This is true today also, if you change the oil every 3-4000 miles any ole filter will do as there is basically nothing to filter out.

alternator

Good point, although it's so convenient to change filter while changing oil, and the cost is so slight compared to overall maintenance cost, I do it anyway (can't do no harm!).

jskho

Bought some Mazda OEM filters and they are manufactured by Tennex, or something similar, can't remember exactly. Do they make after market filters?

fleetwoodsimca

Don't forget that oil is invisibly degraded by engine moving parts shearing the molecules. Filters don't trap out the results. Changing the oil gets you back to better lubrication, along with refreshing the additive package that hopefully has some added barrier protection in it.

joatmon

It might be Tenneco Automotive. Their Walker unit made filters long ago, but I thought they got out of that business. There were the filter supplier to NAPA before DANA / Wix. Generally, they product good products.

lmccall

Tennex is a subsiduary of a Japanese corporation. They make filters for the OEM market. There manufacturing facility is in Tennessee (that's where the "Tenn" comes from in their name.) They manufacture the Mazda OEM filters sold in the US, and others. Fram does the Mazda OEM for Canada.

Tennex does not make filters for retail sale. They only produce those models that they are under contract with the various car makers for. Their filters are of excellent quality. The facility in Tennessee turns out one million filters a month, according to their spokesman that I contacted.

By the way, Filtech that makes US OEM filters for some of the Japanese car makers, is owned by Toyo Roki of Japan. Mazdas are shipped to the US with Toyo Roki filters on them.

fleetwoodsimca

I have one of these good filters on my Honda Valkyrie.

bburton1

Compared Pennzoil (bright yellow box) oil filters yesterday to the new design Fram with the roughened and black end cap and the innards had exactly the same manufacturing marks in the same place and had a H2 on the same place inside the filter area. Looked identical to me. Are they.

Really prefer AC Delco but they are in so few places and rarely go on sale. Anybody know who makes Wal-Mart filters? Are they any good.

Oh the filters I compared were for late model I4 accords.

fleetwoodsimca

If you had the time for it, you could go back over the last half year of postings in this topic and you would see the pathway that has led "us long termers in the thread" to the following conclusions:
Yes, Fram makes the Pennzoil filters, likely by changing the outside paint and nothing more.
The current Walmart filters are made by Champion Laboratories, a company that seems to make nothing but very good filters, no matter what brand they paint on them.
I would add that over the past year, I have picked up very good buys on AC Delco filters on deep sale at Walmart and Kmart.
I would also offer that I personally have a strong liking for the "house brand" filters at Kmart, and have stockpiled quite a few of them. These filters are made by Wix and are sold under the Castrol and Penske names.

opera_house_wk

Looked at the PH8A and the inside steel tube is now corrugated and has more holes. Now they are probably the same as everyone else. Honeywell must have gotten tired of hearing all this stuff on the net. I still don't trust them if they think crap was ok to sell two years ago. Some day I'll find someone who bought one and we'll have a look see inside.

bburton1

If Penske puts their name on a product, I trust that product. Thanks again

fleetwoodsimca

I like those filters because WIX makes them. NAPA gets their GOLD series oil filters and air filters from WIX, and those products are top notch in my opinion. Glad I could help!

ruking1

First of all, I think it is just amazing that good quality filters can be had for such a commodity price! I also find it amazing that you can get Champion Labs made SuperTech (Wal Mart Brand) filters @ 1.97 per (not the "on sale" price) that have the same filter capacity and one pass capacity as say an AC Delco Ultra Guard ( great filter, however 8- 12 dollars per up to 6x the price)

I bought a slug of Fram filters at I believe app 2.59 each, but why, after getting the facts figures and opinions from this thread, use a filter not as well made as an AC Delco and or a Super Tech filter, AND the price is even CHEAPER than Fram's "on sale" price.

tntitan

I can't for the life of me understand why anyone doing their own oil changes at the 3-5K range would have any problem using the Wallyworld $1.97 Super-Tech Champion filters. After reading thousands of posts from numerous sites the Chevron Supreme 10-30 SL and SuperTech filter oil change for $7.00 is my personal preference. I am about two weeks away from sending off for my 5,000 mile oil analsyis with this combo and will post results then. If analysis is good I will go for 6-7.5K on the next one based upon what "Bob" and his guys recommend.

fleetwoodsimca

Yours will be the most interesting analysis posting to come along in a long time. I have a hunch that the new SL hydrocracked products are going to prove themselves to be just as effective as synthesized products similar to them. Your results will be evidence for a single case which is not conclusive, to be sure, yet informative for all engine oil consumers. Please be sure to provide the interpretation to the results, so that those of us (me included) that do not have a "key" to oil analysis can still benefit. (:oÞ

joe3891

why anyone would have oil analysis,just a waste of good money.Its just like transmission flushes,a marketing gimmick.

pulgo

If an inexpensive oil analysis tells you about abnormal wear of certain components of your engine or if it tells you that coolant is getting into the engine you could take your car in for repairs BEFORE it gets really expensive.

You don't want to spend $ 14 on an analysis? Fine. It is your money and your car.

I feel that it gives you the chance to lengthen or shorten your oil change intervals according to how well the oil is protecting your engine (worth a few to many thousands of $$$, depending on the type of the car you drive).

In my case I do oil changes every 15K miles or longer, using a quality oil like AMSOIL (and by-pass filtering). The money saved by going to longer intervals is of no concern to me. What I appreciate most is not having to crawl under my car in winter in freezing weather or to trust places like Jiffy Lube or others, where I have no real control over what oil is being put in my car.

lmccall

I cut open four new oil filters this weekend - a SuperTech ST6607 and the Mazda OEM equivalent made by Tennex, and a Motorcraft FL1A and a Baldwin B2. I'm sticking with the Tennex filter on my Mazda, and switching to Baldwin on the Ford.

In comparing the SuperTech and the Tennex, the most obvious difference was that the SuperTech had a significantly smaller filter element - maybe 40% smaller. There was plenty of room for a larger filter element. Also, it's quality wasn't up to the Tennex.

I like the Baldwin better than the Motorcraft because the Baldwin had a bigger filter element with more pleats and more evenly spaced pleats, and was of heavier construction throughout, down to the coil spring in the cap - not a sheet metal "C" spring. There's a comment from the "Minimopar" study that the Motorcraft filters are Purolator PureOnes. I don't think so - more likely Purolator Premium Plus, their standard filter.

bluedevils

Good info on the filters. Do you think it's possible that some of the Motorcrafts are Purolator PureOnes and some are the standard Purolator (Premium Plus)?

malachy72

An Amsoil dealer thinks Amsoil filters are the best and would like to sell some here.

bigorange30

How did he slip past the goalie? Maybe they haven't seen it yet. Surely that will be zapped.

joe3891

How do you know when your oil filter is plugged and is bypassing the oil unfiltered back through the engine,I don't have a warning light in my car that lets me know.

pulgo

No problem. He used the wrong web address anyway :->

Mr_Shiftright

Sorry, but goalie chasing lots of pucks.

Solicitation deleted. Thanks to the posse.

Shifty

fleetwoodsimca

Many thanks for the swift action. I went back to the "synthetic" thread and deleted my OWN post concerning this advertiser over there. Condescension on top of audacity is a bit much!

armtdm

Personally, I don't think that in a normally maintained vehicle the filter will ever go into bypass due to contamination. Cold weather etc, yes, but due to the filter being plugged up, never happen if you cahnge your oil on a regular basis. Filters are pretty much useless, kind of like an appendix is today. Nice for backup but don't really do much in today's engines and with today's oils.

joe3891

> but due to the filter being plugged up, never happen if you cahnge your oil on a regular basis.<

How do you know this or is it just a guess.

fleetwoodsimca

I have to counterpoint a little here, and express my view. I think that filters do indeed aid the prospect of extending the life of an engine. Those particulates that circulate in the oil are removed in some percentage, thus reducing the amount of microgrit available to put wear on the moving parts.

bluedevils

The PureOnes go for $5-6; the SuperTechs are $2. Do you think the PureOne filters are better than the SuperTech filters? If so, in what ways? Assuming an oil and filter change interval of 3-5k miles, is the PureOne filter worth the extra money?

Currently I'm using the PureOne on our vehicles but I'm thinking of switching to the SuperTechs. I have come full circle (back from synthetic) to a 3k mile oil & filter change interval with conventional SL-rated oil. I have some Citgo SuperGard and some Chevron Supreme in 5W30 and 10W30.

bigorange30

I use the mobil1 synthetic filter that costs $11 each. Take a look at the following study. I based my choice on his information. Maybe it will help you.

http://www.frankhunt.com/FRANK/corvette/articles/oilfilterstudy/oilfilterstudy.html

fleetwoodsimca

I really believe that while some of the expensive filters are quite good, the facts are that the less expensive filters of quality manufacture can provide enough protection for engines that receive frequent oil changes.

bigorange30

except that I don't desire to spend an hour every other month at the shop getting my oil changed. That's why I use synthetic oil and filter and take it to 7-8 K miles between changes. It ends up being cheaper because of increased gas mileage and less frequent changes.

topdog047

Is anyone familiar with Hastings ???

Looking fwd to comments/opinions - Thanks -TD

csandste

The negative rap on any Purolator filter is that the string around the media can sometimes distort making the filtering less efficient.

The original Mini-Mopar study was almost as negative about Champion Labs filters as Frams for rust on the end caps and thin filtering materials. Some comments recently (here or BOBISTHEOILGUY?) have discussed loose metal particles from casting on Champion Labs filters. In addition some of the earlier Mini-Mopar studies (I think it was those) talked about Mobil 1 filters splitting at the end plates. What caused that I'm not sure since the Mobil 1's are made heavier than other Champion Labs.

I personally use a Champion Labs (SuperTech) filter. I think Purolator, Champion and Wix filters are all pretty good. ABF(anythingbutfram)-IMHO!!!

bluedevils

I've used a Mobil 1 filter before (free with Mobil 1 case purchase), but I'm not going to spend 10 bucks on a filter. I actually enjoy changing the oil in our vehicles and don't mind spending 40 minutes every 3 months or so.

At this point I'm leaning toward the SuperTechs once my existing supply of Pure Ones is exhausted.

fleetwoodsimca

And don't forget the Castrol and Penske filters at Kmart that are made by WIX-- the company that makes NAPA Gold oil and air filters. I'm down to my last dozen at the moment.

ruking1

#1586

"I'm down to my last dozen at the moment."

Yeah I'd be freaked also. Lets see 12x 15k miles= 180,000 miles!! Man, we need like a KMART to go into another CHAPTER 11 !!! And SOON!

opera_house_wk

In the colder winter months I like to use the Motorcraft FL1A because the little extra filter area and the bypass valve is on the top. At $2.77 at Wally World it is hard to beat. I have still used plenty of Super Techs. But if I am going to be bypassing at startup, no need to push through the worst stuff. Remember gravity is one of the best filters.

fleetwoodsimca

It's worse than you think! I've got 2 Nissan 3.3L V6 engines, and I change filters and oil every 3K as an obsessive compulsive gesture.

pulgo

What a waste of money and especially time.

wain

I agree
3K is a Jiffy lube marketing thing drummed into American heads.
I have moved to 3 times a year.

fleetwoodsimca

Everyone has to suit themselves. (:oÞ

pulgo

Yes, make as many oil changes as you want. It is your decision, your time, your money.

In my case, I have so little time left in a typical week that I'd rather go to the beach, play golf, etc.

I installed a by-pass, dual filter system on my vehicles and the oil changes are done every 15k miles or even less often (subject to oil analysis and use of synthetic oil).

bluedevils

I got sucked in again - bought 2 more, as Meijer was running a $3 rebate on 2. So I end up paying $3.49 apiece instead of the Meijer regular $4.99. Some shops charge $5.99 for the Pure Ones, so I figure I'm getting a pretty good filter for only $3.49. But who knows if it's any better than the $1.97 SuperTech.

fleetwoodsimca

You got a good deal on very good filters. I agree with your philosophical question comparing the Purolator to the Supertech-- In the big picture, will your engine last longer for having used Purolators part or all the time versus the other filter? Hey, who cares! The perceived bargain on the Purolators makes them a good buy. That's my analysis and I'm stickin' with it!
AND to Pulgo: I'll be staying off the beach on the advise of my dermatologist, and pasture pool, well no thanks. I'll change oil and filters in a dark old garage instead. (:o]

pulgo

Well, it could have been fishing, surfing the internet, whatever. What I meant is that the little time I have left every day I prefer to spend it with activities other than changing the oil in my car :-)

On the other hand it is not a bad idea to crawl under the car once in a while to check for other things that might be defective and need attention.

fleetwoodsimca

I suspect it is a matter of what each of us "prefers" to do, given whatever we perceive as our choices. I agree with you, that getting under the vehicle once in a while is helpful for staying aware of the mechanical condition of same.

fwatson

For the price of 18 holes of golf, I could change the oil and filter in my car 3 times. And seeing as how I would prefer to be pampering my cars than chasing a 1" white globe all over creation, I think the 3 to 1 ratio makes my "hobby" a bargain compared to golf, the beach (ugh,nice scenery in a few places but a good place to get skin cancer or stung by jellyfish) and other hobbies. I have tried many including those.

Sure it may waste some oil, but what are those golf balls made of, and what kind of fuel is used to manufacture them and power the cart and the car used to get to the golfcourse?

All in all, a waste of time and money is in the eye of the beholder. I also clean my engine compartments. What a waste of time that must be.

fleetwoodsimca

Engines that are kept clean run better. I think it is a fact. It works for me, while red cars go faster than blue cars is believed only by the police-- especially if they are Dodge Vipers.
(:o]

malachy72

used oil, wasting it? Does recycling aluminum cans waste them as well?