Anti-Drainback Oil Filter

[seadoons]

What isan anti-drainback filter, and how does it work? Where can you buy them?

[frdfandc]

The anti-drain back filter is a oil filter that has a silicone check valve inside of it to prevent from the oil in the filter from draining back into the oil pan, helping to prevent dry startup.

 

As far as where you buy them, most of the oil filter manufacturers make filters that contain these. Just get yourself a AC Delco replacement filter and be done with it.

 

 

Hope this helps.

[JayMan]

Not all filters appear to use the anti-drainback flap, or at least not a good one. I tried a Purolator once and the motor knocked like a diesel on startup.

 

I've used the dealer AC Delco PF-59 and it seems to work fine. The Mobil Synthetic Oil filter M1-206 appears to have the anti-drainback. K&N brags about their anti-drainback filters, which are all I have ever used on my old Ford (300,000 miles young).

 

Another good feature for the K&N is the 1 inch nut welded onto the bottom of the can. Since the oil filter hangs straight down in the Vortec, just put a crescent wrench or a 1 inch socket on the filter and it's off in no time.

 

I don't think I'll use the Mobil 1 filters anymore. Unless they change the design of the end cap - it's perfectly round and smooth. So it's impossible to use a regular oil filter cap socket to spin it off.

 

The new Vortec 4.8/5.3/6.0 has little clearance between the oil filter and the aluminum oil pan, and the driver side exhaust/catalyst is in the way anyway, so I couldn't get a strap wrench on the filter. Had to drill a hole through the filter, insert a screwdriver, and carefully untwist the filter.

 

Yeah, all the oil went down my arm

 

I haven't tried a Fram or any other of the cheaper brands, unless somebody is willing to vouch for them. I'll stick to what I know works.

[RyanZ71]

Since I hand tighten mine I am able to get them on and off just fine with my hand.

[frdfandc]

Another good feature for the K&N is the 1 inch nut welded onto the bottom of the can. Since the oil filter hangs straight down in the Vortec, just put a crescent wrench or a 1 inch socket on the filter and it's off in no time.

 

I don't think I'll use the Mobil 1 filters anymore. Unless they change the design of the end cap - it's perfectly round and smooth. So it's impossible to use a regular oil filter cap socket to spin it off.

 

The new Vortec 4.8/5.3/6.0 has little clearance between the oil filter and the aluminum oil pan, and the driver side exhaust/catalyst is in the way anyway, so I couldn't get a strap wrench on the filter. Had to drill a hole through the filter, insert a screwdriver, and carefully untwist the filter.

 

Yeah, all the oil went down my arm

 

I haven't tried a Fram or any other of the cheaper brands, unless somebody is willing to vouch for them. I'll stick to what I know works.

I don't use a band oil filter wrench anymore. I use oil filter pliers. They work great on any kind of filter.

 

Fram is a good filter. I used nothing my Fram on my 90 5.0 Mustang. Never had a problem.

[seadoons]

I have been using a fram brand filter and I purchase them at Wal-Mart. Does Fram have this anti-drainback option? Also, with the K&N oil filter, do you just buy them at an automotive retailer like autozone? What is the price of the K&N? Do you have to replace them with each oil change, or are they like the air filters?

[Black02Silverado]

Everything and anything you wanted to know about oil, oil filters and other lubricants and such just go to this site.

 

Bobistheoilguy.com

 

They have a vast knowledge of real world stuff that works and what might not work depending on the individual. It all comes from real users and not a company trying to sell you their product.

 

As far as an antidrainback valve. Is it really a concern on our trucks since the filter sits vertical? Does the oil flow up against gravity when you shut the engine down? Every time I pull my filter off when I change my oil it drains a ton of oil out before I can even get it off. Now I would be concerned if it was dry when I took it off.

[GnatGoSplat]

Fram is the WORST filters you can buy.

You probably won't have problems because they do work, but they are made of the cruddiest, nastiest, cheapest, lowest-quality materials EVER.

 

No other oil filter is manufactured using such low-grade materials. You are even FAR better off using SuperTech oil filters from Wal-mart (made by Champion Labs).

 

Fram costs more because of the orange paint and fancy grip on the end.

They skimp on what's inside because you can't see it. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess is their philosophy.

[seadoons]

Thanks for the information...what filter should I use? I will probably shop at Wal-Mart.

[GnatGoSplat]

If you shop at Wal-mart, I think the only other brand they carry is SuperTech, but those are good filters.

 

SuperTech oil is surprisingly good too. I actually noticed a lot less "fuzz" on the drainplug magnet and less varnish inside the filler cap by running SuperTech than Valvoline.

[JayMan]

Well, I need all the help I can get getting the oil filter off. I have nerve damage in my right hand thanks to a work-related injury. So even though I only put the filter on hand-tight, it's impossible for me to take it off by hand.

 

You should have seen the adventure I had this summer changing my spark plugs! The Vortec heads are aluminum and they put the plugs in dry at the factory. I had to use a 3/8 air ratchet to get them off. I know, you should NEVER use an air tool on spark plugs, but my gimpy right hand wasn't up to it.

 

I used to use Fram filters back in the early 80's on my old Ford truck. I have an oil filter cutter and used to take apart the filter to check for wear particles. I was disappointed over how poorly the filter media appeared to hold up.

 

Even changing the filter at every 2 months or 2000 miles, more often than not the media would rupture. Like the other post mentioned, it's what you can't see - out of sight, out of mind.

 

The dealer AC Delco PF-59 is okay, the K&N appears quite good, and the Amsoil SDF is very good. I used to get my K&N filters at a local performance shop, but they stopped carrying them. At $6-$12 a filter, I can see why. K&N recommends a change as specified by the owner manual.

 

The Amsoil SDF oil filters must be good, as you can go up to 6 months or 12500 miles. I think I'll soon start using the Amsoil SDF filters.

 

Maybe in most motors you don't have to worry about this issue. Since the Vortec is a rear sump, and the oil pump is now at the very front of the crank, that's makes for a very long pickup tube. Anything you can do to keep some residual pressure in the galleries must be good.

 

A preluber is also very good but at this point I'm not ready to invest the time/money into it.

[Black02Silverado]

Here are some pictures of my oil filter that was on my truck with 10k on the oil and filter. This is an old ASF 30 filter from AMSOIL. I have another one that I will use but will go back to the SDF30 from then on. I got these at a good deal. It held up well with that many miles on the oil. You can also see the metal that the FilterMag held to the side of the can. The oil is the Series 2k 0w-30 AMSOIL. The magican can opener worked great. To bad they have been discontinued, I guess the next best thing is to see if a flea market has any.

 

My filter pics

[JayMan]

Yeah, I don't think Amsoil would offer a complete warranty if their products didn't pass. Am strongly thinking of going to Amsoil oil and the spin-on adapter to use an Amsoil main filter and bypass filter.

 

Have also seen VERY good results in heavy industry with a centrifugal separator. One case was a Cat LEHX6157 with two Spinner II centrifuges. The generator ran 24/7 for 2 years, and was only shut down once a month to clean the gunk out of the centrifuge basket. The motor was spotless inside and in very good condition. I think they used Amsoil HDD 5W-30.