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Oil Filters

seadoons

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seadoons Enthusiast

seadoons

Posted
Posted

This is from a guy that works here in my office:

 

 

Okay, you guys, here's a little tip to help you save money on your oil filters.

 

I have a cousin who works for Champ Labs, which is one of the major filter manufactuerers. He's always keeping me up to date with the latest filter information.

 

The absolute best oil filter you can buy is the $1.97 Wal-Mart house brand -- SuperTech2000.

 

Champ Labs manufactures it, and they put their best filter media in it. It's the same media that's in the $5.49 Bosch Filter at Auto Zone. Champ Labs' biggest competition (Purolator) tried to out-bid them for the Wal-Mart private label brand name a few years ago, and were going to put their best media in the filters, so in order to keep from losing the business, Champ Labs did the same.

 

I've been using them ever since he told me that, and the oil stays unbelievably clean between changes.

chris_kucia Enthusiast

chris_kucia

Posted
Posted

A couple of things about oil filters:

 

"better" and "best" are largely irrelevant terms. The two main characteristics of oil filters, assuming that they work properly, are the level of filtration and the flow rate. Obviously, for most intents and purposes, these two characteristics are directly ad odds with each other (filter smaller particles, and you'll restrict the flow, in general).

 

When a filter impedes oil flow significantly, the filter bypass valve will activate and oil will bypass the filter completely.

 

The oiling system is designed to get as much of the circulating engine oil through the filter as possible, based on the parameters of the OEM filter. In other words, the oil pump is sized so that it doesn't overwhelm the capacity of the OEM filter, the bypass valve is designed with the OEM filter in mind, the sump is sized large enough so it never runs dry, etc.

 

OEM filters are tested with the OEM engines. Even if the OEM filter is manufactured by an aftermarket company, it is made to the specs of the OEM.

 

Aftermarket manufactures do not, and can not, test oil filters on every engine. They just don't have the facilities. The best they can do is guess unless they are producing the exact filter under contract by the OEM. OEM oil filter specifications aren't published. There's no way for any other manufacturer to know what they are.

 

What's the point of all this? We're talking about something that, even in the case of Delco, costs less than $5. How much are you realistically saving over the life of the vehicle using something other than the manufacturer's recommendation?

 

Then think about the risks involved using a filter that has not been tested extensively on your engine, may or may not filter better, may or may not impede the oil flow such that it gets bypassed completely.

 

To me, it just isn't worth the risk. If you want to save money, buying a case of ACDelco filters will get you darn close to generic Wal-Mart prices.

 

 

 

That's not to say that all aftermarket parts are inappropriate. Oil, for example, has to meet independent, publicly-published starndards. So as long as the oil manufacturer meets the standards which the OEM references, you can be confident that it will work properly in your vehicle.

 

Aftermarket oil filters are a cutthroat business, and there's no incentive to be certain that the filter will work appropriately, but every incentive to take shortcuts.

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

If you're interested, here's what a GM powertrain engineer has to say about the subject:

 

"I have tested engines with AC Delco filters for 32 years or more and know that they work. GM engines are designed/tested/validated with AC DElco filters and we control the specs and requirements and maintain the quality of the parts whereever they are sourced....Flint, champion Labs, etc.... Other filters MAY work and they MAY work fine....but you are doing the "testing/development/validation" for the brand you choose because there is NO WAY that xxxx manufacturer has tested their filter on your engine application. They might have made sure that it screwed on and fit....if you are lucky. That is the nature of the cut-throat aftermarket parts suppliers"

intruder217 Enthusiast

intruder217

Posted
Posted
I have a cousin who works for Champ Labs, which is one of the major filter manufactuerers. He's always keeping me up to date with the latest filter information.

 

The absolute best oil filter you can buy is the $1.97 Wal-Mart house brand -- SuperTech2000.

 

Champ Labs manufactures it, and they put their best filter media in it. It's the same media that's in the $5.49 Bosch Filter at Auto Zone. Champ Labs' biggest competition (Purolator) tried to out-bid them for the Wal-Mart private label brand name a few years ago, and were going to put their best media in the filters, so in order to keep from losing the business, Champ Labs did the same.

Not exactly an unbiased statement...

budhayes3 Senior Enthusiast

budhayes3

Posted
Posted
I only bought AC Delco untill i got one that was made in MEXICO. Switched to a NC made Wix and never looked back.

Yea, alot of stuff on our trucks are made in Mexico. Says it right on my rear leaf springs, plain as day. Years back, about 1990, I worked at a Pontiac Dealership and had to do a shortblock on a Firebird. When the crate arrived it was stamped "Hecho en Mexico", Ugh. :jester:

duffus Enthusiast

duffus

Posted
Posted

'least our engines & transmissions aren't assembled in mexico... ford's build in mexico, honda is built in ohio, GM is built in michigan...i think... :jester:

Elwood 2000 Senior Enthusiast

Elwood 2000

Posted
Posted

I have always used an AC Delco on my truck, but on the farm we use FleetGard Filters.

 

I get my PF59's for $3.50 each. Any savings is not enough to get a soda from the gas station! :puke:

bigdogs Senior Enthusiast

bigdogs

Posted
Posted

I called my dealer asking them the price of the AC filter for the Duramax and they said they use the Isuzu ones instead as that is what comes on it from the factory. I ended up getting a Baldwin (which is what Amsoil uses I hear) instead for like $8.25

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