Engine: 2018 Oil Filter comparisons

[BobWaitz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTNJLEV8CG8

[tsenecal]

Thanks for posting this. I have used Wix for years, based on their reputation. This seems to prove that they earned it. I had always heard that Napa gold was made by wix, and this seems to prove that also.

[BobWaitz]

I've been using WIX and Napa Gold for the 259 as well but more out of luck than knowing they were the best.

[Colgate Studebaker]

I've used Napa filters for 40+ years knowing they are made by Wix. Haven't had an engine loss or major problems in all that time. I was at a seminar that did a similar test back then and the proof was there. I'm happy to recommend and use those Napa filters. Bill

[fastjohnll]

After reading through the replies to this video, two things stand out. First, shouldn't a test for a filter be how the filter performs? Second, the test should be for filters of approximately the same price, not one twice as much as another. I am not promoting any brand, just observing.

[DEEPNHOCK]

Well,
Having spent some time in the OE/OES/Aftermarket filter business... (Not in it now, so I have no bias...just opinions based on fact.
This type of video shows up quite regularly, and they are rarely accurate, nor scientific.
Cutting open a filter and looking at it only proivides visual appearance information, and does not provide performance information.
(Unless it is done to a failed product, and even then it just provides 'additional' information that is used on the discovery process).

Brand preference is mostly a marketing and cultural effect.
Yes, past performance is a good indicator, but is past performance guaranteed when the company has been sold,
replaced all of their production equipment, and sold their old production line to their competitor?
That is a darned good question. Do you know who owns who? Do you know who private labels which part number for whom?

Most of these filter video's are clickbait at best and destructive at worst.
Some filter companies choose the high web hit count video producers and fly them into the factory and whine and dine them,
show them the real production lines and show them the errors of their YouTube ways (mostly).

My only comment on this thread, and the replies to this thread is to caution the end user (you)
to make sure you are making your buying decisions based on accurate, current, and real facts and testamonials.....and not just YouTube or marketing hype.

One of the brands listed on this video got the living $#!t sued out of them for their
humorous portrayal of a cardboard filter media retainer and denigrated it vs steel.
Turns out there was no fact based reason for this and they had to retract the ad, send out apologies and stop doing that type of advertising.
(Truth is, I blame that on the ad agency, but it is true... It did happen).

Buy good stuff, use it as directed, and enjoy life.
Negative selling is a pox. You have to be very careful knowing what you are putting down.

OK, I'll sit down now and wait for the pummeling to begin (You guys are slow... Facebook is instant on the pummeling)

[swvalcon]

If NAPA filters are made by Wix what that means is they are most times the same filter just a different box. You will find that a lot on all likes of products. I remember back in the 80's a Sherwin Williams rep told me that their paint also made Napa, Rodgers, Acme, said all the same stuff in the can just different labels and four different prices.

[DEEPNHOCK]

Yes, Wix is the current supplier of NAPA labelled filters. But did you know that Wix changed owners a few years ago?
Did you know that Wix buys filters from some of the other companies portrayed in that video and has then private labelled for them?
NOBODY makes all their own filters... (unless they have a very limited catalog, as in a lot of specialty hydraulic industrial filters). Even K&N buys their filters. Some from offshore, some domestic. AC Delco makes no filters. They buy them all private labelled. I am not condemning the whole industry. Just pointing out the fallacy of making a YouTube video about quality without doing accurate due diligence.

If NAPA filters are made by Wix what that means is they are most times the same filter just a different box. You will find that a lot on all likes of products. I remember back in the 80's a Sherwin Williams rep told me that their paint also made Napa, Rodgers, Acme, said all the same stuff in the can just different labels and four different prices.

[jnormanh]

The one question that matters, and the one which this video does not address, is this:

Which of these filters will do the job well for 5,000 or 10,000 miles? Length of filter media, type of springs, composition of seals are pretty much academic and may be unrelated to performance.

A trace of rust inside? Tempest in a teapot.

My guess is that all of them will work.

If Fram were as crappy as implied, experienced mechanics would know. I cannot remember any engine rebuilder blaming the oil filter brand for a worn-out engine.

AFAIK, Fram is still factory fitment on all Ferraris.

[BobPalma]

Thanks for your posts on this topic, Jeff.

You probably know more about this than anyone here, so it is good to have your input every time this comes up. BP

[345 DeSoto]

Within seconds of starting one of my engines, after an oil/filter change using an "orange" oil filter, the filter blew up. I have been using the NAPA Gold oil filter ever since. That's MY 2 cents...

[DEEPNHOCK]

[QUOTE=jnormanh;1140046]The one question that matters, and the one which this video does not address, is this:

Which of these filters will do the job well for 5,000 or 10,000 miles?
Great question. Two additional caveats... In warranty period? After warranty period?
Still a trick question as warranties have been extended by many manufacturers (mostly for marketing reasons).
Usually... The engine manufacturer drives the OE (first fit) spec's, and the replacement spec's
(and those two are usually different spec's).
But.. It is oil breakdown, oil contamination, and media contamination capacity that limit filter life.
Contamination capacity is not just the size of the can. It is the amount (%) of the filtration media is contaminated.
Filters (all of them) usually get better with age. The micron level of filtration decreases as the media gets more and more contaminated. The tradeoff is the flow rate of the filter (media) decreases as the contamination level increases.
Once you get the flow rate low enough the pressure restriction rises to the level that high pressure bypass valve starts opening longer and longer. Then, ALL filtration is lost when the bypass valve opens. So, the filter needs changing after a certain contamination level. How can you tell? How dirty is the oil? 5,000 mile dirty, vs 15,000 mile dirty?
You actually could find this out with oil sampling.
Big fleets do this a lot. But the cost of oil sampling for the average consumer usually leaves this in the troubleshooting side of things.
My personal every day driver says 15,000 is normal. But, I don't wait that long.
I buy the extended engine life insurance policy. It is called oil & filter changes.
A shorter interval brings me peace of mind.


Length of filter media, type of springs, composition of seals are pretty much academic and may be unrelated to performance.

A trace of rust inside? Tempest in a teapot.

My guess is that all of them will work.

If Fram were as crappy as implied, experienced mechanics would know. I cannot remember any engine rebuilder blaming the oil filter brand for a worn-out engine.

AFAIK, Fram is still factory fitment on all Ferraris.

[jpepper]

My complaint with the video is how the filters were cut open. Com-on and do it right with a proper cutter. They are like a pipe cutter made for filters. About $30. I cut open most of my filters especially ones from fresh engines. Looking for debris and/or metal in the medium.

[jpepper]

The table below lists the filters grouped by their manufacturers. Click on the manufacturer to be taken to the relevant section of the main article. Also shown is the exploded view of an example of each manufacturer as well as an image of the backplate for in-store identification. Click the backplate image for a more detailed view.

Manufacturer	Vintage	Backplate	Exploded View	Brands
AC Delco	1999			AC Delco Duraguard (now made by Champion Labs)
Baldwin/Hastings	1999-2008			Baldwin, Hastings
Champion Labs	1999			Bosch, Car and Driver, Champ, Deutsch
2008 Ecore			AC Delco, Car and Driver, Champ, Deutsch, STP
1999-2008 Performance			K&N, Mobil 1
Dana/WIX	1999-2008			Carquest, NAPA, WIX
Donaldson	1999-2000			Donaldson, Hard Driver (discontinued)
Honeywell	1999-2008			Fram Extra Guard, Fram Tough Guard, Fram Double Guard, Fram High Mileage, Pennzoil, Quaker State
Purolator	1999-2008			Bosch, Motorcraft, PowerFlo, ProLine, Purolator Premium Plus, Purolator Pure One, Quaker State

[studegary]

Jim P.- This is interesting, but I hardly see it as relevant to current/2018 filters.