Thread: Which oil filter?

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

If someone tries to sell you a Fram, take it from them and crush it against the side of their head.

As flimsily as they are made, that should not be hard to do.

Originally Posted by JoshMcMadMac

Then use a WalMart SuperTech filter. It is cheaper, and a much better filter.

Not to pick a fight or anything, Im just curious to such statements and what criteria you use to qualify that statement? I mean, how are you determining it is a much better filter?

Originally Posted by TFBuckeye

but I concur with the gentleman above, how do you know one is better than the other?

Need to cut them open and inspect them when they come off the car. Then you can see how they held up.

Originally Posted by TFBuckeye

I'm curious, do you guys pull the right front wheel off? That makes getting the filter off a piece of cake.

I just lay up under the corner and do it. It's not hard. I don't even lift the car up at all. Some people will turn the wheel all the way to the right. It helps, but like I said I have no issue doing it as it sits.

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

Not to pick a fight or anything, Im just curious to such statements and what criteria you use to qualify that statement? I mean, how are you determining it is a much better filter?

Talking with a lubrication engineer with 40+ years of experience. SuperTech is by far the best bang-for-the-buck.

Ahhh, well you are among the first that has been able to answer that question with anything other than really vague responses. However, you add something in there that is vital. "The best bang for the buck". Which simply states that on a cost to effectiveness ratio SuperTech offers good filtration relative to its cost.

This, of course, brings up another point. A supertech filter for your engine may not have the same effectiveness on the next engine. I have stated many times that you could take two identical 3800 engines that came off the line one after another and the first engine may do okay with the SuperTech and the next one may not. Each engine responds a little differently to oil and filter combinations.

Most just assume because they had no issues using a particular filter that its a 'good' filter. When in reality the ONLY way to judge how the oil and filter are working is through oil analysis. Furthermore, the information provided by most manufacturers makes it nearly impossible to compare apples to apples with regards to filter effectiveness. The only way to really judge a filters effectiveness, from a consumer perspective and short of independent testing, is through oil analysis. And you still have to keep in mind that the oil itself plays a role. A motor oils ability to hold particles in suspension, resist breakdown, the additive package all play a role too. Use a crappy oil and it may stress the filter to no end with regards to trying to trap any debris and may load it up in a hurry and send it into by-pass mode.

Most also assume if its expensive, then it must do a good job and of course that is not always true. I have seen some rather expensive filters that when you press the manufacturer about the filters effectiveness you learn it only has an absolute filtering rating of around 40 microns which is just absolutely horrible.

But, again, I will commend you on the fact you at least inquired to someone that had some knowledge about filters and lubrication. I have done A LOT of oil anlaysis testing over the years and have seen some pretty crappy stuff. As well, every filter I pull off an engine gets cut open for an internal inspection, no only to see if the engine is throwing off some junk but to see how the filter itself held up. Which is why I detest Fram filters. Not because they have a bad rep, or because others have said they are no good, but because I have pulled my fair share of them off and cut them open and SEEN how bad they are.

Originally Posted by TDCRacing

I'd like to see the inside of a fram compared to some others. I belive you guy's and all but just curiouse mainly.

If you compared a Fram filter to another quality filter ran for the same amount of time with the same kind of motor oil, you would have nightmares and tremble every time you walked down the aisle in the store with a wall of Fram filters.

Im truly surprised people still buy these things. But because the effects of marginal or poor filtration are not realized for many miles of driving, most dont put two and two together.

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

Ahhh, well you are among the first that has been able to answer that question with anything other than really vague responses. However, you add something in there that is vital. "The best bang for the buck". Which simply states that on a cost to effectiveness ratio SuperTech offers good filtration relative to its cost.

The bang-for-the-buck comment is the best way I can put it. Kit, the engineer who spewed more information on the topic then I could possibly retain, put SuperTech in his top 3. In his vehicles, he put Mobil 1 oil and filters in the "nice" stuff (like his '71 Mach 1) and SuperTech in everything else, like his daily drivers.