Is There A Difference In Oil Filters

For well-nigh of us, oil filters are probably something we never retrieve virtually.

We know that when we change our engine oil, the oil filter too needs to exist replaced too. What kind of filter should your mechanic use? Does it even matter? An oil filter is an oil filter, right? Incorrect! Nowhere else in the automotive parts world do nosotros come across such a range in quality – from the good to the very bad – than we do with oil filters. Y'all might be surprised to know that many and then-called automotive "professionals" are installing oil filters which don't even come up close to the caliber of your vehicle's original filter.

Beyond the country, this negligence is costing Canadians hundreds of thousands – perchance fifty-fifty millions – of dollars every year in the form of excess engine vesture and vehicles that deteriorate earlier they should. How exercise these second-dabble "mechanics" get away with this? Nosotros'll explicate that at the stop of this article.

Of import internal oil filters components:
i) The filter media is what actually traps dirt and contaminants. Information technology is supported by the end caps and middle back up tube.
2) The bypass valve redirects oil effectually the oil filter in the event that the filter becomes clogged.
3) The anti drain-back valve prevents oil draining back into the engine when it is shut off, in guild to forestall dry starts, which are the leading crusade of engine habiliment.

But now, let's become correct to information technology: We wanted to do something totally cool and cut open eight of the almost popular oil filters on the market, to testify y'all how they work and the differences between them.

Using a special cutter to open up up the oil filter without damaging the parts inside.

To keep things consistent, we purchased all of the filters to fit the same pop vehicle; a 2014 Ford F-150. Like most modern vehicles, this F-150 is equipped with an oil life monitor that calculates oil deterioration based on how and where you drive. Drivers who frequent the highway and drive regularly will see the oil life monitor stretch their oil changes out to almost fifteen,000 km, since this type of driving is easier on the engine oil. Drivers who practise mostly short trip and around-town driving will notice their "change oil" bulletin coming up closer to 6000 km.

Because – similar about modern vehicles – the F150 has an oil change interval longer than 5000 km, its oil filter requires certain features keep working properly all the way upwards until the next oil change:

• For any oil alter interval longer than 5000 km, the filter's anti bleed-dorsum valve should be made of silicone instead of cheap nitrile cloth.
• The internal structure needs to exist potent enough to final through hundreds of heat cycles.
• The filter media needs to be dense and plentiful enough to continue trapping dirt through the entire life of the filter, without plugging. One time the filter is plugged, it will enter "bypass mode" where it stops filtering your oil. This is when engine habiliment really starts to take place apace!

Without further ado, here are the oil filters that we tested, and how we ranked them from best to worst!

1st Place: Wix (Napa Gold)

Internal parts showing the all-metal interior construction, silicone anti drain-back valve, and gyre spring.

Filter chemical element and thick steel base of operations plate.

Close upwardly of the filer element showing the density and fifty-fifty pleat spacing.

Within the filter element, showing the spiral-wound steel cadre and the integral bypass valve.

Here's the other side of the filter chemical element, showing the outside of the featherbed valve. On the left, the quality drain-back valve seals to the base plate.

Wholesale cost (to a professional shop): $6.51
Filter media: Glass enhanced cellulose
Filtration efficiency: 99% of particles above 23 microns; 18 gram capacity
Anti drain-dorsum valve: Silcone
Recommended change interval: half-dozen,000 – 16,000 km or 1 yr
Truly compatible with this vehicle: Yes

Full disclosure: These are the oil filters that nosotros use in our shop. For that reason, though, it was reassuring to open the filter upwardly and find such quality on the inside. The filter simply impresses when you lot take it apart.

The Wix filter uses the best filter media of all the filters in our comparison, capable of trapping the most dirt and contaminants. Construction of the filter element is very solid, with metallic end caps and a metal seamless, screw-wound centre cadre reinforcing the media. The bypass valve is all metal likewise, and looks very expert. The anti-drainback valve is made of silicone, and features a robust design. Finally, everything is held together with a metal coil spring; a design that is generally considered better than the steel wave springs found in most oil filters.

2nd Place: Ford Motorcraft

Internal construction showing the good quality filter chemical element; all metal construction; and silicone anti drain-dorsum valve.

This filter features a thread-finish bypass valve. This is condign more than pop simply about filters notwithstanding feature a featherbed valve at the other stop of the filter.

Another shot of the filter element. The mucilage job on the Motorcraft filter is a flake sloppy; we wiped a fair scrap of glue off the end caps before taking this photo, and there's still some showing.

The thread-terminate bypass valve is built into the filter terminate cap. Inside, the filter features a spiral-wound seamless steel core.

Bypass valve and silicone anti drain-back valve on the good quality base plate.

Wholesale cost: $9.92
Filter media: Cellulose and polyester blend
Filtration efficiency: 80% of particles above twenty microns (Ford advertised); 93% at 20 microns (independent testing); 12 gram capacity
Anti bleed-back valve: Silcone
Recommended change interval: 12,000 km or 1 year
Truly compatible with this vehicle: Yes

This is the OEM (factory) filter for this truck, and the filter that all others should be compared to. It's a very adept quality function, as you'll see in the photos.

3rd Place: Fram

Internal construction showing the fiberboard-reinforced filter chemical element and silicone "combo valve".

Shut upwards of the filter chemical element; definitely not as potent as our other filters, with less filter textile.

This filter uses a cost-saving "combo valve" that combines the anti drain-dorsum valve and featherbed valve into one role.

Wholesale cost: $6.12
Filter media: Glass enhanced cellulose
Filtration efficiency: 95% of particles above xx microns
Anti bleed-dorsum valve: Silicone
Recommended alter interval: OEM (see notes below)
Truly uniform with this vehicle: Yeah, simply not your all-time selection.

If we had done this comparing several years ago, Fram oil filters would have ranked very near the bottom of our list. However, the Fram brand is now being manufactured by a different company and the filters have received major upgrades, including a much better filter media and a silicone anti bleed-back valve.

The construction still isn't slap-up, though: Fram filter elements even so characteristic fiberboard end caps and a lot less filter media than most of the other filters in our comparison. The centre core of the filter is steel, but information technology'southward not the strong, seamless design establish in the filters to a higher place. Fram states that these filters are designed to last for any manufacturer-specified oil modify interval, and nosotros tin can't really disagree. While this filter does technically cheque all of the boxes in terms of Ford's requirements for this truck, the higher up filters are probably a better selection.

Tie for 3rd: Motomaster

We picked up ane of Canadian Tire's new Motomaster oil filters for this comparison, merely to discover that they are manufactured by the same company (and are exactly the same) every bit the Fram filter. The Motomaster filter is cheaper, though.

4th Place: Pennzoil

Internal structure including the all-metal filter element; nitrile bleed-back valve and leap.

The filter element includes a strong spiral-wound centre cadre.

Very similar filter element to the Ford OEM filter, with the same sloppy glue job - only the bypass valve moves to the other stop of the element.

Lesser side of the filter element showing the unique integrated featherbed valve, and the nitrile drain-back valve.

Wholesale cost: $4.12
Filter media: Cellulose
Filtration efficiency: 95% of particles above 20 microns; 13 gram capacity
Anti drain-back valve: Nitrile
Recommended change interval: Up to 8,000 km, 3-6 months
Truly compatible with this vehicle: No

These are the filters used by one of Canada's largest quick-lube chains, who also operates inside a major department store.

The Pennzoil filter is actually a very nicely constructed filter; manufactured by the same visitor that builds the OEM Motorcraft filter. The internal structure is all metal; including a strong spiral-wound centre core. Filter media is of proficient quality, and at that place's lots of it. The filter features a conventional leap-operated featherbed valve equally well. Unfortunately, the filter just lacks the features required to go the altitude and survive Ford's recommended oil alter intervals. The Penzoil filter would make a good choice for someone on a upkeep, who is looking to change their oil every 5000 km or then.

5th Place: Napa Proselect

Internal structure showing the all-metallic filter element construction; coil spring; thread-end bypass valve; and nitrile anti drain-dorsum valve.

With it's stiff spiral-wound centre core, this filter element looks identical to the Wix filter - only features a lower quality filter media.

Close up of the filter element.

Similar the Motorcraft filter, the Proselect uses a thread-end bypass valve. This one isn't part of the end cap, though, which could cause some leakage past the valve.

Close upward of the bypass valve and inexpensive drain-back valve.

Wholesale price: $3.99
Filter media: Cellulose
Filtration efficiency: 95% of particles to a higher place a whopping 29 microns; xiii gram capacity
Anti drain-dorsum valve: Nitrile
Recommended change interval: 5000 km recommended; 8000 km max
Truly uniform with this vehicle: No

This is an economy filter that usually isn't sold to the public, but only to automotive professionals. (Doesn't that seem kind of backwards?) Many of our local competitors employ these filters, so be sure to ask a few questions before your side by side oil modify. This aforementioned filter is also sold under the Parts Master make in Motorcar Value stores, and as the Wix Pro-Tec in some American chains. It'south really difficult to rank such a nicely-congenital filter below the Fram twins above, but we had to give the nod to Fram'southward amend filter media and silicone anti-drainback valve. While the Proselect features the same loftier-quality structure as the Wix filter, it offers much lower filtration efficiency and uses a inexpensive nitrile anti-drainback valve.

This is a great example of how just because two products roll out of the same factory; that doesn't mean they are of equal quality. The Proselect filter is manufactured by Wix Filtration Corp, who of grade builds the Wix filter above. However, the Proselect filter is manufactured to very different standards; Wix says it traps 50% less dirt than their standard filter, and recommends an oil modify interval of just 5000 km with the Proselect.

sixth Place: Luberfiner

View of the internal parts, showing all of the cheapest possible components have been used. Note the nitrile safety "combo valve" and the fiber/newspaper filter chemical element end caps.

View of the plastic interior cage that supports the filter media. This is a cost-cutting effort but results in a core much weaker than the metal cores in our other filters.

Older versions of these filters had even cheaper plastic cores, and were very prone to filter media accident-outs like this ane. This will let unfiltered oil through the engine.

Newer versions of these filters nevertheless experience like failures. This media blow-out came after only 5100 km of service.

Another shot of the nitrile "combo valve" that serves equally a byass valve and an anti drain-dorsum valve all in 1. These valves are designed for a maximum service life of 5000 km, and in testing accept started losing drain-back function as early on as 4000 km into the oil modify interval.

Shut up of the filter media. This is an innexpensive unmarried layer all-cellulose design.

Defence version of this filter, another make that -perplexingly - is unremarkably only sold to automotive "professionals".

Wholesale cost: $2.01
Filter media: Cellulose
Filtration efficiency: Not published
Anti bleed-back valve: Nitrile
Recommended change interval: 5000 km recommended; 8000 km max
Truly compatible with this vehicle: No

These are the oil filters used by Airdrie's second-busiest quick lube concatenation. They are manufactured past Champion Laboratories simply like our Service Champ filter beneath, and on the inside are basically the same equally that filter. You'll also find the same filter on sale nether the budget Defense brand, typically not sold to the public. (At least Luberfiner lists the right size filter for our 2014 F-150, though. You'll have to go along reading…)

These are an "economic system" filter in every sense of the discussion, with a inexpensive cellulose filter media; fiber/paper filter element finish caps; a plastic muzzle reinforcing the media instead of a metal tube; and a nitrile "combo valve" that doubles as both a featherbed valve and an anti-drainback valve.

We practice not recommend using oil filters similar this unless you have no other option, and the next oil change should be performed no subsequently than 5000 km; regardless of what your oil life monitor indicates.

Last Place: Service Champ

The Service Gnaw filter is much smaller than the others in our comparison. This isn't a good start.

Screenshot of the Service Champ website showing this equally the "correct" filter for our 2014 Ford F-150.

Inside this filter, every possible activity has been taken to reduce costs. Note the cheap filter element with fiber/paper end caps and a plastic core, and the nitrile rubber "combo valve".

A better look at the plastic center core. This does not support the filter element well, and in testing has been shown to allow "blow-outs" or holes to course in the filter media, where unfiltered oil tin laissez passer through.

Older versions of these filters had even cheaper plastic cores, and were very decumbent to filter media blow-outs like this ane. This will let unfiltered oil through the engine.

Newer versions of these filters still experience similar failures. This media blow-out came after but 5100 km of service.

Shut upwardly of the filter element. We didn't even bother measuring the surface expanse of this filter, because information technology is so much lower than the other filters.

Close upwards of the price-saving "philharmonic valve": a bypass valve and anti drain-back valve all in ane. These take not proven reliable or accurate enough for any carmakers to use them in their OEM filters, then we don't use them either.

Service Gnaw filter element vs Wix element. Not only is the Champ filter element much smaller, but its pleats are almost half equally deep equally well. Information technology'southward obvious that the economic system filter won't perform nearly besides every bit the Wix.

Wholesale cost: $1.62
Filter media: Cellulose
Filtration efficiency: Not published
Anti bleed-dorsum valve: Nitrile
Recommended change interval: 5000 km
Truly uniform with this vehicle: Definitely not!

These are the oil filters used by the Airdrie's busiest quick lube concatenation, with ii locations here in town. (Nosotros actually bought this filter from 1 of those locations.) These super-upkeep filters are not for auction to the public, and non available online.

This is an interesting filter to include because it illustrates a mutual lube shop problem that we see all the fourth dimension. Do you notice how much smaller this filter is than the others? This isn't a mistake; it'southward considering some lube shop filters are listed by their thread and gasket size, not by the vehicle. That ways if it volition physically screw onto your vehicle, it gets used; with no consideration to the media size, bypass valve setting, etc. Every bit you lot'll see in the screenshot from the Service Gnaw website, this is really the filter listed to "fit" our 2014 Ford F-150.

On the inside, the Service Champ is very much an economy filter, where every corner has been cut in society to reduce costs. Not only is this filter a poor choice for any oil modify interval longer than 5000 km, just it volition likewise do an inferior job protecting your engine during the time that it is installed. As ane automotive writer recently said, "If y'all don't intendance about your engine, then this is the filter to use."

So, why do all these cheap filters exist?

Nosotros hope yous enjoyed this presentation! It'due south interesting to note that out of the eight filters we purchased, we accept two filters which we'd definitely recommend for this Ford F-150; ii that sort of practise the job; and four that we definitely wouldn't recommend. Why are then many folks in the industry installing these inferior filters, and how do they get away with using a clearly inferior product?

The "why" comes downwards to consumers: Some drivers are concerned importantly with cost, and less concerned nearly quality or the longevity of their vehicle. Other driver's might non realize there's a departure, and haven't learned to ask their shop what kind of oil filter is being installed. We hope this commodity helps with this!

The "how" – every bit in how shops go away with installing an inferior filter – comes down to the fact that engine wear happens slowly over time. Engine wear is invisible to the consumer, and doesn't show itself until years down the road. Information technology'south the difference between your timing chain lasting 250,000 km, or lasting 150,000 km – or your whole engine lasting 500,000 km instead of 300,000 km. By the fourth dimension a failure has happened, the oil filter has been replaced dozens of times and y'all'll never exist able to indicate the finger at a specific part.

Are cheap oil filters truly "Warranty Approved"?

Lots of quick lube shops have a big sign outside maxim their services are warranty canonical for newer vehicles. Usually, that claim comes with a large asterisk. In the case of our F-150 here, your warranty is normally still maintained as long as you change that cheap oil filter every 5000 km, since that'southward all it is designed for. But if you follow the F-150's oil life monitor and change the oil at xv,000 km, you lot're no longer protected. This is why nearly lube shops will install a window sticker with a recommended 5000 km oil change, regardless of the vehicle and its actual requirements. (You can see how information technology might be less expensive in the long run to just purchase a better oil filter!)

The makers of these economy oil filters all offer some sort of guarantee, where they pledge to repair any engine damage that results from use of their filters. However, as we discussed above, engine wear happens slowly and that oil filter is commonly long gone by the time a failure happens. In the event of a more than sudden failure, the guarantee is still mostly meaningless because actually proving what caused an engine failure is next to incommunicable. These companies also know that most consumers will never spend the thousands of dollars to take their engines disassembled on the off chance the filter manufacturer might pay to have it repaired.

As engines get more complex, car manufacturers are starting to intendance a little more about what blazon of oil filter you install on your vehicle. We know of 2 cases, simply within the terminal year and within Airdrie, where a client was denied warranty on their engine considering a depression quality economy oil filter was installed. Is saving a few dollars on your filter worth the run a risk? Nosotros don't remember then.

Exercise you have any questions nearly oil filters; oil changes; or just automobile maintenance in general? Please feel free to call, message or email usa any time – that's what nosotros're hither for! Nosotros'd dear to help.

Is There A Difference In Oil Filters,

Source: http://mygarageairdrie.ca/comparing-economy-vs-quality-oil-filters/

Posted by: smithroadvine.blogspot.com

Share this post