Does Oil Filter Brand Matter

For most of u.s.a., oil filters are probably something we never think about.

Nosotros know that when we modify our engine oil, the oil filter also needs to exist replaced besides. What kind of filter should your mechanic use? Does it even matter? An oil filter is an oil filter, correct? Incorrect! Nowhere else in the automotive parts world practise we see such a range in quality – from the good to the very bad – than nosotros do with oil filters. You might be surprised to know that many and then-chosen automotive "professionals" are installing oil filters which don't even come close to the caliber of your vehicle'south original filter.

Beyond the country, this negligence is costing Canadians hundreds of thousands – maybe even millions – of dollars every yr in the form of excess engine wear and vehicles that deteriorate before they should. How do these second-dabble "mechanics" get away with this? We'll explain that at the cease of this commodity.

Of import internal oil filters components:
one) The filter media is what actually traps dirt and contaminants. It is supported past the end caps and centre support tube.
ii) The bypass valve redirects oil around the oil filter in the event that the filter becomes chock-full.
3) The anti drain-back valve prevents oil draining dorsum into the engine when it is shut off, in order to foreclose dry starts, which are the leading cause of engine wear.

But now, allow's go right to information technology: We wanted to do something totally absurd and cut open 8 of the almost popular oil filters on the market, to show you how they piece of work and the differences betwixt them.

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

To keep things consistent, we purchased all of the filters to fit the aforementioned popular vehicle; a 2014 Ford F-150. Like most mod 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 near 15,000 km, since this blazon of driving is easier on the engine oil. Drivers who exercise by and large short trip and effectually-town driving volition discover their "modify oil" bulletin coming upwardly closer to 6000 km.

Because – like most 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 up until the side by side oil change:

• For any oil modify interval longer than 5000 km, the filter's anti bleed-dorsum valve should be made of silicone instead of cheap nitrile material.
• The internal construction needs to be strong enough to terminal through hundreds of estrus cycles.
• The filter media needs to exist dense and plentiful enough to continue trapping clay through the entire life of the filter, without plugging. In one case the filter is plugged, it volition enter "bypass mode" where it stops filtering your oil. This is when engine habiliment actually starts to take identify quickly!

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

1st Place: Wix (Napa Gilded)

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

Filter element and thick steel base plate.

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

Inside the filter chemical element, showing the spiral-wound steel core and the integral bypass valve.

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

Wholesale toll (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: 6,000 – 16,000 km or i yr
Truly compatible with this vehicle: Yes

Full disclosure: These are the oil filters that we use in our store. For that reason, though, it was reassuring to open up the filter upward and discover such quality on the inside. The filter only impresses when y'all have it apart.

The Wix filter uses the all-time filter media of all the filters in our comparison, capable of trapping the about 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 featherbed valve is all metal too, and looks very good. The anti-drainback valve is made of silicone, and features a robust design. Finally, everything is held together with a metallic coil bound; a blueprint that is by and large considered amend than the steel wave springs plant in most oil filters.

2nd Place: Ford Motorcraft

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

This filter features a thread-end bypass valve. This is becoming more popular just about filters still characteristic a featherbed valve at the other end of the filter.

Some other shot of the filter element. The mucilage job on the Motorcraft filter is a scrap sloppy; we wiped a fair flake of mucilage off the end caps before taking this photo, and at that place'south still some showing.

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

Featherbed valve and silicone anti drain-dorsum valve on the adept quality base plate.

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

This is the OEM (manufactory) filter for this truck, and the filter that all others should exist compared to. It's a very good quality part, every bit you'll see in the photos.

3rd Place: Fram

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

Close up of the filter element; definitely not as strong as our other filters, with less filter material.

This filter uses a cost-saving "philharmonic valve" that combines the anti drain-back valve and bypass valve into one part.

Wholesale cost: $half dozen.12
Filter media: Glass enhanced cellulose
Filtration efficiency: 95% of particles above twenty microns
Anti drain-back valve: Silicone
Recommended change interval: OEM (come across notes beneath)
Truly uniform with this vehicle: Yes, merely non your best option.

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

The construction still isn't keen, though: Fram filter elements still characteristic fiberboard end caps and a lot less filter media than about of the other filters in our comparing. The eye core of the filter is steel, but it's not the potent, seamless design establish in the filters above. Fram states that these filters are designed to last for any manufacturer-specified oil alter interval, and we tin can't really disagree. While this filter does technically check all of the boxes in terms of Ford's requirements for this truck, the in a higher place filters are probably a meliorate selection.

Tie for third: Motomaster

We picked up 1 of Canadian Tire's new Motomaster oil filters for this comparison, simply to notice that they are manufactured by the same company (and are exactly the aforementioned) as the Fram filter. The Motomaster filter is cheaper, though.

quaternary Identify: Pennzoil

Internal construction including the all-metallic filter chemical element; nitrile drain-dorsum valve and leap.

The filter element includes a potent spiral-wound eye core.

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

Bottom side of the filter chemical element showing the unique integrated bypass valve, and the nitrile drain-back valve.

Wholesale cost: $four.12
Filter media: Cellulose
Filtration efficiency: 95% of particles above 20 microns; thirteen gram capacity
Anti bleed-back valve: Nitrile
Recommended modify interval: Up to 8,000 km, 3-6 months
Truly compatible with this vehicle: No

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

The Pennzoil filter is actually a very nicely constructed filter; manufactured by the same company that builds the OEM Motorcraft filter. The internal structure is all metal; including a stiff screw-wound centre core. Filter media is of good quality, and there's lots of it. The filter features a conventional spring-operated bypass valve as well. Unfortunately, the filter just lacks the features required to get the altitude and survive Ford'southward recommended oil change intervals. The Penzoil filter would make a skilful option for someone on a upkeep, who is looking to change their oil every 5000 km or and so.

5th Identify: Napa Proselect

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

With information technology's strong spiral-wound center cadre, this filter element looks identical to the Wix filter - but features a lower quality filter media.

Close up of the filter chemical element.

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

Close up of the bypass valve and cheap bleed-dorsum valve.

Wholesale cost: $iii.99
Filter media: Cellulose
Filtration efficiency: 95% of particles above a whopping 29 microns; 13 gram capacity
Anti drain-back valve: Nitrile
Recommended modify interval: 5000 km recommended; 8000 km max
Truly compatible with this vehicle: No

This is an economy filter that usually isn't sold to the public, but merely to automotive professionals. (Doesn't that seem kind of backwards?) Many of our local competitors utilise these filters, so be sure to ask a few questions earlier your next oil change. This aforementioned filter is as well sold nether the Parts Master brand in Auto Value stores, and every bit the Wix Pro-Tec in some American chains. It'due south really hard to rank such a nicely-built filter below the Fram twins above, but we had to requite the nod to Fram's amend filter media and silicone anti-drainback valve. While the Proselect features the same high-quality structure every bit the Wix filter, information technology offers much lower filtration efficiency and uses a inexpensive nitrile anti-drainback valve.

This is a great example of how merely because two products roll out of the same factory; that doesn't hateful they are of equal quality. The Proselect filter is manufactured by Wix Filtration Corp, who of course builds the Wix filter higher up. Notwithstanding, the Proselect filter is manufactured to very dissimilar standards; Wix says it traps 50% less dirt than their standard filter, and recommends an oil alter interval of simply 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 prophylactic "combo valve" and the cobweb/paper filter 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 blow-outs similar this ane. This volition let unfiltered oil through the engine.

Newer versions of these filters still feel 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 bleed-back valve all in one. These valves are designed for a maximum service life of 5000 km, and in testing accept started losing drain-back function as early as 4000 km into the oil change interval.

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

Defense version of this filter, another make that -perplexingly - is ordinarily just sold to automotive "professionals".

Wholesale cost: $two.01
Filter media: Cellulose
Filtration efficiency: Not published
Anti bleed-back valve: Nitrile
Recommended modify interval: 5000 km recommended; 8000 km max
Truly uniform with this vehicle: No

These are the oil filters used past Airdrie'south 2d-busiest quick lube chain. They are manufactured past Champion Laboratories merely like our Service Champ filter beneath, and on the within are basically the same equally that filter. Yous'll also find the same filter on sale nether the upkeep Defence brand, typically non sold to the public. (At least Luberfiner lists the correct size filter for our 2014 F-150, though. You'll have to keep reading…)

These are an "economic system" filter in every sense of the discussion, with a cheap cellulose filter media; cobweb/newspaper filter element end caps; a plastic cage reinforcing the media instead of a metallic tube; and a nitrile "combo valve" that doubles as both a bypass valve and an anti-drainback valve.

Nosotros do non recommend using oil filters like this unless you lot have no other option, and the next oil change should be performed no later than 5000 km; regardless of what your oil life monitor indicates.

Last Place: Service Gnaw

The Service Champ filter is much smaller than the others in our comparing. This isn't a proficient offset.

Screenshot of the Service Champ website showing this as the "right" 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 terminate caps and a plastic core, and the nitrile rubber "combo valve".

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

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

Newer versions of these filters even so experience similar failures. This media blow-out came after simply 5100 km of service.

Shut up of the filter chemical element. We didn't fifty-fifty bother measuring the surface surface area of this filter, because it is so much lower than the other filters.

Close up of the cost-saving "combo valve": a bypass valve and anti drain-back valve all in one. These accept not proven reliable or authentic enough for any carmakers to use them in their OEM filters, and so we don't use them either.

Service Champ filter element vs Wix element. Not only is the Champ filter element much smaller, but its pleats are most half as deep as well. It's obvious that the economic system filter won't perform nearly as well as the Wix.

Wholesale cost: $1.62
Filter media: Cellulose
Filtration efficiency: Non published
Anti drain-back valve: Nitrile
Recommended modify interval: 5000 km
Truly compatible with this vehicle: Definitely non!

These are the oil filters used by the Airdrie's busiest quick lube chain, with two locations hither in town. (We really bought this filter from one of those locations.) These super-upkeep filters are not for sale to the public, and not bachelor online.

This is an interesting filter to include considering it illustrates a common 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; information technology's because some lube store filters are listed by their thread and gasket size, not by the vehicle. That means if it will physically screw onto your vehicle, it gets used; with no consideration to the media size, featherbed valve setting, etc. Every bit you'll see in the screenshot from the Service Gnaw website, this is actually the filter listed to "fit" our 2014 Ford F-150.

On the within, the Service Champ is very much an economy filter, where every corner has been cutting in club to reduce costs. Not only is this filter a poor pick for any oil change interval longer than 5000 km, but it will likewise practise an inferior chore protecting your engine during the time that it is installed. As ane automotive author recently said, "If you don't care about your engine, and so this is the filter to use."

And so, why do all these cheap filters exist?

Nosotros hope you enjoyed this presentation! It's interesting to annotation that out of the eight filters nosotros purchased, nosotros accept 2 filters which we'd definitely recommend for this Ford F-150; ii that sort of do the job; and 4 that we definitely wouldn't recommend. Why are so many folks in the industry installing these inferior filters, and how do they go away with using a clearly inferior product?

The "why" comes down to consumers: Some drivers are concerned chiefly with price, and less concerned about quality or the longevity of their vehicle. Other driver's might not realize there'due south a difference, and oasis't learned to enquire their shop what kind of oil filter is being installed. We hope this article helps with this!

The "how" – as in how shops get away with installing an inferior filter – comes downwards to the fact that engine habiliment happens slowly over time. Engine wear is invisible to the consumer, and doesn't bear witness itself until years downward the road. It's the divergence betwixt 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 time a failure has happened, the oil filter has been replaced dozens of times and y'all'll never be able to betoken the finger at a specific part.

Are cheap oil filters truly "Warranty Canonical"?

Lots of quick lube shops accept a big sign outside saying their services are warranty approved for newer vehicles. Ordinarily, that merits comes with a big asterisk. In the case of our F-150 hither, your warranty is commonly yet maintained every bit long as yous change that inexpensive oil filter every 5000 km, since that's all it is designed for. Only if you follow the F-150'south oil life monitor and change the oil at 15,000 km, you're no longer protected. This is why most lube shops will install a window sticker with a recommended 5000 km oil change, regardless of the vehicle and its bodily requirements. (You can see how it might exist less expensive in the long run to merely buy a improve oil filter!)

The makers of these economy oil filters all offer some sort of guarantee, where they pledge to repair any engine harm that results from use of their filters. However, as we discussed above, engine wear happens slowly and that oil filter is usually long gone by the time a failure happens. In the consequence of a more sudden failure, the guarantee is all the same more often than not meaningless because actually proving what acquired an engine failure is next to impossible. These companies too know that nigh consumers will never spend the thousands of dollars to accept their engines disassembled on the off take a chance the filter manufacturer might pay to accept it repaired.

Equally engines become more complex, car manufacturers are starting to care a little more near what blazon of oil filter you install on your vehicle. We know of two cases, simply inside the last twelvemonth and within Airdrie, where a customer was denied warranty on their engine because a low quality economy oil filter was installed. Is saving a few dollars on your filter worth the hazard? We don't recall and so.

Practice you have any questions well-nigh oil filters; oil changes; or just car maintenance in general? Please feel gratis to telephone call, message or electronic mail us whatsoever time – that's what nosotros're hither for! We'd love to help.

Does Oil Filter Brand Matter,

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

Posted by: browncritheing.blogspot.com

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