sleeper

I figured it was time to do some investigating into who makes the best oil filter. I based my opinions on filter paper length, bypass valve type, paper quality, and construction.

$30 later I had an assortment of filters ready to give their lives for my cause. Here's the filters my friend and I hacked open for comparison (I'd attach a picture but I haven't figured it out yet).

All filters are tall versions for small block chevys:

Fram (orange)
Purolator (PureOne)
Motomaster (Canadian Tire)
Quaker State
AC Delco - American
AC Delco - Canadian (yes they're different)

Here's what I found:

Fram, Quaker State, and Motomaster were all the same piece of garbage inside. Cardboard end caps in all and only the Fram had a rubber bypass... which seems useless as the soggy cardboard end cap will just deflect under pressure anyway. The casing for all three was thinner than the other three. Paper was slighty longer in the Motomaster thus providing more surface area for the oil to pass through. In my opinion all three of these filters should be avoided.

AC Delco: Both these filters are well made. The Canadian version does not use a rubber bypass, but instead has a metal lip which is supposed to make a seal against the casing. The American version has a rubber bypass which will keep sealing if the paper deforms. Paper length and quality were superior to the three filters mentioned above. I would use either of the Delco filters with the American version having a slight advantage.

Purolator: This was the best filter of the bunch. It had the longest paper (more filter area), as well as the densest, of all the filters. The only thing missing that I would like to have seen was a rubber bypass; however given the good quality metal construction I doubt the spring will lose pressure before 3000 miles.

So that's it... My first pick was the PureOne, followed by the American AC Delco, then the Canadian AC Delco. All the other filters were inferior and I'm horrified to realise that I've used those junk filters on my car.

Hopefully some of you will find this report useful.

tyty49

Thanks for the great information!:lala:

PonyKiller87

Thanks for the comparison, great to know that the delcos Ive been using are as good as I though they are. I have a question though. Has anyone put up the cash to buy one of the new K&N oil filters, and if so how does it rate?

smoke the tires

Thanks for the info. I have been using AC Delco for a while now. I would like to know how the K&N filter works as well. Sleeper that should be your next test..

Let us know

dan

MdFormula350

i recently switched from fram to puralator!!

thx for the info...

Dewey316

been useing purolator pureone since day one

Mark A Shields

If people would listen to Vader or check the tech board, you would already know that Fram is junk and that AC Delco you can't go wrong with.

Nice to see someone took the time to test things out though.

Fast3rdGen

i use an amsoil 4"x 8" oil filter with their 5" x 8" bypass filter. i don't have the data sheets on them as of yet but i think it is good to know after the oil comes out of the bypass filter it is analytically clean.....after 10 minutes of driving just about every last drop of oil has passed through it at least once. meaning: its just like pouring fresh oil in your motor every ten minutes. but it is also good to know that amsoil rates delco filters next highest to their own.

SpeedJunkie

Yup get an Amsoil one and see why they are king!:hail:
I don't care what anyone says AMSOIL ROCKS!!!!:hail:

Jokerman

Hmm i have been useing Wix since i started driveing and have had no problems, any info on these?

Fast3rdGen

on the amsoil chart i think wix is really close to delco

Sciguyjim

Here are a selection of articles I found comparing oil filter brands:

http://subtopics.freeyellow.com/Oil.htm

http://www.frankhunt.com/FRANK/corve...lterstudy.html

http://www.mbmopar.com/Hot_Topics/hot_topics.htm

http://www.89tta.com/oilfilter.htm

http://www.tech2tech.net/library/General/oilfiltr.htm

http://www.shotimes.com/SHO3oilfilter.html

http://www.mr2.com/TEXT/oil_filter_test.html

http://www.forums.vmag.com/suvmonter...ages/1941.html

http://www.fuggup.com/articles/galle...er_failure.htm

vic_V8

they stopped making delco filters months ago, shows how much you guys change oil

unless you bought ahead of time

sleeper

Delco stopped making oil filters?

When?

And if so: What are the dealerships using?

vic_V8

last time i changed my oil, about 3 months ago, I looked at about 3 stores to find delco, but done, i asked my buddy that works at a chevy dealorship, he said they quit making them, its a shame, a inexpensive filter that was one of the best

kevosiroc

I just bought a Delco filter from a Chevy dealership 1 week ago. No way have they stopped making them.

While we are on the subject of oil filters, does anyine have any experience with Mobile1 filters? They are sold at Wal-mart.

Slade1

I tried out the K&N filter recently... still in car with Amsoil running.. been running great with it, checked oil level a few times, nothing much to report cept its normal... we'll see at my next change, I'm due in about 3 weeks for a change.

If the effort put into the K&N air filters was put into their oil filters, then we have ourselves a product worth the coin...

As for delcos I got one just last week... was gonna go back after my stint with K&N...

vic_V8

just cause your dealorship still has some around doesn't mean they still make them, I talked to one chevy dealorship and a autozone both told me the exact same thing, unless they are both miss informed

MuttandJeff

As far as tall versions, did you use the Fram XGard, or the Double Gard? I think the XGard uses a different element than the others.

paulo57509

Isn't there a by-pass valve built into the adapter that the oil filter threads onto? IIRC, the by-pass opens at 5 or 7 psi. Most of the engine oil by-passes the filter and goes unfiltered anyway.

It still isn't an excuse to use a poorly constructed oil filter.

Sciguyjim

According to my research, Mobil 1 and Purolator seem to be the top 2 of the generally available brands. I haven't seen Amsoil's or K&N's compared to them in a good side by side test.

Mark A Shields

If AC Delco is good enough for Vader, it's good enough for me.

kevosiroc

Vic,

I contacted A/C Delco through their website and they told me that they were not aware of the discontinued oil filters. They also said the filters can still be ordered (I posed as a prespective buyer of mass quantities).

REDZ28

I work at a Cadillac dealership and the parts manager told me that they are still making Delco filters!!

Fast3rdGen

i want some of whatever that guy is smoking that said they aren't making delco filters anymore.

vic_V8

well i hope you weren't refering to me

I was told by two different places that they quit making them, and i searched 4 stores and came up with nothing, so based on that i'd say my theory was backed, kevosiroc, thank you for contacting delco, I use their products and was mad that i couldn't get oil filters anymore

monday I'll talk to my local chevy dealorship and tell them that because of them I look like an @ss

Gumby

It hard to beat Mobile 1 in there synthetic brands. but you gotta pay tripple price. 10-12 for a v8 filter. 8-10 for a 4-6. I do beleive they have the best one. That filter and a few magnets and nothing but oil should get through.

Soulrev

Ok here's the deal. I work in an auto parts store, and in fact we just had two salesmen from A/C Delco come out Friday. The deal with Delco is not the fact that they are discontinuing their products, it's the fact they are discontinuing supplying a lot their products to small businesses. This includes Autozone, Advance Auto, etc. Now we're a very small business compared to Autozone and all that, but, we've been doing business with Delco for longer than Autozone and Advance Auto, and our owner had a meeting with those two salesmen about it. I'm not totally sure on Delco's situation but I know they've stopped supplying to a lot of businesses for whatever reason. Mostly because a lot of their p/n's are superceded, etc. etc. etc.

Justins86bird

I used to get my AC filters at KMart. Now they only carry Penzoil and Fram. The Walmart here is also wall to wall fram. Thankfully Autozone has AC.

bigals87z28

i work at strauss auto... and we have sh*t loads of them... i have pure one in my car... thats all i put on.... im glad someone did this test... someone should put that magnetic blanket around one... see if that does anything? aight peace

Sciguyjim

I've been putting magnets on my oil filters for over 10 years, and when I cut open an old filter there's always fine metal stuck to the can by the magnets. I have no way to measure the particle size so I don't know how much would have gotten through the filter, but the magnets do stop quite a bit. I just bought a bunch (8) of the strongest, flat magnets I could find and stick them evenly around the oil filter with their magnetic fields all pointing in the same direction (repelling each other). None have ever shaken off during driving because they are strong enough to hold on. I also have a home made magnetic oil plug 3" long. The stuff it collects is even finer than the stuff in the filter can. I'll always use magnets.

P.S. The use of magnets like this has NOTHING in common with their use on the fuel line, which some people claim changes the fuel so it burns better. That's just plain impossible!

JAY4SPEED

I can second that! I go as far as to put small magnets under my valve covers on the inside. Small enough to not interfere with the valve train but not too small to fall down the oil drainback holes. Ever pull a transmisson pan off a late model car? How about a rear differential cover off a truck? Yup, both have magnets in them that collect metal. Very cheap insurance!

At my dealership we are still buying them by the pallet load. 1000's at a time. You need to find more reliable sources because they are still available. As for it only being available to the larger stores I can't account for but I know they are still in production. Whenever you have warranty work done and part of the repair is to replace the filter, AC Delco goes on your engine every time.

Jay

JAY4SPEED

I agree with your post, there is a bypass valve on the oil filter adapter designed to bypass the filter if it gets clogged. I'm not completely sure if the opening pressure is 7 psi, I thought it to be higher but I don't know for sure. A trick that I did was to remove the piston and spring in that valve. Then I took a pipe tap and threaded the hole and installed a pipe plug. This makes the oil be filtered no matter what and cant be bypassed. This trick was in Hotrod a while back also. The drawbacks are: in cold weather you can't rev the engine untill its fully at operating temperature or risk blowing the filter right off the engine and if the fiter gets clogged by lack of maintenance, you engine can be starved for oil. Why did I do this to my engine? Well for starters my car does not get driven but maybe 6,000 miles a year with oil changes every 3 months religously regardless of mileage. Also I live in the warm south so that cold weather is not as much of a factor. I have had my engine up to 6500 rpm with no problems running this setup. You may want to consider this if your car is not a daily driver. By the way, I exclusivly use AC Delco filters.

P.S. this is not to be confused with anti drainback valves incorporated inside some oil filters

Jay

bigals87z28

ive seen them pre formed for oil filters... where did u get these magnets.. just a local hard ware store? thanks guys!

1bad91Z

iTrader: (1)

Just some info for you guys. AC Delco has not stopped production of oil filters. What you guys are experiencing is AC Delco has stopped and is still in the process of stopping supply orders to local auto-parts stores, wal-marts, and other resellers. All AC Delco parts, if I'm not mistaking, will be available only through GM dealerships (Chevrolet, Pontiac, Cadilac, etc..) However, a company called Delphi (whom I was told manufactures parts for AC Delco) will offer all Delphi replacement parts for all of the AC delco parts no longer available through resellers. All Delphi parts will or should be available at O'reiley's and Autozone, and other former resellers of AC Delco parts and the parts are the exact same as AC Delco (Delphi made them to begin with) now Delco parts will just bare the Delphi name. I've always used AC Delco oil filters in everything I've owned, currently own, and will own. Just my $.02

Mike (1bad91Z)

Sciguyjim

There's a science and hobby supply store in my area called American Science Center, they always have a variety of magnets for sale. Buy them wherever you can, just get the strongest you can find. You might want to take a look at how much space you have around your oil filter to be sure to get magnets that are thin enough to fit around it. The stronger they are, and the more you have, the better they work.

sleeper

FYI... ceramic magnets are one of the strongest you can buy

Does this mean that the cost of Delco filters is going up by multiple dollars? Dealerships are always too expensive... guess I'll have to start buying Purolator...

Gumby

radio shack sells some nice 1/2 thick 2 1/2 in long magnets, kmart use to carry them too.

I put them everywhere, on my oil filter, fuel filter, oil pan, trans pan,rear end cover. between the flex plat and oil pan is a good place. on flat surface they can travel or slide untill they hit something. but they never come off.

old speakers are also a good source for magnets.

TonyC

iTrader: (1)

If you had a magnetic crank trigger setup, throwing a bunch of high powered magnets on the engine probably wouldn't be the best idea.

If the crank is cutting lines of magnetic flux from the oil filter magnets, it will produce a current through the engine, if I'm not mistaken. I don't know if the magnets are powerfull enough to do anything, but it could happen.

To the rescue
-Captain Random

Sciguyjim

Magnetic fields drop off in intensity rapidly according to the inverse square law (at twice the distance, the field will be one fourth as strong.) As long as the magnets are more than 2 or 3 inches away from any electronics they will have no effect. In addition, these magnets are not moving so the local fields are constant and won't induce any currents in any nearby electronics.

1990GTA

I always got my Delco filters at K-mart also, and Delco batteries.I was pissed when they quit carrying them because they were so inexpensive there. I was in there the other day and they must have found some in the back,they were on clearence for $1.88 so I got about 4 of them.When I checked out they rang up $1.00 !!,needless to say,I went back and cleared the shelf.I ended up with about 14 of them.

sub

Magnets, eh? I'll have to get me some of those

87Formula391S/C

iTrader: (1)

ive seen magnet blankets that stick to the underside of the oil pans an the tranny..

Sammy

Sciguyjim

Those can cover a large area, but they are usually quite weak magnets. In addition, they are usually made of some kind of rubberized material for flexibility so they cannot be exposed to the hot oil or trans fluid and must be put on the outside of the pans which will further reduce the strength of the field inside the pans.

sub

So ... where would I be able to find a magnet like this with decent strength?

Sciguyjim

A good source of misc science equipment for hobbyists is:

http://www.scientificsonline.com/

(or: http://www.edmundscientific.com/ ) (it's the same company)

You can also have them mail you their free catalog of stuff.

sub

Thanks a bunch :hail:

iroc22

The Motomaster filters are made by Fram, and are supposedly the same filter as the basic orange Fram filter.

sleeper

actually... there was more filter area in the Motomaster than there was in the Fram

iroc22

I guess just because they're made by the same company doesn't mean that they're the same physically.