Who Makes Fram Oil Filters

Engine Oil Filter Study �� BY: Russ W. Knize . �

Warning!

These pages are NOT to be taken as gospel. The main motivation behind this study was to provide data nearly what oil filter brands are made by which manufacturers. The secondary motivation was to uncover some of the obvious internal structure problems of these manufacturers. This "written report" is not a "test". The SAE J806 and J1858 tests were designed to test the filtration capability of these filters, merely unfortunately they have several short comings. These include issues such as anti-drainback valve functionality (valve train racket, etc.), filter element containment adequacy (how long earlier it blocks and bypasses--related to surface area), and many testimonials that appear to point in the direction of certain manufacturers. Information technology has been my hope to shed some lite in the management of these problems. While my infamous "two eyes and mutual sense" approach may not be the almost scientific, information technology is the all-time I could do because in that location was no personal render on the investment of fourth dimension and money I put into it.

The primary shortcoming of this study is the pocket-sized sampling size. I only tested the Ford five.0L filter. It has come up to my attention that some brand names use different manufacturers for unlike applications. Another shortcoming is the lack of testing of the filter element media itself. Unfortunately I have neither the time nor resources to practice this.

I invite anyone with the ways to have a larger sampling size and conduct a more than complete study, which may include private SAE tests. I also invite anyone to repeat a study similar to this one on other model filters.

With all of that said, please make your own judgements. Use this study but as a source of some information that may requite you a better idea well-nigh which filter brands to steer clear from. It should be obvious that some manufacturers are not being honest almost their product. The next time you buy a filter for your car, buy two and hack one open to see what you have. My intent was to give you some information and alert you to some trivial-known issues, not to tell you what to call back.

Description

One weekend I set out to every auto parts store in my expanse and bought every brand of oil filter I could find.� I chose to go the filter for the early Ford 5.0L V8 engine.� The reason is that this is a popular filter, it is large so that I tin can unveil any fake miniature internal components.�� I was able to find twenty different filters spanning several brand names.� They are (in alphabetical social club):

Air conditioning Delco Duraguard PF2 ��

Air conditioning Delco Duraguard PF2L

AMSOIL SDF15

Car And Commuter SF-1A

Champ

Deutsch D539

Deutsch D545

Fram Extra Guard PH8A

Fram Tough Guard TG8A

Fram Double Guard DG8A

Hard Driver HD01

Mobil 1 M1-301

Motorcraft FL-1A

NAPA Gold 1515

Penzoil PZ-one

PowerFlo SL30001

ProLine PPL-30001

Purolator Premium Plus L30001

Purolator Premium Plus L390001

Purolator Pure 1 PL30001

Quaker State Q58A

STP S-01

Wix 51515

Disassembly and Measurements

Basically, I cut open each filter on a lathe and took measurements of many of their attributes.� Only cut them open revealed some very interesting (and agonizing) data.

The sections below detail each of the filters I tested.� A summary of the measurements I took can exist found in a table for each.� I noticed that other filter function numbers for the same make were designed a bit differently.� This is probably because of the shape of the can and the requirements for that engine.� Here is a clarification of each table entry:

�

Boilerplate Retail Cost	The boilerplate of all the retail prices I found for this filter (to the nearest $0.l)
Cartridge Length	The length of the filter cartridge, including end caps
Cartridge Exterior Bore	The outside diameter of the filter cartridge element pleats
Cartridge Inside Diameter	The inside diameter of the filter cartridge inside support tube
Cartridge Pleats	The number of pleats (or folds) in the chemical element while in the cartridge
Cartridge End Cap Type	The type of material used to construct the terminate caps
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	The valve pattern and construction fabric
Featherbed Valve Blazon	The valve blueprint and construction material
Element Type	The type of material used to construct the filter element and the seam seal
Chemical element Length	The overall length of the element when removed from the cartridge and stretched out
Element Width	The width of the stretched-out element
Element Surface Surface area	The calculated surface expanse of the cartridge using the above ii values
Beat out Thickness	The thickness of the metal used to construct the filter's beat out
Backplate Thickness	The thickness of the metal used to construct the filter'due south backplate
Gasket Type	The type of material used to construct the backplate sealing gasket (O-ring)
Hydrostatic Burst Force per unit area	The amount of pressure that the filter case tin can withstand for a brusque duration without failure.
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Meet the SAE Tests section for more than details on this test.
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	See the SAE Tests department for more details on this test.

The construction of the anti-drainback and bypass valves is an important feature.� Many are made of nitrile rubber.� Every bit long as they take expert sealing surfaces, they generally piece of work fine.� However, nitrile condom gets stiff in farthermost cold and will likely fail to seal in those conditions.� Silicone rubber seals or steel valves are not prone to this.� Many bypass valves are spring-loaded steel and work well.� Some are bound-loaded plastic and are often not molded well enough to make a decent seal, allowing oil to leak past them.

Probably the well-nigh of import value hither is the element surface area.� This determines the amount of filter media that is available to trap particles.� The smaller the expanse, the sooner the filter volition become plugged and will end up bypassing much of the oil instead of filtering it.� More pleats in the element does not necessarily hateful more expanse (as yous will soon see).� In fact, too many pleats can end up restricting the flow likewise much because there is non enough infinite between them to allow oil to catamenia.

The vanquish and backplate thickness are only relevant if your engine�s oil system operates at unusually high pressures.� Even the cheapest filters have to be potent enough for stock oiling systems, or they will not laissez passer SAE tests.

The SAE filtration efficiency tests are from the manufactures, and are only available for the filters I could find the information for.

Other measurements and values are debatable and I will allow you to draw your own conclusions from them.

�

SAE Tests

All filters have to pass SAE (Lodge of Automotive Engineers) tests to evidence that they tin truly filter out small enough particles.� There are two tests available for automobile engine oil filters.� All filters must pass the J806 exam, just the new J1858 is much more meaningful.� Currently the J1858 test is optional.� Really, information technology's a style for high-finish filter manufacturers to show off their groovy filters.

The SAE J806 test uses a single-pass test, checking for contaminant belongings capacity, size of contaminant particles trapped, and ability to maintain clean oil.� Every bit an amendment of the J806 test, the multi-pass exam as well looks for filter life in hours, contaminant capacity in grams, and efficiency based on weight.� The efficiency of the filter is determined only by weight through gravimetric measurement of the filtered examination liquid.� Typical numbers for paper filter elements are 85% (single pass) and lxxx% (multi-pass).

The SAE J1858 examination provides both particle counting and gravimetric measurement to measure filter capacity and efficiency.� Actual counts of contaminant particles by size are obtained every 10 minutes, both upstream (before the filter) and downstream (after the filter), for evaluation. From this data filtration ratio and efficiency for each contaminant particle size can be adamant as well as dust capacity and pressure loss as a office of fourth dimension.� Typical numbers for newspaper chemical element filters are 40% at 10 microns, 60% at xx microns, 93% at 30 microns, and 97% at 40 microns.

�

AC Delco

Duraguard PF2

Some years ago, a study was done on oil filters that uncovered the Fram filter farce.� They named Air conditioning Delco�due south filter to be one of the better models.� Later, Air-conditioning Delco changed their blueprint and went to a cheaper setup made by an offshore manufacturer.� Notwithstanding, I definitely recommend this filter over the design of any Fram filter.� In fact, I even recommend it over the low-end Wix and I (personally) prefer it over the Purolators.

The filter cartridge has a large outside diameter with deep pleats, which gives the filter chemical element the maximum flow possible.� At get-go glance, information technology appears to have little filter chemical element media, only the surface area measure was suprising: 315 sqin.� The unit had a solid summit end cap considering the bypass valve is at the bottom, which is a well-constructed jump-loaded steel with a nitrile seal design.� The nitrile rubber diaphram-type anti-drainback valve doubles as the seal between the bypass valve and the cartridge.� The only drawback to this design is that the bypass valve seats metal-to-metallic confronting the backplate.� This could allow oil from the clean side of the filter to seep dorsum into the oil pan, simply it won't permit the dirty oil in the filter to seep back.� Oil that is in the main gallery usually leaks out through the main bearings anyway while the engine sits.� This is a better culling to the loftier-terminate Wix, which can allow oil to seep from the muddy side of the filter to the clean side.

The telltale signs for an Air conditioning Delco filter are:� 5 large holes for the oil inlet and 6 spot welds on the rim surrounding them.� There are no crimps holding the gasket in place.� When you look through the inlet holes, you lot can see the metal bypass valve with its 12 small holes and the black anti-drainback valve diaphram around it.� Through the eye outlet hole, you can run into the spring for the bypass valve.

Exploded view:

� ��

�

Average Retail Toll	$three
Cartridge Length	4.625 inches
Cartridge Outside Diameter	3.375 inches
Cartridge Inside Diameter	1.375 inches
Cartridge Pleats	36
Cartridge End Cap Type	Stamped steel
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	Nitrile safety diaphragm
Bypass Valve Type	Jump-loaded steel
Element Type	Newspaper media, glued seam
Element Length	70.0 inches
Chemical element Width	iv.500 inches
Element Surface Surface area	315 square inches
Shell Thickness	0.015 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.100 inches
Gasket Type	Nitrile prophylactic
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure level	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

Car And Driver

SF-1A

This filter is a Champion filter with the i-slice filter cartridge and the fragile paper filter element.

�

Average Retail Price	$3
Cartridge Length	iv.000 inches
Cartridge Outside Bore	3.250 inches
Cartridge Inside Diameter	i.625 inches
Cartridge Pleats	54
Cartridge Finish Cap Type	Stamped-steel, with featherbed valve
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	Nitrile rubber diaphragm
Bypass Valve Type	Spring-loaded steel, nitrile seal
Chemical element Blazon	Paper media, glued seam
Element Length	87 inches
Element Width	three.875 inches
Element Surface Expanse	337 square inches
Shell Thickness	0.012 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.102 inches
Gasket Type	Nitrile prophylactic
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

Champ

This filter is manufactured past Champion Laboratories, Inc. (same guys who brand the spark plugs), and is sold under several other brand names.� Champion admits some of these outright, and they are: Lee, Lee Maxi, and STP.� Though they claim the Lee Maxi is a higher quality filter, they make no claims as to why.� Information technology sounds more like a marketing scheme to me.

The Champion design has metal end caps on the filter cartridge, with the featherbed valve stamped right into the bottom cease cap like the Purolator.� I refer to this as a one-piece filter cartridge.

Though definitely non the same pattern as the Purolator, it does employ the same type of leafage-spring-blazon spacer at the acme of the cartridge and the nitrile anti-drainback valve, which doubles every bit the cartridge-to-backplate seal, at the lesser.� The drawback to this one-piece cartridge is the rather fragile filter chemical element newspaper media.� It is a sparse, brittle newspaper that rips adequately easily.� Information technology was hard to detach these cartridges without destroying the filter element.� I other issue is that I sometimes noticed some rust on the backplate of these filters.� Since the rust is usually around past the inlet holes, any loose rust would be caught past the filter.

The telltale signs for a Champion filter are: 6 large holes for the oil inlet, one of which is larger than the others.� Only the black anti-drainback valve can exist seen through the inlet holes.� There are vi large crimps holding the gasket in place.� Through the heart outlet pigsty, you lot can see the featherbed valve spring.� Usually, the backplate metal is dull, or even rusty.

Deutsch

D539

This filter is a Champion filter with the jumpsuit filter cartridge and the frail paper filter element.

� �

Average Retail Cost	$3
Cartridge Length	iv.000 inches
Cartridge Outside Bore	3.250 inches
Cartridge Inside Diameter	ane.625 inches
Cartridge Pleats	55
Cartridge End Cap Type	Stamped-steel, with featherbed valve
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	Nitrile safety diaphragm
Bypass Valve Blazon	Spring-loaded steel, nitrile seal
Element Type	Paper media, glued seam
Element Length	88.v inches
Chemical element Width	3.875 inches
Chemical element Surface area	343 square inches
Beat out Thickness	0.012 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.102 inches
Gasket Type	Nitrile safety
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

Fram

Years ago Fram was a quality filter manufacturer.� Now their standard filter (the radioactive-orange cans) is one of the worst out there.� These filters are manufactured past Centrolineal Indicate, Inc.� Please practise not purchase these filters.� By boycotting it, we may be able to cause some change.� I have personally had i if these filters fail and actually cause engine harm due to bits of newspaper and mucilage floating around in the engine.

For some within dirt on Fram filters, see this email from an Allied Betoken production engineer.

Fram Actress Guard PH8A

This filter cartridge has a small outside diameter with a rather depression filter element expanse (193 sqin), and features cardboard end caps that are glued in place.� The rubber anti-drainback valve seals confronting the cardboard and easily leaks, causing dirty oil to bleed back into the pan. � If you have a noisy valve train at startup, this filter is likely the cause.� The featherbed valves are plastic and are sometimes not molded correctly, which allows them to leak all the time, but they oft leak anyhow.� The backplate has smaller and fewer oil inlet holes, which may restrict flow, and is fabricated of thin material.

The telltale signs for a Fram Extra Guard are: It has 8 small holes for the oil inlet and a thin, inexpensive-looking backplate, and is currently stamped with a �2Y�.� At that place are five very modest crimps holding the gasket in place.� If you look into the center pigsty all the style to the elevation of the filter, you volition run across a kind of �push button� in the cease cap of the cartridge (which looks like it'southward made of metallic from there).� This is the plastic bypass valve.

Exploded view:

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�Average Retail Cost	$3
Cartridge Length	four.125 inches
Cartridge Outside Diameter	3.000 inches
Cartridge Inside Bore	1.375 inches
Cartridge Pleats	34
Cartridge Terminate Cap Blazon	Cardboard
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	Nitrile rubber diaphragm
Featherbed Valve Blazon	Jump-loaded plastic
Element Blazon	Newspaper media, stamped metal seam
Element Length	47.5 inches
Chemical element Width	4.063 inches
Element Area	193 square inches
Shell Thickness	0.015 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.089 inches
Gasket Type	Nitrile condom
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

Fram Tough Baby-sit TG8A

Even with all the bug of the other Fram filters, this one is not likewise bad.� Aside from the filter cartridge, information technology is a very good design.� Too bad Fram can�t go passed the cardboard terminate caps.

It has an improved filter chemical element with more surface surface area (248 sqin), a heavy silicone anti-drainback valve with a good sealing surface, the same plastic pressure relief valve but with an integral screen to continue out large particles, and enough inlet holes for good flow.� The but real drawback to this filter is that information technology is capped on each finish with cardboard instead of metallic.

The telltale signs for a Fram Tough Guard filter are:� It has a better backplate that is usually shiny, with six larger holes for the inlet and 6 spot welds around the them.� There are six large crimps holding the gasket in identify.� When yous look through the inlet holes, you can run into the orangish anti-drainback valve.� If you look into the center hole all the fashion to the top of the filter, you lot will run into a kind of �button� in the cease cap of the cartridge (which looks like information technology's made of metal from there).� This is the plastic featherbed valve.��

Average Retail Cost	$5
Cartridge Length	four.125 inches
Cartridge Exterior Diameter	3.000 inches
Cartridge Inside Diameter	1.625 inches
Cartridge Pleats	l
Cartridge Finish Cap Type	Cardboard
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	Silicone rubber diaphragm
Bypass Valve Type	Spring-loaded plastic with integral screen
Element Blazon	Newspaper media, stamped metallic seam
Chemical element Length	61.0 inches
Chemical element Width	4.063 inches
Chemical element Surface Area	248 square inches
Shell Thickness	0.015 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.187 inches
Gasket Blazon	Nitrile rubber, PTFE-treated
Hydrostatic Flare-up Pressure	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

�

Far Left: extra guard cartridge. � Left: Double Guard.� Right: Tough Guard

Fram Double Guard DG8A

This is a frustrating filter.� Please exercise not buy it.� It is i of the most expensive filters yous can buy and it is junk.� Inside is a basic Fram Extra Guard (PH8A) filter element that has larger diameter

holes at the end and has been pre-oiled.� You can encounter this in the picture above (far left).� I presume this is to agree the Teflon particles in the filter element before the unit is installed.� Don�t put Teflon in your engine.� Information technology does not belong there!� DuPont does non recommend using their Teflon product in internal combustion engines.

Although information technology has the worst filter element possible (193 sqin), it does accept a clever leap-loaded nitrile safety anti-drainback valve and bypass valve combination.� Besides bad the rest of the filter is worthless.� Delight don�t buy this filter!

The telltale signs for a Fram Tough Guard filter are:� It has a meliorate backplate that is unremarkably shiny, with six larger holes for the inlet and 6 spot welds around the them.� The backplate should be

stamped with a �1K�.� There are 6 large crimps holding the gasket in place.� The anti-drainback valve diaphram behind the inlet holes is black.� If you lot expect into the middle hole all the way to the meridian

of the filter, you volition non come across the �push� in the end cap of the cartridge (which looks like it�due south fabricated of metallic from there).

� �

Average Retail Cost	$10
Cartridge Length	4.125 inches
Cartridge Outside Bore	three.000 inches
Cartridge Within Bore	i.625 inches
Cartridge Pleats	38
Cartridge Stop Cap Type	Cardboard
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	Nitrile safe diaphragm
Bypass Valve Blazon	Nitrile rubber, integral
Chemical element Blazon	Paper media, stamped metal seam
Chemical element Length	47.five inches
Element Width	iv.063 inches
Element Surface Area	193 foursquare inches
Trounce Thickness	0.015 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.187 inches
Gasket Type	Nitrile rubber
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

Mobil i

M1-301

Similar the Champion, this filter is made by Champion Industries.� Yet, it uses a unique cease plate and a thicker can that brand it the strongest filter available for broad-distribution retail sale.� It likewise does non employ the fragile newspaper media of the Champion filter.� I�chiliad happy to say that this filter is NOT a fake.� It is definitely a unique blueprint.

It uses a synthetic fiber element that can filter out very small particles and is much stronger than the frail, Champion paper media.� It is rated simply under the Purolator Pure One as far as filtering capability, but is still very much in a higher place conventional paper filters.� It also has a very strong construction to withstand loftier-pressure spikes during kickoff-up.� Given the selection between the Purolator Pure I and the Mobil 1 filters, I would choose the Mobil i because of the restriction concerns of the Pure 1 and that pesky assembly string.� Nonetheless, every bit with all Mobil one products, await to pay 2 - 3 times as much for this filter.

Exploded view:

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Average Retail Price	$ten
Cartridge Length	4.250 inches
Cartridge Outside Diameter	3.250 inches
Cartridge Inside Diameter	1.625 inches
Cartridge Pleats	52
Cartridge End Cap Blazon	Stamped-steel, with bypass valve
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	Nitrile rubber diaphragm
Bypass Valve Type	Spring-loaded steel, nitrile seal
Element Type	Synthetic media, glued seam
Chemical element Length	85 inches
Element Width	4.125 inches
Element Surface Expanse	351 square inches
Trounce Thickness	0.022 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.138 inches
Gasket Type	Nitrile condom
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure	600 psi
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Single pass: 98% Multiple pass: 95%
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

Motorcraft

Long Lasting FL-1A

This is an interesting filter.� Basically, information technology is a Purolator Pure One filter cartridge in a Purolator Premium Plus instance.� Don�t be fooled by the differently-shaped holes cut into the oil inlet.� This is the merely difference.� This is a good filter blueprint and if you desire to become a Purolator Pure Ane filter, get this ane instead: it is cheaper.

Like the Purolator Pure One, this filter cartridge features a very big element surface expanse (400 sqin), but with many pleats (64).� This packs the filter together rather tightly and may restrict menstruum somewhat.� I could identify the Pure I element media by a purple dye they use at the seam.� Information technology also has the mysterious associates string wrapped effectually the exterior of the element.� Like the Purolators, information technology features a spring-loaded metal featherbed valve and a nitrile rubber diaphram-type anti-drainback valve.� The bypass valve is stamped right into the bottom end cap of the cartridge, so it is all one slice.

This data is taken from the Purolator specs and are non from Motorcraft:��

Average Retail Price	$iii
Cartridge Length	4.125 inches
Cartridge Outside Diameter	3.250 inches
Cartridge Within Diameter	one.625 inches
Cartridge Pleats	64
Cartridge End Cap Type	Stamped-steel, with bypass valve
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	Nitrile prophylactic diaphragm
Bypass Valve Type	Spring-loaded steel
Element Type	Paper media, stamped metal seam
Chemical element Length	100.0 inches
Element Width	4.000 inches
Element Surface Surface area	400 square inches
Shell Thickness	0.011 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.120 inches
Gasket Type	Nitrile condom
Hydrostatic Burst Force per unit area	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unmarried pass: 99.seven% Multiple laissez passer: 96%
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

NAPA

1515 Gilded

This filter is a Wix filter with the two-piece filter cartridge.� As with the Wix filter, the metal bypass valve seats on the metal cartridge end cap with no gasket of any kind.� Some small amount of oil probably leaks through in that location.� It besides has the tougher paper filter media of the Wix.��

�

Average Retail Toll	$5
Cartridge Length	4.000 inches
Cartridge Outside Diameter	three.250 inches
Cartridge Inside Diameter	1.625 inches
Cartridge Pleats	59
Cartridge End Cap Type	Stamped-steel
Anti-Drainback Valve Blazon	Nitrile rubber diaphragm
Featherbed Valve Type	Spring-loaded steel, nitrile seal
Element Type	Paper media, glued seam
Element Length	87 inches
Element Width	three.875 inches
Chemical element Surface Expanse	337 square inches
Shell Thickness	0.014 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.104 inches
Gasket Type	Nitrile rubber
Hydrostatic Outburst Pressure	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

51515 Silverish

This filter is a champion filter with the jumpsuit filter cartridge.� As with the other Champion filters, it has the fragile paper media for a filter chemical element.� This is based off of my observation of the filter�s case.� I did non buy this filter to tear downwards, simply may practice so in the future.

Penzoil

PZ-1

This filter was a large disappointment, but I knew what I was in for the moment I took information technology out of the box.� Information technology is a Fram Actress Guard (PH8A) in every way, shape, and form.� The just difference is the yellow pigment and Penzoil logo.� As with the Fram, please do non buy this filter.� Penzoil is insulting their ain name by putting it on this filter, just apparently they are not interested in selling a quality unit of measurement.

All the measurements were exactly the same as the Fram Extra Guard PH8A.

� �

Average Retail Price	$2
Cartridge Length	four.125 inches
Cartridge Outside Diameter	three.000 inches
Cartridge Inside Diameter	1.375 inches
Cartridge Pleats	34
Cartridge End Cap Type	Cardboard
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	Nitrile rubber diaphragm
Bypass Valve Type	Spring-loaded plastic
Element Type	Paper media, stamped metallic seam
Chemical element Length	47.5 inches
Element Width	4.063 inches
Element Expanse	193 square inches
Crush Thickness	0.015 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.089 inches
Gasket Type	Nitrile prophylactic
Hydrostatic Burst Force per unit area	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

PowerFlo

SL30001

Equally y'all may suspect by the part number, this filter is a Purolator Premium Plus.� In that location were no manufacturing differences, but the cost was an average of $2 instead of $three.

�

ProLine

PPL-30001

Yet another Purolator Premium Plus.� All measurements were the aforementioned.� The price was $2.� One matter I noticed with this detail example was that the mysterious assembly cord was tied as well tight and had damaged the filter chemical element.� Although only this one had the trouble, I am suspicious of this filter design as a whole (including all of the Purolators).

� �<- With String - String Removed ->�

As you lot may be able to tell, the cord did not rip into the filter element, it merely crushed it.� At that place was no show that the element had been compromised.� Out of the 8 Purolators (and clones) tested, this was the but one with a problem.

�

Purolator

Premium Plus L30001

� ��

Left to Right: Motorcraft, Purolator Pure One, Purolator Premium Plus

Here is a fairly well designed filter, specially for the price.� One odd matter almost Purolator�south filters is a string that is always wrapped around the filter element.� I presume that this is there to hold the element in place while the glue in the terminate caps cures.� Of all the Purolator-based filter I tested, there was one (the ProLine) that had filter chemical element damage from this string.� Although it was i of five tested, I am weary of this design.� Even though the element was crushed a scrap, it was not ripped.� I will take autonomously a used one at my adjacent oil change.

The filter cartridge has an impressive area of 316 sqin, which is very close to the AC Delco Duraguard.� The difference is that Purolator's filter chemical element is compressed into more pleats (51) than the AC Delco.� This may restrict menstruum somewhat, but not as much in this model than the Pure One.� It features a jump-loaded metal bypass valve and a nitrile rubber diaphram-type anti-drainback valve, which doubles as the seal between the backplate and the cartridge.� Like the Champion, this bypass valve is stamped right into the bottom stop cap of the cartridge, so information technology is all 1 piece.

The telltale sign for a Purolator filter are: 8 medium-sized holes for the oil inlet and zilch simply a black (or orange for the Pure One) diaphram to exist seen through them.� There are half-dozen large crimps holding the gasket in place.� Through the center outlet hole, you tin can come across the spring for the bypass valve.

Exploded view:

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Average Retail Price	$3
Cartridge Length	4.125 inches
Cartridge Outside Diameter	3.250 inches
Cartridge Inside Diameter	ane.625 inches
Cartridge Pleats	51
Cartridge Cease Cap Type	Stamped-steel
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	Nitrile prophylactic diaphragm
Featherbed Valve Blazon	Spring-loaded steel
Element Type	Newspaper media, stamped metallic seam
Element Length	79.0 inches
Element Width	iv.000 inches
Chemical element Area	316 square inches
Beat Thickness	0.011 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.115 inches
Gasket Blazon	Nitrile rubber
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

Pure I PL30001

This filter has a few improvements over the Premium Plus.� Information technology has a denser filter media to filter out smaller particles and more expanse to brand upward for the flow restriction.� Aside from those the cartridge is the same construction as the Premium Plus.

The filter cartridge has an even more impressive expanse of 400 sqin.� The potential issue is that this filter element is compressed into even more pleats (64) than the Premium Plus.� This may restrict menstruum more than it helps salvage it.� It also features a bound-loaded metal bypass valve and a silicone prophylactic diaphram-type anti-drainback valve, which doubles equally the seal between the backplate and the cartridge.� The bypass valve is located at the base of operations of the cartridge, not at the top.��

Average Retail Toll	$five
Cartridge Length	4.125 inches
Cartridge Outside Diameter	three.250 inches
Cartridge Inside Diameter	ane.625 inches
Cartridge Pleats	64
Cartridge Finish Cap Type	Stamped-steel
Anti-Drainback Valve Blazon	Silicone rubber diaphragm
Bypass Valve Type	Bound-loaded steel
Element Blazon	Paper media, stamped metallic seam
Element Length	100.0 inches
Element Width	4.000 inches
Chemical element Surface Area	400 square inches
Shell Thickness	0.011 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.115 inches
Gasket Blazon	Nitrile prophylactic, PTFE-treated
Hydrostatic Flare-up Pressure level	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unmarried pass: 99.7% Multiple pass: 96%
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

Quaker State

QS8A

Yet another Purolator Premium Plus.� Who are these people fooling?� Price was a flake over $ii.� If y'all like Purolators and yous like the color green, buy this filter.

STP

South-01

This filter is the Champion Industries filter with the one-piece filter cartridge and the fragile paper chemical element.

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Boilerplate Retail Toll	$3
Cartridge Length	4.000 inches
Cartridge Outside Diameter	3.250 inches
Cartridge Inside Diameter	ane.625 inches
Cartridge Pleats	58
Cartridge Cease Cap Type	Stamped-steel, with featherbed valve
Anti-Drainback Valve Type	Nitrile rubber diaphragm
Bypass Valve Type	Spring-loaded steel, nitrile seal
Element Type	Paper media, glued seam
Chemical element Length	93 inches
Chemical element Width	3.875 inches
Element Surface Area	360 square inches
Beat Thickness	0.012 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.102 inches
Gasket Type	Nitrile rubber
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure level	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

Wix

These filters are manufactured past the Dana corporation, who also manufactures all of the Wix clones.� These include NAPA and many OEM filters.

NOTE: This section of the folio was incorrect in regards to the �low-cease� and �high-end� Wix concept.� What I thought was a �low-terminate� Wix is really manufactured past Champion Industries.� My thanks to those who pointed this out to me. � If you see whatever remaining references to low-stop and high-end Wix filters, let me know.� Hopefully I constitute them all.

This filter has metallic cartridge stop caps, just has a separate featherbed valve that rests against the bottom end cap, like the AC Delco.� I refer to this as a two-piece filter cartridge.� Similar the Champion, it uses an anti-drainback valve that doubles equally the featherbed valve-to-backplate seal.� Instead of the foliage-spring-blazon spacer that most filters utilize, these utilize a potent coil leap at the top of the cartridge.� Like the Purolator, the filter element paper media is stronger than the Champion media.� The only drawback to this design is that the bypass valve seats metal-to-metal against the lesser cartridge end plate.� This could allow dirty oil to seep from the dirty side to the clean side of the filter, bypassing the element.� The pattern volition not allow oil to seep dorsum into the pan, though.

The telltale signs for a Wix are: vi large holes for the oil inlet with only the blackness anti-drainback valve to exist seen through them.� There are half-dozen �notches� that concur the gasket in identify.� Through the heart outlet pigsty, you lot can encounter the featherbed valve spring.� Normally the backplate metallic is shiny.

51515

This filter features a good area, but a lot of shallower pleats.� This makes it similar to the Purolator�due south pleats.

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Average Retail Price	$5
Cartridge Length	four.000 inches
Cartridge Outside Diameter	3.250 inches
Cartridge Inside Diameter	one.625 inches
Cartridge Pleats	61
Cartridge End Cap Type	Stamped-steel
Anti-Drainback Valve Blazon	Nitrile prophylactic diaphragm
Bypass Valve Type	Bound-loaded steel, nitrile seal
Chemical element Type	Paper media, glued seam
Element Length	90 inches
Chemical element Width	three.875 inches
Element Surface Surface area	349 foursquare inches
Shell Thickness	0.014 inches
Backplate Thickness	0.104 inches
Gasket Type	Nitrile rubber
Hydrostatic Outburst Pressure	Unknown
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency	Unknown

Conclusions

All of this information tin can be a bit overwhelming.� When it comes downwards to it, all of the lower-priced filters ($v or below) have they ups and downs.� In reality, at that place are only 5 different manufacturers available.� Here are the depression-toll filters that I feel safe using, based on all this data (in alphabetical social club): AC Delco, Purolator, and Wix.� Here are my reasons for each:

I like the deep pleats of the Ac Delco�due south filter chemical element and the fact that it is non weak like the Champion.� I also like the way that the anti-drainback valve diaphram makes a positive seal to the filter cartridge and to the bypass valve, which sort of �snaps� into the diaphram.� The fact that the featherbed valve seats against the backplate metal-to-metal is not a big bargain.� It probably doesn�t leak anyway, but if it does, only make clean oil can get back into the pan.� In case you oasis�t noticed, I like this filter.� :-)� It is the best filter that you lot tin buy for $3.

The Purolator is a very solid design.� It seems to take the toughest paper filter element of them all and the bypass valve is built right into the cartridge.� There are no internal sealing issues with this filter at all.� I wish the inner bore of the cartridge was smaller so that the pleats could be fewer and deeper.� The Premium Plus version looks like it flows fine, merely the Pure I or Motorcraft versions seem to be packed a bit too tightly.� That assembly string nonetheless bothers me somewhat, but not enough to avoid these well-made filters completely.� My� �88 Shadow ES (every bit of 2/24/99) has a Purolator Premium Plus in it right now.� I plan to cut it open up and see how information technology holds up at the next oil change.

I don�t care for the Champion filters.� The filter elements are fashion also fragile to give me much confidence in them.� That, along with the rusty backplates, makes me shy abroad from them.� Some decent filter material and a little oil used during assembly would brand this into a fine filter.� Like the Purolator, I like how the featherbed valve is congenital right into the filter cartridge.� This filter has no internal sealing problems, either.� Fifty-fifty then, I won�t be using them.

The Wix filter is a very well made filter.� My praise goes to Dana for putting some effort into it.� Aside from existence a stronger case, it likewise uses a much amend filter chemical element (about the same as the Ac Delco).� Similar the Air-conditioning Delco, it also has a minor internal sealing trouble.� In this case, the featherbed valve has a metal-to-metal seal to the filter cartridge.� Information technology probably doesn�t actually leak either, simply if information technology did, dingy oil could get to the clean side of the filter.� Otherwise it is a good filter. Given the choice between the Wix and the Air conditioning Delco at the aforementioned cost, I'd pick 1 while blind-folded. Nonetheless, the Wix is about twice the price, so...

If money is no object, I would go with the Mobil 1.� Although it has Champion internals, it has a actually tough constructed fiber filter element, which is the Champion�s just major downfall.� The element is stronger and thicker than the Purolator, merely they claim that it flows but every bit adept as newspaper.� As with the other low-end Wix filters, it has no internal sealing issues.� The $10 price tag is a bit steep, but it is the best filter you can buy retail.� Sentry for �Mobil 1 Oil Change� sales, which includes five quarts of Mobil 1 synthetic oil and a Mobil i filter.� Granted, there are probably better filters available through mail order, simply I haven't tested those yet...

I reserve the correct to modify my opinion at any time.� It could easily change if another filter (or i of the filters I am waiting on) comes effectually and is better.

It should be clear that Mopar filters are really nothing special.� Unless you are trying to take a perfect restoration and need that Mopar logo, there is no reason why you should exist buying Mopar oil filters.� Most of them seem to currently be Purolators or Champions, merely that could alter at whatever time.

Run into the AC Delco, Champion, Fram, Purolator, and Wix sections for information on how to identify these manufacturers by looking at the backplate.� The tell-tale signs are always in that location.��