engine oil filter life

#1 08-10-2002, 10:37 PM

A master ASE mechanic I spoke the other day told me a new engine oil filter looses its filtering ability after two weeks or 400 miles, and doubted the benefit over synthetic engine oil due to this reason, unless it was high-reving sports car. What do you think?

Beav · #2 08-11-2002, 01:08 AM

I'm not tying to be a jerk here, but what would happen if I parked my car for those two weeks? It sounds as if this guy just graduated from the "Yesterday I Couldn't Spell 'Mechanic' and Today I are One" school. If they were only good for 'two weeks', why bother putting them on the engine in the first place? I can see the corporate meeting in Dearborn now:

"Hank, we're making too much damn money on these cars, cut our profits back a bit by installing those worthless oil filters on every one of them!"

I promise to be nicer in the future.

Trevor · #3 08-11-2002, 01:18 AM

Beav, as always you have hit the nail on the head. What a load of crap some of these so called experts give out. The problem is that so many believe without question but this has not happened in this case.

lee · #4 08-11-2002, 08:47 AM

I second, or third or ...whatever Beav said.

Also, if the filters were somehow blocked up so the bypass valve had to open, isn't that exactly the time you would want synthetics?

I think this guy was out to lunch from both directions.

#5 08-11-2002, 08:54 AM

Well... it actually depends on what brand of oil filter you use

if you use FRAM or Canadian Tire brand... Then no doubt, they're made out of cardboard or really crappy paper that breaks up into chunks and does NOTHING with regards to filtering after about a couple hours of running oil through it. Your best bet is to always replace your oil filter with BOSCH. BOSCH is always about QUALITY. You'll never have a problem.

lee · #6 08-11-2002, 10:16 AM

Fram certainly seems a popular flame target. That said, my daughter drives a Toyota with over 145K miles most using Fram filters, chaning oil somewhere between 3K and 6K (she's not he most religious about this sort of thing). Only repairs have been to the alternaor and radiator.

I used to read the comparisons all the time becuase I was interested in preserving an old Norton motorcycle I've had for 27 years now. The one thing in common most comparisons have had was a preference for the Champion brand. More recent auto comparisons also seem to favor Champion (they make Mobil 1, K&N and maybe others). This is not the spark plug people by the way.

One of the better studies on the net I know of is at

http://www.shoclub.com/lubrication-o...n-oilpart1.htm

Maybe others have found something better.

Beav · #7 08-11-2002, 11:31 AM

I guess it would make a lot of difference if the filter was going to be left in place for 20k-30k miles. If you use clean fuel, decent oil (and like oil filters, any oil is better than no oil) and a good air filter (hopefully the oil you use is already clean, unlike the ambient air) just about any filter will do an adequate job. Now all bets are off if you have a propensity to run without an air or fuel filter or dump sand and/or other debris in the crankcase.

htyei · #8 08-12-2002, 02:36 PM

I read a oil filter article somewhere, where a independent guy, subjectively measured the effectiveness of different oil filters.

A fram engineer even wrote in about how he stopped using fram once he saw their quality assurance process

That said, I currently use an AC-Delco one, it seems quieter than the FRAM one I had before. I used remember sucking sounds before.

#9 08-12-2002, 07:22 PM

My wifes step-father has been working in the paper industry for years. He has many patents (spelling?) on differnt paper products He said that the dirtier a filter gets.. the better it cleans.. untill it slows the flow too much of course. Most of the filters out there will actually do a good job up to about 7500 miles. Most oils are actually good for about 5000 miles. the real reason the companies tell you to change out the oil and filter at 3000 is they want you to spend more money. I dont remember which companies buy the filter that his company makes, but it is several.

Im sure this will get a few good (or bad) replies..

Chris

MoreIBNR · #10 08-12-2002, 07:45 PM

I've used nothing but Fram on my car for 146,000 miles. I don't care what these self-appointed experts say - Fram couldn't stay in business if their product was as bad as I have seen some make it out to be.

That said, I use Fram because many years ago (about 15) Consumers Reports tested filters and Fram came out on top - by a bit. It is possible (probable?) that the others have caught up, but who cares?

More recent Consumers Reports articles basically say none of this matters - brand of oil or brand of filter - as long as you change them regularly. They did a test on NYC taxis for 50,000 miles and disassembled the engines afterward to look for wear. They found NO appreciable difference.

On another note - what year/model is your Norton? I have a 1969 Triumph T100C that I have had since almost new - 32 years now.

Quote:

Originally posted by lee
Fram certainly seems a popular flame target. That said, my daughter drives a Toyota with over 145K miles most using Fram filters, chaning oil somewhere between 3K and 6K (she's not he most religious about this sort of thing). Only repairs have been to the alternaor and radiator.

I used to read the comparisons all the time becuase I was interested in preserving an old Norton motorcycle I've had for 27 years now. The one thing in common most comparisons have had was a preference for the Champion brand. More recent auto comparisons also seem to favor Champion (they make Mobil 1, K&N and maybe others). This is not the spark plug people by the way.

One of the better studies on the net I know of is at

http://www.shoclub.com/lubrication-o...n-oilpart1.htm

Maybe others have found something better.

Ron Mummert · #11 08-12-2002, 08:37 PM

That said, I use Fram because many years ago (about 15) Consumers Reports tested filters and Fram came out on top - by a bit. It is possible (probable?) that the others have caught up, but who cares?

More recent Consumers Reports articles basically say none of this matters - brand of oil or brand of filter - as long as you change them regularly. They did a test on NYC taxis for 50,000 miles and disassembled the engines afterward to look for wear. They found NO appreciable difference.

I agree - The only filter that was nixed by CR, years ago, was one made by Hastings that seemed to be stuffed with cotton batting.
Perhaps as engines have become smaller & higher reving, a filter's demands have changed, but I tend to believe no ONE company has the magic bullet. Anyone notice how frequently the toothbrush is re-invented? Every week we get different angled & colored bristles, different angled handles, battery powered rotating tips, etc. etc.
Point is, if you brush your teeth at all, they're less likely to eventually fall out, than if you don't bother to brush. They may be punched out by someone who didn't care for the odor, but that's another story. HYPE! - it's the American way.

Oh - why does my B & S tractor mower engine still run fine after 16 years with NO filter?

Ron.

#12 08-12-2002, 10:23 PM

I used Fram and Castrol Syntec for 286K on my '86 Saab 900 Turbo. No oil related problems ever. I only sold it when I realized I had enough $$$$$ for a '96 SVX.

MoreIBNR · #13 08-13-2002, 06:27 AM

Ron - I think it all has to do with tolerances. If I remember correctly, Consumers Reports said that it was unnecessary to filter out particles smaller than 20 microns (I think that was the number) because that was smaller than the engine tolerances and the "oil film" thickness and therefore cannot wear the engine. Fram and, I believe 2 others, were the only ones to filter out particles down to 20 microns.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ron Mummert

Oh - why does my B & S tractor mower engine still run fine after 16 years with NO filter?

Ron.

mattski · #14 08-13-2002, 06:47 AM

I read some of the filter test articles yesterday and decided to see what Walmart carried other than Fram. I was hoping to find the ACDelco that was recommended as a reasonably good design at a fair price. However, other than Fram they only carry their house brand but it uses a seemingly better filter medium, similar to Mobil1, and boasts a very good filtering efficiency using the new and more stringent standard J1858. For less than $2 I decided to give it a try. I also picked up some Synthetic oil for $2.40/qt which seemed like a good buy since it was $2 less than Mobil1.

Does anyone have any experience with these products?

ensteele · #15 08-13-2002, 12:16 PM

I have used WalMart products and have been very happy with them. I like the price as well.