Engine Oil Filter Study |
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[ Warning
| Disassembly
and Measurements | SAE
Tests | Mopar
Conversion Table | Conclusions
]
[ AC
Delco | AMSOIL
| Car
And Driver | Champ
| Deutsch
| Fram
| Hard
Driver | Mobil
1 | Motorcraft
| NAPA
| Pennzoil
| PowerFlo
| ProLine
| Purolator
| Quaker
State | STP |
Wix
]
UPDATE: To help reduce some of my email traffic from this
page, I have created an FAQ. Before emailing me with a question, please
read the Oil
Filter Study Frequently Asked Questions first. I typically don't
respond to questions that are already answered here.
Here are the filters that will be added to this page. They have already been aquired and disassembled.
- AC Delco Ultraguard Gold PF2
- Amsoil SDF15
- Bosch
- Fram
HP1
- Hard Driver HD01
- K&N Gold
- Penske
- Purolator
HP1/L390001
These pages are NOT to be taken as gospel. The primary motivation behind this study was to provide information about what oil filter brands are made by which manufacturers. The secondary motivation was to uncover some of the obvious internal construction issues of these manufacturers. This "study" is not a "test". The SAE J806 and J1858 tests were designed to test the filtration capability of these filters, but unfortunately they have several short comings. These include issues such as anti-drainback valve functionality (valve train noise, etc.), filter element containment capability (how long before it blocks and bypasses--related to surface area), and many testimonials that appear to point in the direction of certain manufacturers. It has been my hope to shed some light in the direction of these issues. While my infamous "two eyes and common sense" approach may not be the most scientific, it is the best I could do considering there was no personal return on the investment of time and money I put into it.
The primary shortcoming of this study is the small sampling size. I only tested the Ford 5.0L filter. It has come to my attention that some brand names use different manufacturers for different applications. Another shortcoming is the lack of testing of the filter element media itself. Unfortunately I have neither the time nor resources to do this.
I invite anyone with the means to take a larger sampling size and conduct a more 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 only
as a source of some information that may give you a better idea about which
filter brands to steer clear from. It should be obvious that some manufacturers
are not being honest about 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 little-known issues, not to tell you
what to think.
One weekend I set out to every auto parts store in my area and bought every brand of oil filter I could find. I chose to get 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 can unveil any fake miniature internal components, and it fits on most 2.2L and 2.5L engines. Design-wise it is fully compatible with our oil systems and is an excellent replacement for the pathetic filter that was designed for our engines. I was able to find 20 different filters spanning several brand names. They are (in alphabetical order):
AC
Delco Duraguard PF2
AC Delco Ultraguard Gold PF2
AMSOIL
SDF15
Baldwin
B2
Bosch ???
Car And
Driver 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
Pennzoil
PZ-1
PowerFlo
SL30001
ProLine
PPL-30001
Purolator
Premium Plus L30001
Purolator Premium Plus L390001
Purolator
Pure One PL30001
Quaker
State Q58A
STP
S-01
Wix
51515
I hope to add more brands to this study as I can acquire them. The analysis
is sorted by brand name in alphabetical order. In each brand section, I have
broken the information down into the brand name models, sorted by price.
Pictures coming soon!
Basically, I cut open each filter on a lathe and took measurements of many of their attributes. Simply cutting them open revealed some very interesting (and disturbing) information.
The sections below detail each of the filters I tested. A summary of the
measurements I took can be found in a table for each. I noticed that other
filter part numbers for the same brand were designed a bit differently. This is
probably because of the shape of the can and the requirements for that engine.
Here is a description of each table entry:
Average Retail Price | The average of all the retail prices I found for this filter (to the nearest $0.50) |
Cartridge Length | The length of the filter cartridge, including end caps |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 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 element while in the cartridge |
Cartridge End Cap Type | The type of material used to construct the end caps |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | The valve design and construction material |
Bypass Valve Type | The valve design and construction material |
Element Type | The type of material used to construct the filter element and the seam seal |
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 Area | The calculated surface area of the cartridge using the above two values |
Shell Thickness | The thickness of the metal used to construct the filter's shell |
Backplate Thickness | The thickness of the metal used to construct the filter's backplate |
Gasket Type | The type of material used to construct the backplate sealing gasket (O-ring) |
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure | Since I cannot test this myself, I have removed this data. |
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency | Since I cannot test this myself, I have removed this data. |
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency | Since I cannot test this myself, I have removed this data. |
The construction of the anti-drainback and bypass valves is an important feature. Many are made of nitrile rubber. As long as they have good sealing surfaces, they generally work fine. However, nitrile rubber diaphrams gets stiff in extreme cold and may 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 spring-loaded plastic and are often not molded well enough to make a decent seal, allowing oil to leak passed them.
Probably the most important value here is the element surface area. This helps determine the amount of filter media that is available to trap particles. Cellulose media (basically paper) can trap fewer particles and can flow less oil per square inch because there are fewer passages through it. Synthetic media has more passages and can trap more particles and flow more oil than cellulose per square inch. For the same type of media, the smaller the area, the sooner the filter will become plugged and will end up bypassing much of the oil instead of filtering it. Some filters use a cellulose/synthetic blend, so a direct comparison is not possible. More pleats in the element does not necessarily mean more surface area (as you will soon see). In fact, too many pleats can end up restricting the flow too much because there is not enough space between them to allow oil to flow. Most of the cheaper filters use a mix that is mostly cellulose. Some of the better filters use synthetics or synthetic blends. I'll try to come up with some way of identifyiong these.
The shell and backplate thickness are only relevant if your engine's oil system operates at unusually high pressures. Occasionally a seemingly strong filter can still leak due to a failure at the crimp between the can and backplate. If this happens to you, I would send it back to the manufacturer so that they can solve the problem. Even the cheapest filters have to be strong enough for stock oiling systems, or they will fail SAE tests.
I have removed SAE filtration efficiency and all other data that came from the manufacturers, since these are often inaccurate numbers.
Other measurements and values are debatable and I will allow you to draw your
own conclusions from them.
All filters have to undergo SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) tests to verify that they meet the vehicle manufacturer's specifications. There are two tests available for automobile engine oil filters. All filters must be tested with the J806 test, but the new J1858 is much more meaningful. Currently the J1858 test is optional. Really, it's a way for high-end filter manufacturers to show off their great filters.
The SAE J806 test uses a single-pass test, checking for contaminant holding capacity, size of contaminant particles trapped, and ability to maintain clean oil. As an amendment of the J806 test, the multi-pass test also 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 test liquid. Typical numbers for paper filter elements are 85% (single pass) and 80% (multi-pass).
The SAE J1858 test 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 determined as well as dust capacity and pressure loss as a function of time. Typical numbers for paper element filters are 40% at 10 microns, 60% at 20 microns, 93% at 30 microns, and 97% at 40 microns.
NOTICE: Since all of the SAE data I have is from the manufacturers, it cannot
be trusted to be truthful. Therefore all SAE data has been removed from the
filter sections below.
The filter cartridge has a large outside diameter with deep pleats. At first glance, it appears to have little filter element media, but the surface area measure was surprising: 315 sqin. The unit had a solid top end cap because the bypass valve is at the bottom, which is a well constructed spring-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-metal against the backplate. This could allow oil from the clean side of the filter to seep back into the oil pan, but it wouldn't allow 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. One disadvantage to the AC Delco is that the anti-drainback valve seals against a rough backplate. I noticed that if I blow air through the oil outlet, air slowly leaks past the valve. Even so, I have been getting testimonials that the AC Delco stops the valve train noise problems associated with the Fram filter, so it may seal fine once it has been exposed to oil. The Wix and Purolator filters seal perfectly.
The telltale signs for an AC Delco filter are: Five 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 can see the metal bypass valve with its 12 small holes and the black anti-drainback valve diaphragm around it. Through the center outlet hole, you can see the spring for the bypass valve.
Exploded view:
Average Retail Price | $3 |
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 rubber diaphragm |
Bypass Valve Type | Spring-loaded steel |
Element Type | Paper media, glued seam |
Element Length | 70.0 inches |
Element Width | 4.500 inches |
Element Surface Area | 315 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.015 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.100 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
This filter has been acquired, disassembled, and is awaiting measurements.
This filter has not been acquired.
This filter has been acquired, disassembled, and is awaiting measurements.
This filter is a Champion filter.
Average Retail Price | $3 |
Cartridge Length | 4.000 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.250 inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | 1.625 inches |
Cartridge Pleats | 54 |
Cartridge End Cap Type | Stamped-steel, with bypass valve |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | Nitrile rubber diaphragm |
Bypass Valve Type | Spring-loaded steel, nitrile seal |
Element Type | Paper media, glued seam |
Element Length | 87 inches |
Element Width | 3.875 inches |
Element Surface Area | 337 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.012 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.102 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
This filter is manufactured by Champion Laboratories, Inc. (NOT the same guys who make 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.
The Champion design has metal end caps on the filter cartridge, with the bypass valve stamped right into the bottom end cap like the Purolator. I refer to this as a one-piece filter cartridge. Though definitely not the same design as the Purolator, it does use the same type of leaf-spring-type spacer at the top of the cartridge and the nitrile anti-drainback valve, which doubles as the cartridge-to-backplate seal, at the bottom. One issue is that I sometimes noticed was some rust on the backplate of these filters. Since the rust is usually around by the inlet holes, any loose rust would be caught by 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 be seen through the inlet holes. There are 6 large crimps holding the
gasket in place. Through the center outlet hole, you can see the bypass valve
spring. Usually, the backplate metal is dull, or even rusty.
This filter is a Champion filter.
Average Retail Price | $3 |
Cartridge Length | 4.000 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.250 inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | 1.625 inches |
Cartridge Pleats | 55 |
Cartridge End Cap Type | Stamped-steel, with bypass valve |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | Nitrile rubber diaphragm |
Bypass Valve Type | Spring-loaded steel, nitrile seal |
Element Type | Paper media, glued seam |
Element Length | 88.5 inches |
Element Width | 3.875 inches |
Element Surface Area | 343 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.012 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.102 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
This filter has not yet been acquired, but is apparently a heavy-duty version
of the D539 (Champion).
These filters are manufactured by Allied Signal, Inc. See this email from an Allied Signal production engineer.
This filter cartridge has a small outside diameter with a rather low filter element surface area (193 sqin), and features cardboard end caps that are glued in place. The rubber anti-drainback valve seals the rough metal backplate to the cardboard end cap and easily leaks, causing dirty oil to drain back into the pan. If you have a noisy valve train at startup, this filter is likely the cause. The bypass valves are plastic and are sometimes not molded correctly, which allows them to leak. The backplate has smaller and fewer oil inlet holes, which may restrict flow.
The telltale signs for a Fram Extra Guard are: It has 8 small holes for the oil inlet and a thin, cheap looking backplate, and is currently stamped with a "2Y". There are 5 very small crimps holding the gasket in place. If you look into the center hole all the way to the top of the filter, you will see a kind of "button" in the end cap of the cartridge (which looks like it's made of metal from there). This is the plastic bypass valve.
Exploded view:
Average Retail Price | $3 |
Cartridge Length | 4.125 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.000 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 metal seam |
Element Length | 47.5 inches |
Element Width | 4.063 inches |
Element Surface Area | 193 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.015 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.089 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
This filter has an improved filter element with more 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 keep out large particles, and enough inlet holes for good flow. In my opinion, the only real drawback to this filter is that it is capped on each end with cardboard instead of metal.
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 6 large crimps holding the gasket in place.
When you look through the inlet holes, you can see the orange anti-drainback
valve. If you look into the center hole all the way to the top of the filter,
you will see a kind of "button" in the end cap of the cartridge (which looks
like it's made of metal from there). This is the plastic bypass valve.
Average Retail Price | $5 |
Cartridge Length | 4.125 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.000 inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | 1.625 inches |
Cartridge Pleats | 50 |
Cartridge End Cap Type | Cardboard |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | Silicone rubber diaphragm |
Bypass Valve Type | Spring-loaded plastic with integral screen |
Element Type | Paper media, stamped metal seam |
Element Length | 61.0 inches |
Element Width | 4.063 inches |
Element Surface Area | 248 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.015 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.187 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber, PTFE-treated |
Far Left: extra guard cartridge. Left: Double Guard. Right:
Tough Guard
This is one of the most expensive filters you can buy. 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 see this in the picture above (far left). I assume this is to hold the Teflon particles in the filter element before the unit is installed. Don't put Teflon in your engine. It does not belong there! DuPont does not recommend using their Teflon product in internal combustion engines.
Although it has the lowest filter element surface area (193 sqin), it does have a clever spring-loaded nitrile rubber anti-drainback valve and bypass valve combination.
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. The backplate should be stamped with a "1K". There are 6
large crimps holding the gasket in place. The anti-drainback valve diaphragm
behind the inlet holes is black. If you look into the center hole all the way to
the top of the filter, you will not see the "button" in the end cap of the
cartridge (which looks like it's made of metal from there).
Average Retail Price | $10 |
Cartridge Length | 4.125 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.000 inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | 1.625 inches |
Cartridge Pleats | 38 |
Cartridge End Cap Type | Cardboard |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | Nitrile rubber diaphragm |
Bypass Valve Type | Nitrile rubber, integral |
Element Type | Paper media, stamped metal seam |
Element Length | 47.5 inches |
Element Width | 4.063 inches |
Element Surface Area | 193 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.015 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.187 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
This filter has been acquired, disassembled, and is awaiting measurements.
Average Retail Price | $8.50 + $4 shipping |
Cartridge Length | ? inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | ? inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | ? inches |
Cartridge Pleats | ? |
Cartridge End Cap Type | ? |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | ? |
Bypass Valve Type | ? |
Element Type | Synthetic media |
Element Length | ? inches |
Element Width | ? inches |
Element Surface Area | ? square inches |
Shell Thickness | ? inches |
Backplate Thickness | ? inches |
Gasket Type | ? |
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure | 200 psi |
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency | Unknown |
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency | 95% at 10 microns 98% at 20 microns 98% at 30 microns 98% at 40 microns |
Like the Champ filter, this filter is made by Champion Labs. However, it uses a unique end plate and a thicker can that make it the strongest filter available for wide distribution retail sale. It also uses a synthetic media, which inproves filtration and flow. I'm happy to say that this filter is NOT a fake. It is definitely a unique design.
It uses a synthetic fiber element that can filter out very small particles and is very strong. It is rated just under the Purolator Pure One as far as filtering capability, but is still very much above conventional paper filters. It also has a very strong construction to withstand high pressure spikes during start-up. However, as with all Mobil 1 products, expect to pay 2 - 3 times as much for this filter.
I have received many reports of these filters failing at high pressures. It seems that the seam where the backplate crimps to the case can split.
Exploded view:
Average Retail Price | $10 |
Cartridge Length | 4.250 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.250 inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | 1.625 inches |
Cartridge Pleats | 52 |
Cartridge End Cap Type | 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 |
Element Length | 85 inches |
Element Width | 4.125 inches |
Element Surface Area | 351 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.022 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.138 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
This section has moved to it own page:
Oil
filter Study Special Model Feature: Mopar
This is an interesting filter. Basically, it is a Purolator Pure One filter cartridge in a Purolator Premium Plus case. Don't be fooled by the differently shaped holes cut into the oil inlet. This is the only difference. This is a good filter design and if you want to get a Purolator Pure One filter, get this one instead: it is cheaper.
Like the Purolator Pure One, this filter cartridge features a very large
element surface area (400 sqin), but with many pleats (64). This packs the
filter together rather tightly and may restrict flow somewhat. I could identify
the Pure One element media by a purple dye they use at the seam. It also has the
mysterious assembly string wrapped around the outside of the element. Like the
Purolators, it features a spring-loaded metal bypass 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 piece.
Average Retail Price | $3 |
Cartridge Length | 4.125 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.250 inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | 1.625 inches |
Cartridge Pleats | 64 |
Cartridge End Cap Type | Stamped-steel, with bypass valve |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | Nitrile rubber diaphragm |
Bypass Valve Type | Spring-loaded steel |
Element Type | Paper media, stamped metal seam |
Element Length | 100.0 inches |
Element Width | 4.000 inches |
Element Surface Area | 400 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.011 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.120 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
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 there. It
also has the tougher paper filter media of the Wix.
Average Retail Price | $5 |
Cartridge Length | 4.000 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.250 inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | 1.625 inches |
Cartridge Pleats | 59 |
Cartridge End Cap Type | Stamped-steel |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | Nitrile rubber diaphragm |
Bypass Valve Type | Spring-loaded steel, nitrile seal |
Element Type | Paper media, glued seam |
Element Length | 87 inches |
Element Width | 3.875 inches |
Element Surface Area | 337 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.014 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.104 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
This filter now appears to be a Wix filter. I'm not sure if there is any real
difference between this filter and the NAPA Gold filter.
This filter is a Fram Extra Guard (PH8A) in every way, shape, and form. The only difference is the yellow paint and Pennzoil logo.
All the measurements were exactly the same as the Fram Extra Guard PH8A.
Average Retail Price | $2 |
Cartridge Length | 4.125 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.000 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 metal seam |
Element Length | 47.5 inches |
Element Width | 4.063 inches |
Element Surface Area | 193 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.015 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.089 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
As you may suspect by the part number, this filter is a Purolator Premium
Plus. There were no manufacturing differences, but the cost was an average of $2
instead of $3.
Yet another Purolator Premium Plus. All measurements were the same. The cost was $2. One thing I noticed with this particular example was that the mysterious assembly string was tied too tight and had damaged the filter element. Although only this one had the problem, I am suspicious of this filter design as a whole (including all of the Purolators).
<- With String - String Removed ->
As you may be able to tell, the string did not rip into the filter element,
it only crushed it. There was no evidence that the element had been compromised.
Out of the 8 Purolators (and clones) tested, this was the only one with a
problem.
Left to Right: Motorcraft, Purolator Pure One,
Purolator Premium Plus
Here is a fairly well designed filter, especially for the price. One odd thing about Purolator's filters is a string that is always wrapped around the filter element. I assume that this is there to hold the element in place while the glue in the end caps cures. Of all the Purolator-based filter I tested, there was one (the ProLine) that had filter element damage from this string. Although it was one of five tested, I am weary of this design. Even though the element was crushed a bit, it was not ripped. I will take apart a used one at my next oil change.
The filter cartridge has an impressive surface area of 316 sqin, which is very close to the AC Delco Duraguard. The difference is that Purolator's filter element is compressed into more pleats (51) than the AC Delco. This may restrict flow somewhat, but not as much in this model than the Pure One. It features a spring-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 end cap of the cartridge, so it is all one piece.
The telltale sign for a Purolator filter are: 8 medium-sized holes for the oil inlet and nothing but a black (or orange for the Pure One) diaphragm to be seen through them. There are 6 large crimps holding the gasket in place. Through the center outlet hole, you can see the spring for the bypass valve.
Exploded view:
Average Retail Price | $3 |
Cartridge Length | 4.125 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.250 inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | 1.625 inches |
Cartridge Pleats | 51 |
Cartridge End Cap Type | Stamped-steel |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | Nitrile rubber diaphragm |
Bypass Valve Type | Spring-loaded steel |
Element Type | Paper media, stamped metal seam |
Element Length | 79.0 inches |
Element Width | 4.000 inches |
Element Surface Area | 316 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.011 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.115 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
This filter has a few improvements over the Premium Plus. It has a denser synthetic filter media to filter out smaller particles and more surface area to make up 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 surface area 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 flow more than it helps
relieve it. It also features a spring-loaded metal bypass valve and a silicone
rubber diaphram-type anti-drainback valve, which doubles as the seal between the
backplate and the cartridge. The bypass valve is located at the base of the
cartridge, not at the top.
Average Retail Price | $5 |
Cartridge Length | 4.125 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.250 inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | 1.625 inches |
Cartridge Pleats | 64 |
Cartridge End Cap Type | Stamped-steel |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | Silicone rubber diaphragm |
Bypass Valve Type | Spring-loaded steel |
Element Type | Synthetic media, stamped metal seam |
Element Length | 100.0 inches |
Element Width | 4.000 inches |
Element Surface Area | 400 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.011 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.115 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber, PTFE-treated |
This filter has changed from being a Purolator to a Fram Extra Gaurd. This
may have been a result of Pennzoil aquiring Quaker State brand name.
This filter is the Champion Industries filter.
Average Retail Price | $3 |
Cartridge Length | 4.000 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.250 inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | 1.625 inches |
Cartridge Pleats | 58 |
Cartridge End Cap Type | Stamped-steel, with bypass valve |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | Nitrile rubber diaphragm |
Bypass Valve Type | Spring-loaded steel, nitrile seal |
Element Type | Paper media, glued seam |
Element Length | 93 inches |
Element Width | 3.875 inches |
Element Surface Area | 360 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.012 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.102 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure | Unknown |
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency | Unknown |
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency | Unknown |
These filters are manufactured by the Dana corporation, who also manufactures all of the Wix clones. These include NAPA and many OEM filters.
This filter has metal cartridge end caps, but has a separate bypass valve that rests against the bottom end cap, like the AC Delco. I refer to this as a two-piece filter cartridge. Like the Champion, it uses an anti-drainback valve that doubles as the bypass valve-to-backplate seal. Instead of the leaf-spring-type spacer that most filters use, these use a stiff coil spring 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 bottom 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 design will not allow oil to seep back into the pan, though.
The telltale signs for a Wix are: 6 large holes for the oil inlet with only the black anti-drainback valve to be seen through them. There are 6 "notches" that hold the gasket in place. Through the center outlet hole, you can see the bypass valve spring. Usually the backplate metal is shiny.
This filter features a good surface area, but a lot of shallower pleats. This makes it similar to the Purolator's pleats.
Average Retail Price | $5 |
Cartridge Length | 4.000 inches |
Cartridge Outside Diameter | 3.250 inches |
Cartridge Inside Diameter | 1.625 inches |
Cartridge Pleats | 61 |
Cartridge End Cap Type | Stamped-steel |
Anti-Drainback Valve Type | Nitrile rubber diaphragm |
Bypass Valve Type | Spring-loaded steel, nitrile seal |
Element Type | Paper media, glued seam |
Element Length | 90 inches |
Element Width | 3.875 inches |
Element Surface Area | 349 square inches |
Shell Thickness | 0.014 inches |
Backplate Thickness | 0.104 inches |
Gasket Type | Nitrile rubber |
Hydrostatic Burst Pressure | Unknown |
SAE J806 Filtration Efficiency | Unknown |
SAE J1858 Filtration Efficiency | Unknown |
This section has been moved into a page where I summerize and toss in my subjective comments. :) So, take a look at the Oil Filters Overview page if you want to hear them. This page shall continue to contain only the hard facts.
It should be clear that Mopar filters are really nothing special. Unless you are trying to have a perfect restoration and need that Mopar logo, there is no reason why you should be buying Mopar oil filters. Most of them seem to currently be Purolators or Champions, but that could change at any time.
See 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 there.
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This page was written and is maintained by Russ W. Knize and was last updated 06/20/00. Comments? Questions? Email minimopar@xoommail.com.
Copyright © 1996-2000 Russ W. Knize