Oil Filter. Which is best?

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:52 am

Subject line says it all. What should I be using? This is for my daily driver/autocross car and my wife's car.

I dredged up this URL from a post on the listserv...

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/oil_filter_study/

This is from about 1999 or so and is one person's view point. Basically it does not have good things to say about Fram which I have been buying (Hey, I love the orange color and you can get them at Wal-Mart along with Mobil 1!).

You have a personal experience or anecdotal story you want to share? Anyone know of some quantitative empirical evidence that is available?

Steven Bremer · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:57 am

Personally I use either OEM or Mobil 1. I have never used FRAM.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2004 12:20 pm

I like the K&N. It tested extremely well and it has a Hex nut end on the filter in order to remove it, as compared to using those pain in the arse filter wrenches. Yes, at $10 they're expensive, so I only use them on the Celica.

On the Civic and Protege, they get top quality Fram filters :shock:

I'm of the feeling that with cheap cars that I change the oil every 3k, it really makes no difference to me. With a car I care about, I'm willing to pony up for a K&N and Amsoil. - AB

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2004 12:24 pm

I'm sure everyone has there own opinion, but I'd use anything BUT Fram. Seriously, the best ones have the check valve to keep more oil in the engine and (not in the pan) during start up.

I use AC Delco on my Cavalier and OEM Mazda ones on the Miata. Both of these have the check valve.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2004 12:25 pm

I have read that motor oil study too, but can't comment on its quality. I use the Purolator filters because a friend of mine used to work for Purolator and dissed Fram and because he gave them to me for free.

Also because they fit my filter wrench.

Remember OEM filters are made by someone else, Motorcraft is Purolator, Quaker State is/was Purolator, others are Fram.

:soap:

My opinion is that if you change your oil frequently (3-4K) it probably doesn't matter what filter you use, especially the daily driver. The more abuse the car gets, the better oil and filter you need

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

I use K&N now for peace of mind, but I used to use Fram. Personally, I dug the grippy stuff on the Fram that made it easier to spin off/on with oily hands, no reason other than that. IMHO, a paper filter is a paper filter is a paper filter.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2004 1:29 pm

I use K&N on my Prelude and on the wife's TL. They are a bit pricey though. Richard, if your looking for something specifically made for honda's I've heard very good things about HAMP filters. I would use them on mine, but I always forget to order them. :roll:

Frank Catena · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2003 1:08 pm **Posts:** 418

The link below has some good info on oil, filters, etc. If you click on Forums from the homepage, you'll see a forum for oil filters:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com

As opposed to a lot of Internet sites, you can find actual empirical evidence (i.e. UOAs, TBNs, etc.) for a lot of the discussion.

Frank

Gordon Taylor · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 9:19 am **Posts:** 51

Vincent Keene wrote:

I use AC Delco on my Cavalier and OEM Mazda ones on the Miata. Both of these have the check valve.

I am on my second Miata engine because a Mazda OEM oil filter failed on Cathie three years ago, and before the so-called "oil pressure gauge" on the Miata showed a problem, she was plumb out of lubricating fluids on critical rotating parts.

McNair Performance had done the oil change the week before, and they made good on the whole thing by installing a junkyard engine, with a little less mileage, on their nickel. If I were installing my own filter, I wouldn't use Mazda OEM.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2004 5:00 pm

Gordon Taylor wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

I use AC Delco on my Cavalier and OEM Mazda ones on the Miata. Both of these have the check valve.

I am on my second Miata engine because a Mazda OEM oil filter failed on Cathie three years ago

Can you enlighten me on how it failed? Did it spring a leak? What happened exactly?

BTW, I plan to install the REAL working OPG and sending unit from a earlier model real soon. That change to the current setup was a stroke of pure ignorance on Mazda's part. :furious:

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2004 5:39 pm

Ok, then a follow up question.

What are good sources for the Mobil1, Purolator and K&N filters? Local? Mail order? I have seen Purolator and small stocks of Mobil1 while casually looking around at filters recently. Don't remember seeing K&N anywhere, or maybe I was just not paying attention.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2004 5:51 pm

Advanced Auto around here carries a good stock of the K&N's.

I use the K&N's or OEM Mitsu filters.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2004 7:57 pm

Ryan's right, I usually have the easiest time finding K&N at autozone. Although they usually put them near their K&N air filters (not usually near the oil filters). For any honda you are looking for the HP-1004 (assuming you are looking for a filter for your civic).

Rob Keehner · **Posted:** Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:02 pm

wow, I still use dead dino juice and frams.

I just toss the filter everytime I change the oil. Generally at 3k miles my oil is still a bit amber when i'm changing it. At 2 bucks a filter changing it every time with a cheap one is way better economicly for me.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Tue Jun 15, 2004 9:07 am

Michael Westerfield wrote:

Ryan's right, I usually have the easiest time finding K&N at autozone. Although they usually put them near their K&N air filters (not usually near the oil filters). For any honda you are looking for the HP-1004 (assuming you are looking for a filter for your civic).

Yeah I am looking for filters for my 98 Civic and my wife's 00 Odyssey. Both use the same filter.

THSCC Forums

Oil Filter. Which is best?

Who is online