Oil Filter Comparison

Post by **racer12306** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:25 pm

This is going to be an on going tread. I currently have a Mopar, Fram and Supertech filter in both the standard and larger (aka Viper Filter) size. I have a Purolator Premium Plus in the larger size at my parents that will be cut open, and I plan on getting a standard size Purolator Premium Plus, as well as the Advance Auto house brand in both sizes.

I was only able to cut open the larger Fram (PH16) and large Mopar (MO-090) today. Then the cutoff wheel was all worn down by 3/4 of the way through the large Supertech (ST16) filter.

I am going to try take the filter media apart to get an area of filtering media.

Feel free to comment, ask me questions about what is here and talk about these pictures.

Here are the pics...

Fram PH16

Filter Baseplate

Baseplate with seal

Filter Media

Bypass Valve

Assembled without shell

Mopar MO-090

(The one on the right)

Filter Baseplate

Filter Media/Canister

Filter Media/Canister with seal

Misc part that I honestly don't know what it does, I would assume it takes up tolerances.

Assembled without shell

I am open to cracking open other filters, however this would be very expensive on my part. I do not have that much extra money. If you have a particular filter you would like me to take apart send me a PM and we can work something out.

Disclaimer: I am just posting this for informational purposes. It is your responsibility to make your own conclusions about this information.

Hudson_Neon · Post by **Hudson_Neon** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:30 pm

nice, now i can proove to my dad that FRAM isn't all that and a bag of chips. Mopar FTW!

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:07 am

Mopar FTW!

^^^
Only until recently, Mopar filters used to be Fram and thats why I stopped using them. Now it seems the latest Mopar 1090's look very similar to Purolator.
Damn, it also looks like that major oil filter website update this year....
http://www.knizefamily.net/minimopar/oi ... index.html
It seems after all these years the owner finally updated that website....

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:17 pm

Figures, guess this is all pointless now.

But if there is a filter that someone doesn't see on that site let me know if you want it disassembled and we can work something out.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:06 pm

Well, from another forum something along the same lines as this post came up (back in the day). As a result I decided to hack up a USED Fram oil filter to see how it really stands up. So here it is:

Car: 2000 Chrysler Neon LE, 2.0L SOHC (Non-magnum)
Milage on filter: 9163 km ~ 5693mi (interval is 10 000km)
Oil: Walmart Tech 2000 5w30
Driving: Back country roads between cities, light/moderate acclerations, occaisional high RPM spirited driving. Cold winter starts to warmer spring days.
Filter: Fram PH3614

The filter off of the car:

Looks like when I put it on, only now it's covered in dirty oil:

A lot of people like to complain the anti-drain back valves fail on these filters. This one obviously works fine, lots of oil left in there that didn't drain back:

First look inside, so far I see no death or destruction:

This would be the metal comb that holds the two ends of the element together. It just fell out, but upon inspection you could see where I hit it with the hack saw while cutting open the filter:

Blind end cap with ant-drain back valve, looks in good shape:

Another common complaint, cardboard ant-drainback valves. This one is plastic and metal, still fully functional:

First look at filter element:

Pulled it out of the threaded end. The rubber sealing grommet came off quite easily, but it was still attached. Doesn't really matter either way as it's a compression seal anyways:

Time to tear into the element.

Another common complaint, the cardboard end caps don't hold up. Yup, they're some sort of cardboard/fiber material, but they were plenty firm. It actually took a bit of effort to rip it apart. Looks like they use an epoxie, or some other sort of glue to attach it to the element. The glue never let go, it ripped the element first:

Now the element itself. It's dirty, but not to a level that's concerning. If you've ever changed an element oil filter (as opposed to this canister style) you'll probably agree this isn't in too bad shape at all:

And lastly the threaded end. Looks pretty solid:

Post by **racer12306** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:21 pm

I thought I had remembered seeing pictures like that somewhere. Thanks for posting them.

danman132x · Post by **danman132x** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 1:15 pm

Well yesterday I did an oil change again, and I decided to tear apart my filter.

Oil used- Penz. Platinum 5W-30
Filter- Purolator Pure One PL10241
Miles driven on this filter- 4500

I used a dremel to cut it open. Cutting disk is still about 95% good.

Lots of oil still in it, even after I attemped to drain it upside down

First pull apart

Bottom half of the canister.

With some red seal still on the filter

It feels rubbery, and is still in great shape.

The filter itself. Has a paperish feel to it, but is still very strong.

I could not rip the two ends apart, so I just took the metal piece off that holds the two ends of the element together, and then tore some of the filter material off. It was pretty tough.

The valve on the bottom inside the filter element still looks strong, and still has plenty of closing force. I beleive this is the bypass valve, but I really don't know.

Top outside

Overall it seems like it's a pretty good filter, and I will continue using them. I have been since I bought the car at 30,000 miles (51000 current), and they never gave me problems.

magnum04RT · Post by **magnum04RT** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:36 am

does anybody use k+n oil filters? i recently switched.

Post by **racer12306** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:31 am

They are good filters, just a little pricey imo. There are filters that are just as good but cost half the money.

IowaNeon04 · Post by **IowaNeon04** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:36 am

I prefer the Mobil1 filter myself with the synthetic media in it... oil quality seems to be good out to 10k miles at a time (using synthetic oil as well)... but I agree, just as procey as the K&N.

magnum04RT · Post by **magnum04RT** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 2:02 am

hey iowa, you use mobil 1 full synthetic 5w-30 with that?

IowaNeon04 · Post by **IowaNeon04** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 3:01 am

I used to run 5W-30 year-round, yes. Then I found the 0W-30, and used it in the winter and the 5W-30 in the summer... THEN I found the data sheets for the different Mobil1 products, and saw that the 0W-30 was obviously a bit more liquid at start-up than the 5W-30... but what surprised me was the 0W-30 was ALSO SLIGHTLY THICKER than the 5W-30 at operating temp (I think it was like a visc. rating of 8.1 vs. 8.0... the higher number being thicker).... so now, I just stick with the 0W-30 year-round, especially now since they started selling it the 5-qt jugs at WalMart for $20.... used to only find it at parts stores in the specialty oil aisle for $6.50 a qt.

magnum04RT · Post by **magnum04RT** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:10 am

sweet. good deal. now do our cars take 5 quarts or 4.5? or closer to 4?

IowaNeon04 · Post by **IowaNeon04** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:20 am

4.5... but with a full drain and filter change, I found that I can put a full 5 in and it still will stay in the crosshatch marks on the dipstick.

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:41 am

With the Viper filter I use five.

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:58 pm

4.5qts with the standard filter

5qts with the fat filter

non-magnum · Post by **non-magnum** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 9:29 pm

Mobil 1 5-30 4.7qt with k&n

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Sun May 31, 2009 9:35 am

Bosch filter for 2008+ Chrysler, this is the new style thread and this will not fit our engine's.This is just for comparison.

Mopar filter removed from vehicle.
This is just for reference purposes.....

esfan · Post by **esfan** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 1:47 pm

I found some pics but forgot where I found it. Some guys did a really nice job and cut all of those major brands on the market open. They pretty much explain everythng:

It's pretty clear that some of the filter brand use super cheap material like Fram. And K&N, Mobil and PureOne are very similar in the appearances.

xSEED · Post by **xSEED** » Sat Jul 24, 2010 4:31 am

looks like wix for me

AZombiesMinge · Post by **AZombiesMinge** » Fri Aug 27, 2010 6:09 pm

I know this an old thread, just thought I would share my opinion. It seems that there are some very real differences between filters. I am going to continue to use K&N for two reasons, 1- I like the way they are built and the materials they use, 2- I LOVE the ability to take off with wrench instead of filter wrench. That little nub is like the best thing to ever happen to filter in my opinion.

Post by **racer12306** » Fri Aug 27, 2010 8:54 pm

I'm not trying to say the K&N is a bad filter, but it is way too expensive.

Most of the time I can take the filter off by hand. You don't need to hulk it on there.

AZombiesMinge · Post by **AZombiesMinge** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 2:15 pm

racer12306 wrote:I'm not trying to say the K&N is a bad filter, but it is way too expensive.

Most of the time I can take the filter off by hand. You don't need to hulk it on there.

Very true, I agree that they are too expensive. I don't mind paying a little more for convenience though. I have had to put a screwdriver through way to many filter to remove and I also like the look. The white adds to clean look of the engine. It's all about personal preference I guess. But I do wish they were a little cheaper though since they are only on there for a few months at a time. You can get them for less if you buy in bulk online, as opposed to at the parts store.

nerox · Post by **nerox** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 5:06 am

Here in the UK 90% of all car parts shops sell filters by MEHR they are very common and unless you searched around for a K&N or something else you probably bought a MEHR.

Anyone heard of them in the US ?

Haganracing · Post by **Haganracing** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 11:46 am

I buy Fram

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 4:37 pm

nerox wrote:Here in the UK 90% of all car parts shops sell filters by MEHR they are very common and unless you searched around for a K&N or something else you probably bought a MEHR.

Anyone heard of them in the US ?

I've never heard of 'em.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Oct 31, 2010 6:54 pm

There are a lot of products we never know about in the States. Heck, there is stuff we don't know about from state to state.

esfan · Post by **esfan** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 2:52 pm

For the price I'll say PureONE might be one of the best choice. K&N or Mobil are both overpriced. Fram looks like shit comparing to others. All the others are OK IMO.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 2:58 pm

Anyone heard of Prime? Thats what is on the SRT right now. Checked out their website and they seem pretty big, but I've never heard of them.

Post by **racer12306** » Sun Nov 07, 2010 5:40 pm

Never heard of that brand but it must be premium with a name like that

It's probably just a quick lube version of a Fram. When you change the oil take a pic of the base plate and we can probably identify it.