Oil Filter

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:43 am

Question for you engine guru's.

Is a bigger oil filter always better? Technically it will filter more oil, but is it worth it or necessary? The oil in my 1gn is pretty dirty right now and I want to get all the filtering done that I can. I've read some things about the bigger oil filter causes lower oil pressure, but I don't see that happening?

Thanks

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:47 pm

A bigger filter may add a little time it takes to build pressure, but the pressure will still be the same. Unless it is plugged it will not affect pressure. It may aid in cooling to some insignificant degree. And it would take longer to clog. I think that's the main answer you needed.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 12:49 pm

Cooling not worried about as of now. Clogging is not a problem as it gets changed every 3k. Would it filter any better since there is more mass to filter it with?

So you are saying there are no drawbacks to a larger filter right?

Panhead · Post by **Panhead** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:07 pm

I personally won't go with a bigger filter cause before I bought my Neon, I had a 86' Chrysler with a 2.2L Turbo and I used a bigger filter than normal. I took a 2 hr trip and car ran rough. Later I found out that all 4 cylinders all lost compression severly. The filters we use in Neon's is good enough, imo.

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:11 pm

i've heard we can use viper oil filters on our cars, if you were wondering which larger filters fit. i personally havent used a larger filter yet but i'm playing with the idea of using one on my built motor.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:15 pm

I already have the part numbers to use. Just wondering if I should go bigger. Getting mixed feedback.

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:29 pm

I have been using the Bosch 3402 for years, on all my Neons.
No problems.

This is available from AutoStoned.

The nice thing about this filter, is that it is larger, but it is level with the bottom of the oil pan.....
Well, maybe it sits a just a tiny bit lower, but I have never had a problem with ground clearance.

IF you can still find them, the ST-16 filter is an even better choise to use..... Recommended to me by a former Chrysler Engineer.

The only problem, is that you have to get ^ these at Wal-Mart.

- Nick

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:35 pm

Who makes the ST-16?

I was looking at the Purolator L14670. It's used on the Dakota and charger etc...
And the Supertech ST8A.

This From JeffB

WalMart SuperTech, whatever size they spec for the Neon. Why WalMart? Ask Ed Peters. Or cut one apart yourself and you'll see interesting things. I use the ST8A on my 2.4 "PT engine". Filter is large. It's a ~$2 filter and it's worth it right now because of who makes them for WalMart.

What you didn't see is a bypass valve, because there isn't one. ALL of the oil goes thru the filter media. Good news for cleaning the oil. Bad news if you don't change the filter for long periods of time as the media will gradually plug up just like every other filter. When other brand filter medias plug up that means more oil goes thru the bypass - unfiltered.

NickKo · Post by **NickKo** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:44 pm

heydockyle wrote:Who makes the ST-16?

Champion Labs.

- Nick

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 1:56 pm

Never heard of Champion labs, and if it's just Champion I didn't know they made Oil Filters.

Anyone have any comments on the quote from Jeff

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:13 pm

The ST8A is a good filter. I run it on my truck when I can't find the Motorcraft FL1A. That being said, unless you have a specific reason to go with a bigger filter, leave it be. "If it isn't broken, don't fix it." A larger filter won't "filter more oil," it simply has more surface area to retain what is filtered from the oil. If you want to clean out the engine a bit, there are better, and effective, ways to do so.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:17 pm

Well with that saying most of our cars would still be stock, and your wheels would still be Silver lol.

Thats why I want to know if it's better, to do it as a cheap "mod".

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:19 pm

LOL, I was editing, didn't know you were following along at the moment. I'm simply getting at you are trying to change it for the wrong reason.

dtjackten · Post by **dtjackten** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:35 pm

i have used the mobil 1 filter for my car since i have been boosted, and i have had no problems yet...

i can not remember the number though....

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:37 pm

darthroush wrote:LOL, I was editing, didn't know you were following along at the moment. I'm simply getting at you are trying to change it for the wrong reason.

Okay that I understand. Now to my next point. If there are no withdraws to the larger filter why shouldn't I upgrade to a bigger one if I'm going to change the oil anyhow.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:43 pm

The only technical reason that you need to watch out for is pressure. Now, I am trying to remember exactly how to type it, but the simplified version of it is, different filters have different bypass valve PSI ratings. If you choose to go larger, you need to make sure you find one with the same PSI rating as the "correct" one. Again though, if you want to clean the engine, simply throwing a larger filter on there isn't going to do it. You ask why not, and I ask why? It's all personal preference, just make sure you do it correctly.

Haganracing · Post by **Haganracing** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:47 pm

I would just use the filter they designed for the engine.

They are the engineers, we just own neons.

j-king · Post by **j-king** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:47 pm

go with the mopar oil filter its a good size and its the one i run

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:52 pm

Purolator makes the Mopar ones. And on the PSI ratings the bigger one I'm looking at is supposed to be 8-16 just like ours but I'll just run the stock one.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:04 pm

You still want to clean the engine real good? It's a bit pricey, but it's supposed to be the best.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:05 pm

Depends on how pricey. Do go on.

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:30 pm

Auto-RX

/thread

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:31 pm

I have used the larger filter for 90,000 miles. No problems.

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:00 pm

Ehh, I'll let the engine clean itself lol.

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:01 pm

heydockyle wrote: Would it filter any better since there is more mass to filter it with?

The ability to filter depends on the media used. As in how large the particles it lets pass. It could be the size of the car, but that doesn't mean it will filter any better. A larger filter will require more oil to fill the engine, but may add a bit more oil life between changes. But being that you change it every 3000 miles, you are essentially wasting that extra oil.

An 8A is going to hang down quite a bit. I would not go more than a 16 or 43, which are basically the same thing. Not sure why the 16 was even made. Unless there are differences in the bypass. The 8A, 16 and 43 are all basically the same diameter, just different lengths.

OB · Post by OB » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:01 pm

Changing to a larger oil filter isn't really necessary, as stated above numerous times. Stick with what works.

Are you running fully synthetic oil? Now THAT is something worth considering, for all the right reasons.

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:19 pm

OB wrote:Are you running fully synthetic oil? Now THAT is something worth considering, for all the right reasons.

debatable.

OB · Post by OB » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:27 pm

racer12306 wrote:
OB wrote:Are you running fully synthetic oil? Now THAT is something worth considering, for all the right reasons.
debatable.

What ISN'T debatable?

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:27 pm

racer12306 wrote:Auto-RX

/thread

That is what my suggestion was going to be. I have not done it, due to the fact that, well, I have never had a need to. This is the "go-to" stuff though from all I have read everywhere.

http://www.auto-rx.com/pages/applications.htm

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:09 pm

OB wrote:
racer12306 wrote:
OB wrote:Are you running fully synthetic oil? Now THAT is something worth considering, for all the right reasons.
debatable.
What ISN'T debatable?

Very true.

It depends on what he is going to be doing with the car really.