These are the filters I pulled off my Neon, my sons Neon and my wife's 900 Saab turbo.
3 filters lined up, one ecore ST from my Neon, 102k miles, Advance Auto Total Grips from son's Neon, 117k miles and Saab with 150k miles
The ecore from my car, 4k miles, Havoline dino 5-30. No separation of the pleats from the end. I pulled up on the end material and was able to separate it with a pull, I could feel the glue giving. I put a light into the center and there was no light from any tears or holes. The only thing was the pleats next to the glued seam were distorted. The ADV wasn't as soft as the ones in the Total Grips, but it was thicker too. It wasn't hard, just not as pliable.
Here is the Total Grip from the other Neon. 5-30 Havoline Dino with 4k miles on it. This motor has piston slap all the time, worse on start up. Burns 1 quart in the 4k miles. Distortion all the way around on the pleats. No holes or tears in the media.
Now the Total Grip from the Saab. 4k mile on this with Havoline dino 10-30. Once again, distortion of the seams all the way around but no tears or holes through the media. This is the 2.0 turbo motor.
Has anyone used a lighter oil in the 2.0L turbo Saabs? All of the Saab specialist around here say to use the 10-30. With all the reading I have done on here, I question this.
Giving back to the group.
3 filters lined up, one ecore ST from my Neon, 102k miles, Advance Auto Total Grips from son's Neon, 117k miles and Saab with 150k miles
The ecore from my car, 4k miles, Havoline dino 5-30. No separation of the pleats from the end. I pulled up on the end material and was able to separate it with a pull, I could feel the glue giving. I put a light into the center and there was no light from any tears or holes. The only thing was the pleats next to the glued seam were distorted. The ADV wasn't as soft as the ones in the Total Grips, but it was thicker too. It wasn't hard, just not as pliable.
Here is the Total Grip from the other Neon. 5-30 Havoline Dino with 4k miles on it. This motor has piston slap all the time, worse on start up. Burns 1 quart in the 4k miles. Distortion all the way around on the pleats. No holes or tears in the media.
Now the Total Grip from the Saab. 4k mile on this with Havoline dino 10-30. Once again, distortion of the seams all the way around but no tears or holes through the media. This is the 2.0 turbo motor.
Has anyone used a lighter oil in the 2.0L turbo Saabs? All of the Saab specialist around here say to use the 10-30. With all the reading I have done on here, I question this.
Giving back to the group.
