I've been amounting a mass of used oil filters for the day when I finally get a filter cutter. Alas, that day hasn't yet come, and the need to clear some shelf space prompted me to just man up and hack these filters open with the tools on hand (chisel and tin snips).
So, I present to you a collection of filters that I ran on my 03 Ford Focus Duratech, with a straggler Fl-400s from an old camry (can also be used on focus, but more on that below). Pictures were taken with my phone...I'm a bit under the weather today, so wasn't in the mood to break out my good camera and go through the hassle of a manual PB upload.
First up is the group shot.
From left to right, Motorcraft FL-400s, Fram XG3614, Napa Gold 1348, MC FL-910, M1 102.
The Purolator (MC) filters had the thinnest can, followed by the Wix. The Fram had a pretty tough can on it, but the hardest to cut open of the bunch was the Mobil 1. Real pain in the rear.
FL-400s is the latest iteration of this filter. Its been shrunk by about half an inch compared to the old FL-400. It uses a silicone ADBV, and a threaded end bypass. Lots of media that was in reasonably good condition. I pulled this filter off my fathers 89 Camry, I estimate it had around 4k miles and 7-9 months of use.
This filter is almost identical to the new FL-910s, except its longer. Otherwise, they both share the same threaded end bypass and silicone ADBV. Unfortunately, I threw all my 910s filters away...so I only had the older 910 to cut open.
The new shorter 410s can be used on the focus as its still tucked under the car (older longer one hangs down too low).
This is the older FL-910. Its got a little over 5k on it, and 4 months of use. Note, its been sitting on my shelf for over a year.
Its got a nitrile ADBV, its a bit stiff...appears to have hardened a tad. Probably due to sitting on my shelf for so long.
The media is a little wavy, but otherwise intact. The filter has a dome end bypass integrated into the filter element.
This is a Napa Gold (Wix) filter. It has a little over 5k miles on it, and probably 5 months of use. Its been sitting on my shelf for at least 4yrs.
The ADBV is still very pliable and soft. The media looks in decent shape though it has hardened somewhat from sitting so long.
This filter uses a threaded end bypass that rests in the center tube of the can. There is no gasket or o-ring, and the metal on metal connection makes me think that a bit of oil could leak past the seam. However there is a great deal of spring tension on the filter from the coil spring at the bottom of the can.
Its worth noting that this filter had the smallest element...but I didn't measure pleat depth, so actual filtering area is unknown.
This Fram Extended Guard has 7k miles of use in about 7 or 8 months. It was pulled off my car just yesterday, so has spent 0 time sitting on my shelf.
It uses a silicone ADBV and a dome end bypass. The ADBV is soft and pliable.
The bypass is integrated into the leaf spring at the bottom of the can, and seals up against the filtering element with a rubber gasket. The bypass was in good condition and worked fine when I tested it.
The filtering media was in great shape...and looked the best out of the bunch. Fram advertises a dual layer synthetic media with a wire mesh backing, and while I can't validate their dual layer claim, I can say it was very thick media and very very tough. Overall I liked this filter a good deal, just wished it used a threaded end bypass like the others. As for pleat count, it was the lowest of the filters. I didn't measure pleat depth however, so actual filtering area is unknown. Note, with synthetic media filter media thickness is also a factor, and this media is very thick.
This Mobil 1 102 filter has approximately 5-8k miles on it, though it is a bit tough to recall as I did some long OCI's around that time. It has been sitting on my shelf for 3-4years...probably a bit longer.
This filter had a silicone ADBV, and it was soft and pliable. Apparently it also had the ability to walk, as I can't find it anywhere. Funny how I can loose a bright orange ring in a 2ft by 2ft area...
ANYWAYS, this filter uses a threaded end bypass.
The media was in decent shape, a bit hardened from sitting so long. As I mentioned briefly above, the can on this filter was the toughest of the bunch, and the threaded baseplate was also the heaviest. Overall this filter weighed the most and felt the most substantial.
Anyways, my personal impressions.
Filter I liked the least...Napa Gold. Don't get me wrong, its a well built filter, but when I can get an FL-910s (or 400s) for $4 and they too use a threaded end bypass and silicone ADBV...the Napa's price doesn't make sense.
Second in line was the old style FL-910...fortunately they don't make them like this anymore. Nothing terribly wrong with it, but against this lineup it seems to come up a bit short. New 910s is much nicer.
What I liked:
Motorcraft FL-400s. Nice features and an even nicer price. 910s is a good filter for the Focus owner who is running reasonable oil change intervals.
Fram Extended Guard. Though it bares the name Fram, its a very well built filter. The media being perfect after a decent amount of use just makes me smile. I wish it had a threaded end bypass, but alas....it probably won't make much of a difference in use. I bought this filter for a tiny bit over $7, and I feel its worth it. I've come to find out that they are now $9 at Walmart, and at that price point, I'll probably be sticking with the Motorcraft for my somewhat short change intervals (5-7.5k).
Lastly we are left with the M1. At its regular price point, it simply isn't really worth it unless you have a specific need for an indestructible filter. However, this filter is commonly available on sale with various oil specials...and if purchased that way, is a nice buy. In fact, I just bought the $28 Synpower deal at O'reillys a couple days ago
.
There you have it, a collection of old oil filters. Most people would think its trash, but I know the bitog crowd can never resist a filter in the buff.
What's even more interesting is that last night I took a hand file to my filter mount, and an now fit the wide can ford filters (FL1a/FL-300). The FL-300 is just short enough to be safe under the car, but increases oil capacity enough to let me run a full 5qts in my car. So, I'll have to start cutting open FL-300 equivalents now.
So, I present to you a collection of filters that I ran on my 03 Ford Focus Duratech, with a straggler Fl-400s from an old camry (can also be used on focus, but more on that below). Pictures were taken with my phone...I'm a bit under the weather today, so wasn't in the mood to break out my good camera and go through the hassle of a manual PB upload.
First up is the group shot.
From left to right, Motorcraft FL-400s, Fram XG3614, Napa Gold 1348, MC FL-910, M1 102.
The Purolator (MC) filters had the thinnest can, followed by the Wix. The Fram had a pretty tough can on it, but the hardest to cut open of the bunch was the Mobil 1. Real pain in the rear.
FL-400s is the latest iteration of this filter. Its been shrunk by about half an inch compared to the old FL-400. It uses a silicone ADBV, and a threaded end bypass. Lots of media that was in reasonably good condition. I pulled this filter off my fathers 89 Camry, I estimate it had around 4k miles and 7-9 months of use.
This filter is almost identical to the new FL-910s, except its longer. Otherwise, they both share the same threaded end bypass and silicone ADBV. Unfortunately, I threw all my 910s filters away...so I only had the older 910 to cut open.
The new shorter 410s can be used on the focus as its still tucked under the car (older longer one hangs down too low).
This is the older FL-910. Its got a little over 5k on it, and 4 months of use. Note, its been sitting on my shelf for over a year.
Its got a nitrile ADBV, its a bit stiff...appears to have hardened a tad. Probably due to sitting on my shelf for so long.
The media is a little wavy, but otherwise intact. The filter has a dome end bypass integrated into the filter element.
This is a Napa Gold (Wix) filter. It has a little over 5k miles on it, and probably 5 months of use. Its been sitting on my shelf for at least 4yrs.
The ADBV is still very pliable and soft. The media looks in decent shape though it has hardened somewhat from sitting so long.
This filter uses a threaded end bypass that rests in the center tube of the can. There is no gasket or o-ring, and the metal on metal connection makes me think that a bit of oil could leak past the seam. However there is a great deal of spring tension on the filter from the coil spring at the bottom of the can.
Its worth noting that this filter had the smallest element...but I didn't measure pleat depth, so actual filtering area is unknown.
This Fram Extended Guard has 7k miles of use in about 7 or 8 months. It was pulled off my car just yesterday, so has spent 0 time sitting on my shelf.
It uses a silicone ADBV and a dome end bypass. The ADBV is soft and pliable.
The bypass is integrated into the leaf spring at the bottom of the can, and seals up against the filtering element with a rubber gasket. The bypass was in good condition and worked fine when I tested it.
The filtering media was in great shape...and looked the best out of the bunch. Fram advertises a dual layer synthetic media with a wire mesh backing, and while I can't validate their dual layer claim, I can say it was very thick media and very very tough. Overall I liked this filter a good deal, just wished it used a threaded end bypass like the others. As for pleat count, it was the lowest of the filters. I didn't measure pleat depth however, so actual filtering area is unknown. Note, with synthetic media filter media thickness is also a factor, and this media is very thick.
This Mobil 1 102 filter has approximately 5-8k miles on it, though it is a bit tough to recall as I did some long OCI's around that time. It has been sitting on my shelf for 3-4years...probably a bit longer.
This filter had a silicone ADBV, and it was soft and pliable. Apparently it also had the ability to walk, as I can't find it anywhere. Funny how I can loose a bright orange ring in a 2ft by 2ft area...
ANYWAYS, this filter uses a threaded end bypass.
The media was in decent shape, a bit hardened from sitting so long. As I mentioned briefly above, the can on this filter was the toughest of the bunch, and the threaded baseplate was also the heaviest. Overall this filter weighed the most and felt the most substantial.
Anyways, my personal impressions.
Filter I liked the least...Napa Gold. Don't get me wrong, its a well built filter, but when I can get an FL-910s (or 400s) for $4 and they too use a threaded end bypass and silicone ADBV...the Napa's price doesn't make sense.
Second in line was the old style FL-910...fortunately they don't make them like this anymore. Nothing terribly wrong with it, but against this lineup it seems to come up a bit short. New 910s is much nicer.
What I liked:
Motorcraft FL-400s. Nice features and an even nicer price. 910s is a good filter for the Focus owner who is running reasonable oil change intervals.
Fram Extended Guard. Though it bares the name Fram, its a very well built filter. The media being perfect after a decent amount of use just makes me smile. I wish it had a threaded end bypass, but alas....it probably won't make much of a difference in use. I bought this filter for a tiny bit over $7, and I feel its worth it. I've come to find out that they are now $9 at Walmart, and at that price point, I'll probably be sticking with the Motorcraft for my somewhat short change intervals (5-7.5k).
Lastly we are left with the M1. At its regular price point, it simply isn't really worth it unless you have a specific need for an indestructible filter. However, this filter is commonly available on sale with various oil specials...and if purchased that way, is a nice buy. In fact, I just bought the $28 Synpower deal at O'reillys a couple days ago
There you have it, a collection of old oil filters. Most people would think its trash, but I know the bitog crowd can never resist a filter in the buff.
What's even more interesting is that last night I took a hand file to my filter mount, and an now fit the wide can ford filters (FL1a/FL-300). The FL-300 is just short enough to be safe under the car, but increases oil capacity enough to let me run a full 5qts in my car. So, I'll have to start cutting open FL-300 equivalents now.
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