AC Delco Response in regards to UPF/SPF and PF filters

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See my questions below their response:
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Thank you for writing ACDelco.
At this time we are only offering the UPF44 and the UPF52 in the Ultraguard
Gold filters. Here are some information that you may find useful regarding
the filter microns.
Duraguard is an excellent filter that will capture particles as small as 25
microns and has a media made of a synthetic/cellulose blend instead of just
cellulose. Cellulose is a wood-based paper product and the term
"synthetic" simply means man made.

The Duraguard Silver media is a blend of synthetic and cellulose material
as well, but is considered a high-performance media because it has a
greater amount of the synthetic filtering material than utilized in the
Duraguard media. This media can trap contaminants down to 15 microns,
which helps reduce engine wear, and has a lower resistance to flow compared
to other premium filters (see below to see why this occurs). Thus more
clean oil is likely to circulate in the engine, especially at critical time
periods when oil flow may be impeded, such as during cold engine startup,
since the engine oil bypass valve is less likely to be utilized. The
Duraguard Silver oil filter also has a Teflon-coated gasket and a static
cling window sticker to record oil changes.

The Ultraguard Gold goes even beyond the Duraguard Silver Filters by
providing a 100% synthetic media that can trap contaminants down to 8-10
microns with an even lower resistance to flow than the Duraguard Silver
filters (see below). In addition this 100% synthetic media is wire backed.
The wire backing helps ensure that the filter media can endure very high
differential pressures, that may occur on cold start up or severe usage,
with less likelihood of internal buckling of the media (which can impeded
oil flow). This highly durable wire-backed media thus helps ensure the
likelihood that the oil will flow through the filter and not bypass the
filter through the oil bypass valve, as may occur on filters with a media
that flows less freely. The Ultraguard oil filter also features a
Teflon-coated gasket, like the Duraguard Silver, that helps to eliminate
leakage and is easier to install and remove.

You may also be asking what's so special about this synthetic media over
cellulose media. And that's a great question! As indicated above, the
term synthetic simply means man-made. The synthetic media used in our oil
filters is made of a fiberglass-like material. The media pores in this
material are more uniform in size and smaller as well, which allow it to
trap smaller contaminants. Even when the media openings are smaller, their
more uniform size and greater number allow excellent oil flow through the
filter. In terms of 20-micron efficiencies, most premium filters perform
very similar. When compared to other premium oil filters the Ultraguard
Gold oil filter has a very low resistance to flow while at the same time
filtering very tiny particles.

We hope that this information was helpful to you!

Thank you for your interest in ACDelco.
ACDelco -----------------------------------------------
To: [email protected]
Subject: ACD - ACDelco - Other Suggestions
Date & Time: 12/28/2002 21:18 EST

Dear AC Delco,
I have a problem regarding oil filters I need help with. Here are my
questions:
1. What is the SAE test efficiency rating of the standars AC Delco
Duraguard oil filters. Single pass and multi pass (in percent) and at what
particle size (micron).
2. Is AC Delco discontinuing the AC Delco Ultraguard Gold and Silver oil
filter lines?
3. How does the AC Delco Duraguard filter flow compared to the high flowing
Ultraguard Gold.
4. If no AC Delco filters are available, what are a few brands of top (!)
quality oil filters you can also recommend.

Thank you very much in advance for the information.
Alex
 
Excellent info but it's odd they would mention the Duraguard Silvers since those filters were stopped a long time ago and they aren't even on their website anymore!

Those silvers looked like a good bargain too!
 
They still make the UPF48R filters, but the internals on the UPF48R are the exact same as the classic non e-core PF48. Only difference is it's abilities to withstand higher pressure. This is most likely why they only listed the UPF44 and UPF52 filters. Those are the last of the real true UPF series filters with full synthetic media.
 
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
i see a lot of their e-core [censored] and stay away from a/c delco filters since they changed to e core!


AC Delco's non e-core "classic" filters aren't that bad at all as long as you change the oil every 5K miles. The filters are cellulose based, but even being cellulose based, it's hard to look past the 95.7% efficiency rating. They are not designed for extended drain intervals. Sad thing is AC Delco has started to phase out the non e-core filters, so unless you stock up for years of filters, they will be gone soon. Most GM dealers ran out of them and now only have e-core filters. I stocked up on a case of PF63 filters just in case I ever needed them. If I decide to sell them, they should sell quickly!
 
Fram ultra, Amsoil and others make the close enough to be the same as the fancy Delco.
 
Originally Posted By: CT8
Fram ultra, Amsoil and others make the close enough to be the same as the fancy Delco.


What?
 
Originally Posted By: GM4LIFE
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
i see a lot of their e-core [censored] and stay away from a/c delco filters since they changed to e core!


AC Delco's non e-core "classic" filters aren't that bad at all as long as you change the oil every 5K miles. The filters are cellulose based, but even being cellulose based, it's hard to look past the 95.7% efficiency rating. They are not designed for extended drain intervals. Sad thing is AC Delco has started to phase out the non e-core filters, so unless you stock up for years of filters, they will be gone soon. Most GM dealers ran out of them and now only have e-core filters. I stocked up on a case of PF63 filters just in case I ever needed them. If I decide to sell them, they should sell quickly!


Rockauto also seems to have a decent supply of non ecore filters. I picked up a handful of PF-52s there for cheap money for my Equinox.
 
Originally Posted By: GM4LIFE
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
i see a lot of their e-core [censored] and stay away from a/c delco filters since they changed to e core!


AC Delco's non e-core "classic" filters aren't that bad at all as long as you change the oil every 5K miles. The filters are cellulose based, but even being cellulose based, it's hard to look past the 95.7% efficiency rating. They are not designed for extended drain intervals. Sad thing is AC Delco has started to phase out the non e-core filters, so unless you stock up for years of filters, they will be gone soon. Most GM dealers ran out of them and now only have e-core filters. I stocked up on a case of PF63 filters just in case I ever needed them. If I decide to sell them, they should sell quickly!


Inaccurate. The e-core failures have nothing to do with mileage. If they have uneven/wide pleating, with wide v shaped pleats they can tear a hole in under 5k. I experienced this with a 3200 mile OCI:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/1813460/1

Unless you can get a good look inside the can and confirm it has tight, even spacing all around I wouldn't touch one.
 
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