AcDelco PF63 (old) and PF63A (new) comparison

[ianZ]

Just had the PF63 and PF63A cut open and compared side by side.
Apprantly the old blue PF63 will be gone for a while or forever, for now the new black PF63A is the only one we can get.
The PF63A is shorter but heavier.
Case and the base plate are both thicker and heavier on PF63A.
Filter element got shorter, and the plate gap is not as uniform and even as old blue.
Anti-drainback valve are both black rubber, but PF63A got much thinner, only half compare to old blue.
The bypass valve are different, cannot tell who is better.
PF63A comes with plastic seal/wrap to keep debri out.
Overall not very impressive for new filter, but as long as they work in the same way, no complain either.

 

[diesellover]

Fantastic. Thank you for sharing! I posted how I am a mobile truck technician and we regularly would buy dozens of the pf63 oil filters for the isuzu trucks with the 6.6 gas as well as the duramax diesel 6.6 liter.

Couldn't buy a pf63 suddenly and had to buy several pf63A. The duramax diesel is asking a lot out of a oil filter when it comes to a small filter such as these so at the very least I make sure to buy an oem ac Delco! JMO

Was definitely wanting a comparison

 

[Fair enough]

A burn test would show if the shiny adbv on the pf63a Silver is silicone or not, it may be.

 

[JTK]

It's a shame they went a little bit shorter with the newer PG made PF63A's, but they're a decently made filter. I'm on my second case (of 12) of Ecogard X2500's for my GMs. I believe it's the same filter in all dimensions, painted a different color. Blue, oddly enough.

 

[DannyM]

Just had the PF63 and PF63A cut open and compared side by side.
Apprantly the old blue PF63 will be gone for a while or forever, for now the new black PF63A is the only one we can get.
The PF63A is shorter but heavier.
Case and the base plate are both thicker and heavier on PF63A.
Filter element got shorter, and the plate gap is not as uniform and even as old blue.
Anti-drainback valve are both black rubber, but PF63A got much thinner, only half compare to old blue.
The bypass valve are different, cannot tell who is better.
PF63A comes with plastic seal/wrap to keep debri out.
Overall not very impressive for new filter, but as long as they work in the same way, no complain either.
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You forgot to mention the Blue one probably leaks.. Isn't that like the most important thing here?

they are usually like this : https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/champ-xl-seal-area-flashlight-tested.387318/

 

[DannyM]

It's a shame they went a little bit shorter with the newer PG made PF63A's, but they're a decently made filter. I'm on my second case (of 12) of Ecogard X2500's for my GMs. I believe it's the same filter painted a different color. Blue, oddly enough.

That black AC might not be from a PG factory because their factories have always shown "leak tested" on the top and I have never seen a PG factory use that baseplate plus some of these black ones are coming out of a Thai factory and PG doesn't have any factories there fwir... I would take a guess that GM has their own network of factories they deal with when they need them going back a long time. If they continue to use Champ or FB in the future then there would probably be some PG factory products coming out of that situation.

 

[Hootbro]

It's a shame they went a little bit shorter with the newer PG made PF63A's, but they're a decently made filter. I'm on my second case (of 12) of Ecogard X2500's for my GMs. I believe it's the same filter in all dimensions, painted a different color. Blue, oddly enough.

I am betting it has either the like same or even more filter media though. The Ecore filters were deceiving even with more and tighter pleats but that was offset by the larger center tube dimensions.

 

[Sayjac]

I am betting it has either the like same or even more filter media though. The Ecore filters were deceiving even with more and tighter pleats but that was offset by the larger center tube dimensions.

True that. I've mentioned that point a time or time two with ecore c&p. That said, for right price like previous MP series and lesser so plain ST, I could live with that. Otoh, the leaky bypass seal areas, deal breaker for me. I wonder now if the last of CL ecores have been seen. We'll see.

I like the 'looks' of the newer ACDelco.

 

[danstraylee]

Thank you for sharing. I had no idea they changed to a different filter. This is the first time seeing a PF63A.

As of a few days ago I was still able to get the blue standard PF63 for about 10 bucks at the local dealer and auto parts store as well. Both O'Reilly and Auto Zone charge a bit more.

 

[danstraylee]

You forgot to mention the Blue one probably leaks.. Isn't that like the most important thing here?

they are usually like this : https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/champ-xl-seal-area-flashlight-tested.387318/

I still trust it 100% over any aftermarket. My anecdotal experience is perfect with the PF63 across all my GM's. From almost 200,000 mile 4.3 1/2 ton to over 300,000 mile 350 3/4 ton to over 500,000 mile multiple fleet 6500 HD's and now my low mile 6.6 L5p.

So over a few dozen trucks and millions of miles with zero oil related issue or filter failure. I will not be changing anytime soon.

I honestly don't get caught up in these weird negative claims posted on YouTube videos.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Old Blue is a ZZ Top special.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I still trust it 100% over any aftermarket.

The OEMs are built by the same companies that build the aftermarket filters. Car companies don't manufacture their own oil filters.

 

[danstraylee]

The OEMs are built by the same companies that build the aftermarket filters. Car companies don't manufacture their own oil filters.

I understand that.

However the OEM is engineered for the manufacturer with a specific bypass pressure, filtering media and flow rate. When you purchase an aftermarket filter it's like throwing darts to and questionable if it meets manufacturers specifications.

I will give an example on the Isuzu, Volvo and CAT generators in the 90's. Our manager had this great idea to purchase Fram oil/fuel filters for our units for a fraction of the cost of Isuzu/CAT OEM's. We had multiple machines rupture those piece of junk oil filters. Fortunately the low oil pressure shut offs did their jobs. And man what a mess!!

After a few failures the VP of our company made it a hard rule to service units with spin ons with nothing but OEM or Baldwin.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I understand that.

However the OEM is engineered for the manufacturer with a specific bypass pressure, filtering media and flow rate. When you purchase an aftermarket filter it's like throwing darts to and questionable if it meets manufacturers specifications.

Pretty much every main brand of aftermarket filter maker will say that it meets or exceeds the OEM specs. If it doesn't, then stay away from those.

I will give an example on the Isuzu, Volvo and CAT generators in the 90's. Our manager had this great idea to purchase Baldwin and Fram oil/fuel filters for our units for a fraction of the cost of Isuzu/CAT OEM's. We had multiple machines rupture those piece of junk oil filters. Fortunately the low oil pressure shut offs did their jobs. And man what a mess!!

After a few failures the VP of our company made it a hard rule to service units with spin ons with nothing but OEM.

Baldwins that were junk ... wow. Frams in the 90s, more likely. Don't hear much of those stories these days. Did they contact Baldwin and Fram back then, and if so what was the response?

There have also been cases where the OEM filters have had quality issues, because they are built by companies that make aftermarket oil filters.

 

[danstraylee]

Baldwins that were junk ... wow. Frams in the 90s, more likely. Don't hear much of those stories these days. Did they contact Baldwin and Fram back then, and if so what was the response?

OOPS I misspoke. It was just the Frams. We went to OEM or Baldwin only for all our needs. For the trucks we had an account with NAPA and they seemed to be ok.

I fixed it. Sorry about that.

 

[DannyM]

I still trust it 100% over any aftermarket. My anecdotal experience is perfect with the PF63 across all my GM's. From almost 200,000 mile 4.3 1/2 ton to over 300,000 mile 350 3/4 ton to over 500,000 mile multiple fleet 6500 HD's and now my low mile 6.6 L5p.

So over a few dozen trucks and millions of miles with zero oil related issue or filter failure. I will not be changing anytime soon.

I honestly don't get caught up in these weird negative claims posted on YouTube videos.

Yes they work of course.. but they work while usually leaking internally. I used to use the similar Champ models and thought the same that they were great filters and never a problem but did not realize they were most likely leaking internally from the leaf spring. You don't see that on the outside of the filter.

That video is not "weird negative claims". He is showing you proof on how the AC Delco / Champ etc leak from the leaf spring.

Here is another ACDelco demo below on how they leak. You can see the light coming through where it should be sealed shut. It's not a "weird negative claim" lol....... It's evidence.

 

[JasonL]

Is PF63A 14-Flute? 73mm?

 

[sw91]

Is PF63A 14-Flute? 73mm?

I count 14 flutes in the picture in post #1. They appear to be the same diameter, but can't say for sure.

 

[4wd]

A burn test would show if the shiny adbv on the pf63a Silver is silicone or not, it may be.

AEM

 

[JasonL]

I count 14 flutes in the picture in post #1. They appear to be the same diameter, but can't say for sure.

I know PF63 is 15 flutes 74mm. Strange it’s different.