are all acdelco filters the same

[HaroldCallahan]

Never thought much about it, but now with a brand new GMC Yukon I want to make sure the filter is quality. I have been getting acdelco filters at autozone for my 1988 GMC.

I got the pf46 filter for the yukon at the dealer since autozone did not have them. Then I ran across a post that said something about that different manufacturers actually make the acdelco filters.

Is there a difference between one from autozone and one from the dealer - for both the old gmc and the new yukon I would be interested to know.

 

[jthorner]

There are at least three documented manufacturers of AC-Delco oil filters: Champion Labs (who also makes most STP, WalMart SuperTech, Bosch Premium USA and others), Delphi (previously part of GM, now a separate company) and a filter maker in Mexico of which I forget the name. Each filter has quite different design and construction. There are also other makers who supply some of the new cartridge type filters.

At this point AC-Delco is really just a marketing name for GM's parts division. Actual suppliers vary by location, etc.

John

 

[ruking77]

..."At this point AC-Delco is really just a marketing name for GM's parts division. Actual suppliers vary by location, etc."

While I do not think you meant this in a perjorative way, I think as a counter point it needs to be said that AC Delco filters perform very very well. Given the fact they are "commodity" oil filters AND oem specificationed, they deliver enormous bang for the buck. For example, AC Delco PF44 is the OEM for my Corvette Z06. I bought a slug of them for two dollars each(12) )24 dollars. The AC Delco UPF44 filter, which they discontinued and resurected due to Corvette owners complaining, and are still almost as rare as hen's teeth cost 8 dollars. The Mobil One p/n is 10. So am I getting 4-5x more performance than the AC Delco?

 

[T-Keith]

According to Filter Guy, a former Champion employee, the OEM filters are for the most part Delphi and the Over the counter models are Champion. There are few filter for sale Advance auto parts that are made in Mexico by a company OWNED by Champion, they will be disappearing soon so don't worry about those.

Check out my site for a cut away of the different filters.

http://www.lesabret.com/filters/filter.html

The P44 is the same physical size but has different threads, so it will be relevant for your application. Both are good filters I wouldn't worry about using either.

-T

 

[1kickbuttranger]

I'm guessing that the Champ labs AC Delco is purdy good, I was looking at one for my application at Pep Boys, the PF400, and it was defenetly much better than other Champs. This one was made in the USA and it had a front mounted bypass valve (it had a black ADBV). The only other Champ filter with the front mount is the Mobil 1, all others are "Hecho" and have the clicker in back. I've seen all Champ filters for my app, but I haven't seen the K&N to see how its built.

So the way I see it is that they are a notch above the rest.

 

[labman]

As previously reported, I have done some chopping on AC 1177 and equivalents. I found the AC of unknown manufacturer having much more filter area than ST and STP, and non champ filters. My guess is that GM has a fairly high standard for all the manufacturers, and leaves the details of getting there to the manufacturer.

Quality of media is a tough issue. Otherwise, I haven't seen anything here to justify the more expensive filters in place of the OEM. If you can't find the OEM at a reasonable price, go ST or check out the Valuecraft or Grip whatever.


No 2 applications seem to show the same relative ranking. Also, media area seems to slowly slide down each year.