Are SuperTech filters good enough?

2019CRVlx · Dec 31, 2004

Was planning on bring a NAPA gold filter to Walmart and get a M1 oil change. OCI will be 6 months, I'll probably only have 3-4k miles.

Are SuperTech filters adequate or should I stick to my plan of providing a NAPA gold?

JohnnyO · Dec 31, 2004

The ST's are adequate, either would be fine. Depends on how much you want to save $3 really.

ruking77 · Dec 31, 2004

Absolutely, and positively! They are made by Champion Labs. At 2 dollars and less per, it is a fantastic bang for the buck!

As a policy, I do not like to stock consumeable items like oil filters. This is akin to putting dollar bills on a shelf. There are much better places to put dollars than on a shelf. So if you go to a Honda dealer an OEM filter (made by FRAM) will cost between 5-7 dollars. In my neck of the woods, neighborhood auto stores have periodic 2 for 6 dollar (3 bucks each) FRAM oil filter sales.

But in the case of the Supertech (7317 for me) I bought WalMart's CA's entire stock (6 each at 2.07 per= 12.42 ). Six filters represents up to 120,000 miles of filtration with Mobil One 0w20 in my application.

[ January 01, 2005, 01:54 PM: Message edited by: ruking77 ]

labman · Dec 31, 2004

I have been here for almost 2 years. Oil filters are a big thing. Reports of damage to an engine from Frams are very rare, and even less for anything else. Still there are reports of start up noise etc. with some of the other filters. I would try an ST and see if you have problems. At the worst, 6 months of start up noise are not going to ruin your engine, and if it is too bad, you could always change to the NAPA or other more expensive filter.

I hesitated a long time pre BITOG before trying a cheap ST from Wal-Mart on my truck. Eventually I chopped one open along with a bunch of other inexpensive filters. It was about the same as the rest. I haven't even seen much data here to show it inferior to the more expensive filters. In some numbers, I have seen WIX/NAPA come up short on filter area.

Virtuoso · Dec 31, 2004

If you're already gonna pony up the $$ for Mobil 1 oil, why not get a quality filter (Napa Gold) to go with it?

T-Keith · Dec 31, 2004

Definitely a good filter. Some worry about the "clicker" bypass on some supertech filters, but if your application is a Toyota I believe they use a more traditional ADBV in that application. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Use the Supertech and it won't cost you any more.

-T

ekpolk · Dec 31, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by ruking77:
Absolutely, and positively! They are made by Champion Labs. At 2 dollars and less per, it is a fantastic bang for the buck!

As a policy, I do not like to stock consumeable items like oil filters. This is akin to putting dollar bills on a shelf. There are much better places to put dollars than on a shelf. {snip}

I think that the ST filters will do fine. I have not used them, but I base my assertion on the Champion Labs skeletal structure, which looks extra sturdy, esp compared to some of the cheapos like Fram.

For the sake of argument, I DO stock consumables in moderate quantities. As I see it, an individual's finances, while sharing many parallels, are not really comparable to those of a multi million or billion business. For me, it pays to have 10-20 changes worth of consubables, usually purchased in large batches, on hand. This saves me the expense of making multiple, relatively costly trips, to buy individual consumable items. Just how much interest might I earn on the $50 I have tied up in stocked filters over time? How much does one trip out to buy a single filter cost? For me, it's better to stock in moderation. Apologies for going

; just a little food for thought.

ruking77 · Jan 1, 2005

Perhaps I should have connected the dots, but in the case of the Supertech filters it makes sense to stock them, if only for the fact that I have scoured at least 8 WalMarts and at least 3 in different states and the restocking effort is almost non existent.(I didn't go into 7 of them for that particular reason, but being has how I had to go there.. a side trip to the auto dept!?)

So like in the case of a Mobil One filter (for Corolla.Civic) they can cost up to 10 dollars. (a very fine quality filter I might add) Contrast that with the Supertech filter at 2 dollars. Are you really getting a filter that is 5 x's better, from a performance point of view? For my 2 cents, NO! Even if you are getting a filter 5x better, what or how does that statistically matter!? Of course under what conditions etc etc. Even on this august thread, from a statistical point of view the case has not been statistically established. Also the issue is really the fact that oil filters are really a "commodity". Marketing efforts of course will focus on differentiation.

So that you can tell where I am coming from, I use Mobil One 5w30 in three of my current vehicles WITH 15,000 mile oil and FILTER change intervals. (OCI's) 2 Toyota Landcruisers, 1 Corvette Z06.

On a VW Jetta TDI, I use Delvac One 5w40 aka Mobil One 5w40 Truck & SUV. WITH 15,000-20,000 mile oci's . After break in and warranty miles of 36,000 miles on a Honda Civic, will do 15,000-20,000 mile OCI's with Mobil One 0w20.

[ January 01, 2005, 04:47 PM: Message edited by: ruking77 ]

Bryanccfshr · Jan 1, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by 05corollaLE:
Was planning on bring a NAPA gold filter to Walmart and get a M1 oil change. OCI will be 6 months, I'll probably only have 3-4k miles.

Are SuperTech filters adequate or should I stick to my plan of providing a NAPA gold?

I have made the switch to Supertech filters on my vehcile where the filter is mounted in a vertical position, I would have never considered them before coming to BITOG! If I can get comparable filtration for a few dollars cheaper I can put that money into other things (for me better quality oils if I didn't like the idea of oil changes that cost less than $10 for the family car.
5 quarts of Motorcraft 5w30 $7.10
1 supertech filter $2.07
A few cents for a few oz of Lube control and I am

wn1998 · Jan 1, 2005

I use a pure one for piece of mind. If I am going to spend $3.99 or more a quart on synthetic oil, an extra $2 for a Pure One oil filter is not going to break the bank. I would rather spend $2 and rest easy then wonder "what if"

XS650 · Jan 1, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by wn1998:
I use a pure one for piece of mind. If I am going to spend $3.99 or more a quart on synthetic oil, an extra $2 for a Pure One oil filter is not going to break the bank. I would rather spend $2 and rest easy then wonder "what if"

Doesn't the Purolator bypass valve being in a location where bypass oil will more likely wash dirt from in the can and on the filter element into your engine bother you?

DJ · Jan 1, 2005

Sounds to me like they guys arguing for the more expensive filters are arguing that they cost more and are therefor better, but all the reports on the ST filters are that they are good qulity filters and none of the anti-ST guys are presenting evidence their choice is a better filter.

Cost proves nothing people.

MONKEYMAN · Jan 1, 2005

I have not tried SuperTech yet, but have used ValuCaft(Auto Zone), which some say may be the same thing. They were $1.50 on sale. Using them on Auto-RX clean and rinse on two cars starting 7,000 miles ago. Cut one open and looked fine. Now, I bought the oversized ValuCraft with the new Ecore design on 2nd Auto-RX rinse cycle. Car is so smooth and seems to like this filter. From now on, I will get SuperTech, Valucraft, or Advance Auto Totalgrip, depending on which one is cheaper. I bought a few Napa Gold filters, and a PureOne. It just did not seem like it was worth the extra cost. Would rather put my money into things like Auto-RX, Fuel Power, oil, etc. Now, those things seem to make a difference. I suspect using the inexpensive filters will not make much difference on the life of my engine. That is just my conclusion from the information gained from this forum. That is not a long OCI you will run, so the filter may not be so critical. Also, I have heard Wal-Mart will use a Fram filter unless you ask them to use a SuperTech. Don't know if it is true? Maybe you know more in that regard.

McGarrett · Jan 1, 2005

The only two filters to practically eliminate start up clatter in my SR20DE-powered Nissan are Purolator Pure One and Wal Mart's SuperTech. Additionally, my oil still looks relatively clean at 5K miles when I change it using the Super Tech filter. Considering this engine only holds 3 1/2 quarts that's not too shabby.

Use the SuperTechs with confidence. I cut one apart one oil change (I was bored) and it looks to be pretty well built.

Hirev · Jan 1, 2005

I have found the Champion Labs AKA SuperTech and the Purolator to have the least amount of start up noise on my now tired Toyota. The Fram was by far the worst in my Toyota. So much so I changed it out to see if it was the problem after only a few hundred miles, it was!

brian fix · Jan 1, 2005

just for thought ,on the brand of filters ,use the best results on the DRAIN back valve,this is some thing to consider and also the size,fit,,,,the super tech is good but I would consider the Baldwin/Hasting line,with WIX,by margin they are the best filters,flow,quality, thy do people use a really great lube and try to save 2,dollars on a filter?????,,,BL

MONKEYMAN · Jan 1, 2005

quote:

thy do people use a really great lube and try to save 2,dollars on a filter?????,,,BL

It seems people make that for a variety of reasons, many which may be unique to the each individual. Probably, if I had the money to own a 2005 Corolla, I would go with a Wix filter and the Mobil 1. I guess I would want what was best. I was running Mobil 1 and a Napa Gold filter in my Saturn before coming here with great results. I went back to dino oil and the SuperTech type filters when using Auto-RX. Things are working so well, I don't see going back to the synthetic oil and Wix filters until I can run an extended OCI. Warranty limits that for the next 20,000 miles. That is the great thing about this forum. It allows you to make an informed choice, and figure out the details based on the wealth of information.

labman · Jan 1, 2005

I am still using dino, but sooner or later the facts are going to overcome my inertia and I will switch to synthetic. I don't see the same convincing facts on the more expensive filters.

goldwing · Jan 1, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by ruking77:
Perhaps I should have connected the dots, but in the case of the Supertech filters it makes sense to stock them, if only for the fact that I have scoured at least 8 WalMarts and at least 3 in different states and the restocking effort is almost non existent.(I didn't go into 7 of them for that particular reason, but being has how I had to go there.. a side trip to the auto dept!?)

So like in the case of a Mobil One filter (for Corolla.Civic) they can cost up to 10 dollars. (a very fine quality filter I might add) Contrast that with the Supertech filter at 2 dollars. Are you really getting a filter that is 5 x's better, from a performance point of view? For my 2 cents, NO! Even if you are getting a filter 5x better, what or how does that statistically matter!? Of course under what conditions etc etc. Even on this august thread, from a statistical point of view the case has not been statistically established. Also the issue is really the fact that oil filters are really a "commodity". Marketing efforts of course will focus on differentiation.

So that you can tell where I am coming from, I use Mobil One 5w30 in three of my current vehicles WITH 15,000 mile oil and FILTER change intervals. (OCI's) 2 Toyota Landcruisers, 1 Corvette Z06.

On a VW Jetta TDI, I use Delvac One 5w40 aka Mobil One 5w40 Truck & SUV. WITH 15,000-20,000 mile oci's . After break in and warranty miles of 36,000 miles on a Honda Civic, will do 15,000-20,000 mile OCI's with Mobil One 0w20.

goldwing · Jan 1, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by ruking77:
Absolutely, and positively! They are made by Champion Labs. At 2 dollars and less per, it is a fantastic bang for the buck!

As a policy, I do not like to stock consumeable items like oil filters. This is akin to putting dollar bills on a shelf. There are much better places to put dollars than on a shelf. So if you go to a Honda dealer an OEM filter (made by FRAM) will cost between 5-7 dollars. In my neck of the woods, neighborhood auto stores have periodic 2 for 6 dollar (3 bucks each) FRAM oil filter sales.

But in the case of the Supertech (7317 for me) I bought WalMart's CA's entire stock (6 each at 2.07 per= 12.42 ). Six filters represents up to 120,000 miles of filtration with Mobil One 0w20 in my application.

Your basic Fram filter for a Honda at Walley World and your Fram OEM are different animals. Take each one apart and you can see the Fram made to Honda's specs is a better quality filter with internal components and filter media.
Honda builds everything from lawn mower engines to Jet Aircraft engines. "They didn't get to that status by engineering inferor products".

Are SuperTech filters good enough?

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