Best Filter These Days?

The last time I changed the oil in my wife's Mazda , I bought an STP filter . The selection was limited and I didn't feel like driving to another store . As I took it out of the box to install it , I saw the dreaded " Made In China " ... Yeah , I know just about everything is but I do make an effort to avoid it if I have a choice .
 
What qualities are you looking for?
Absolute highest filter efficiency ignoring cost is probably amsoil.

I think right now today the highest filtering efficiency for the lowest cost is the fram synthetic endurance.
Those frams are almost as efficient at stopping 15 micron dirt as amsoil for like 1/5 the cost of an amsoil.
Amsoil filters are the same as FRAM Endurace both 99% at 20 Microns. Although Amsoil does have some filters with a Champ XL design.

Unless you use Amsoil oil specifically and use their preferred customer program it doesn't make any financial sense to pay $20-$30 for a $12 filter.
 
A few PSI difference in dP vs flow between most big brand name oil filters isn't going to make any difference with the oil pump forcing oil through the system. Besides, there are high efficiency filters that have less dP vs flow than many less efficient filters. No real thing as "flow over filtration".
We'll agree to disagree then.
 
We'll agree to disagree then.
Don't choose an inefficient filter, unless you don't care about efficiency, just because you think a less efficient filter "gives you more flow". It's more complicated than that, and without actually seeing the dP vs flow curves (at a known oil viscosity) then you're just guessing. A less efficient filter could actually flow worse. A few more or less PSI of dP at 8-10 GPM of flow will never make any difference in lubricating an engine. With hot oil, the dP difference between most big brand name filters is not much.
 
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Don't choose an inefficient filter, unless you don't care about efficiency, just because you think a less efficient filter "gives you more flow". It's more complicated than that, and without actually seeing the dP vs flow curves (at a known oil viscosity) then you're just guessing. A less efficient filter could actually flow worse. A few more or less PSI of dP at 8-10 GPM of flow will never make any difference in lubricating an engine. With hot oil, the dP difference between most big brand name filters is not much.
Of the filters readily available to me two (Mobil 1 and Frame ultra) appear to show approximately the same filtering performance but one has less flow resistance. That'd be Mobile 1. Looks like an easy choice for me at least
 
Of the filters readily available to me two (Mobil 1 and Frame ultra) appear to show approximately the same filtering performance but one has less flow resistance. That'd be Mobile 1. Looks like an easy choice for me at least
How much less at 8 GPM wirh hot oil ?
 
I choose flow over filtering so out of this bunch it'd be Wix or Fram. Basing that along a test some guys put up on YouTube using a home made tester pumping actual oil with actual contamination measured by an oil lab well know here.
That YouTube vid is certainly entertaining. But I wouldn’t use it to make any decisions. The ISO 4548-12 would be a better place start. Some of the most efficient filters “flow” the best in actual industry standard testing.
 
I don't remember you can find the video, is 8GPM a number I should remember?
8 GPM is pretty high flow, and most factory cars on the road won't be flowing much more (or even that), unless the car has a high volume oil pump and it's being driving around at near redline all the time.

Per the BR dP vs flow testing:
The Mobil 1 was 4.4 PSI of dP at 8 GPM.
The Fram Ultra was 6.3 PSI dP at 8 GPM.

A difference of ~2 PSI at 8 GPM of flow rate isn't going to make any difference - there will be more than adequate oil flow to lubriate the engine. If both those filters are basically the same efficiency, then both would be good options.

Of the all the filters BR dP tested, the two with the highest dP vs flow curves were the Fram Extra Guard at 8.9 PSI and the Fram Tough Guard at 8.7 PSI with 8 GPM of "hot" oil simulated flow with 15 cSt oil viscosity. At a flow of 4-5 GPM their dP is only ~4 PSI. They are still going to flow well enough to give adequate oil flow to lubricate the engine. If they didn't there would be millions of damaged engines because those two filters are used by a lot of people. Would I use a Fram EG or TG on a car I raced? ... of course not, but for everday street car use they work fine, just like any other fitler that may have that same level of dP vs flow performance. And about PD oil pumps, even after they go into pressure relief they will continue to increase oil flow (but cut back some) because a simple spring loaded bypass valve used in PD oil pumps just operates that way.
 
Amsoil filters are the same as FRAM Endurace both 99% at 20 Microns. Although Amsoil does have some filters with a Champ XL design.

Unless you use Amsoil oil specifically and use their preferred customer program it doesn't make any financial sense to pay $20-$30 for a $12 filter.
Yeah amsoil’s filters are crazy pricey compared to the Fram endurance which, for all intents and purposes is the same performance-wise for ~$13. That’s a no-brainer!
 
This Purple tore that was used on my 6.7. Overall it looked ugly. 4800 miles. The glued seam was not glued uniformly. Not to mention the two sections glued look like it was cut with a saw zall. I USED them for years on a lot of stuff. Not anymore. That was the last one I bought.

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This Purple tore that was used on my 6.7. Overall it looked ugly. 4800 miles. The glued seam was not glued uniformly.
Too bad they don't use a metal crimped seam on those and the Amsoil & Endurance.
 
That filter looks fine to me. Its ultrasonically welded seam, doesnt look like it split.
 
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