Bored,went to Autozone.

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

aquariuscsm

Joined
Dec 30, 2006
Messages
29,558
I was sitting here at the house after work,bored,so I drove over to Autozone and looked at oils,gear lubes,and oil filters.

Out of the oil filters they have for my car,three are definitely made the best. Mobil 1,Bosch,and K&N. All three have metal internals and heavy cases.

The flimsiest looking ones were STP and Fram. They had what looked like cardboard and plastic internals.

Here`s my question. Which one is the best hands down out of the M1,Bosch,and K&N? They all three look equally sturdy and well made. Bosch is $7,Mobil 1 $9.99,and K&N $11.99. Just looking for the best filter to go along with my next oci. I`ve never really pondered on the oil filter as much as the oil selection,which I keep hearing is equally important. My oil of choice is Valvoline conventional 20W50.
 
I am no oil filter expert but the concensus on this board seems to be that Amsoil EaO is the best at filtering followed by Mobil 1. K&N is also very good but if i wouldnt pay $12 for it. I go the Amsoil route.
 
Best at what? Best at flow with decent filtration and an indestructible can with the welded nut? K&N Also is about the highest price filter on the market besides Amsoil's EaO.

Or maybe the Mobil 1? It too is made by Champ and has a HD can, and has probably more efficient filtering media than the K&N, but a tad more flow restrictive overall. Perhaps better for long oci's as that is what is advertised as "extended performance" and holds "2X" the contaminants, etc. Advertised somewhere as a good match for their EP oils for 15k miles.

The Bosch would probably be the one I would choose if using Valvo 20W-50 conventional. It would seem you would want to focus on a filter media that FLOWS well when using 20W-50 oils to minimize the time spent in bypass, but I'm not sure about the Bosch. If it is a PureOne clone, flow may take second seat to efficiency. Regardless, of the 3, I would choose the Bosch based on the oil you are using. No sense in buying a high dollar filter that is going to get trashed in a few thousand miles. Now if you were using a syn and running 10k miles, I might choose a different one....
 
I think Mobile and K&N make a marketable product but I personally will not use either.( don't ask I have no credible reason) At this point in the list you have I would use the Bosch also.
 
Is there any results somewhere or does anyone have the capability to test an oil filter to see how well the filter performs (as in oil flow, amount of particles the filter traps, and the size of particles the filter does not stop)?

I use the STP filter and have for years, I don’t want to switch just because of the filters appearance not performance.
 
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm


The flimsiest looking ones were STP and Fram. They had what looked like cardboard and plastic internals.


Dont lump the STP in with the Fram. The STP is made by Champion Labs who also makes the K&N and Mobil 1. The plastic cage you may have seen in a STP filter is called the E-Core design, its not a cheap out thing like the cardboard you'll see in a Fram.
 
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
The flimsiest looking ones were STP and Fram. They had what looked like cardboard and plastic internals.

Here`s my question. Which one is the best hands down out of the M1,Bosch,and K&N? They all three look equally sturdy and well made. Bosch is $7,Mobil 1 $9.99,and K&N $11.99.

Good observation on the Fram filters, they indeed have cardboard internals.
Check out this link for an in depth oil filter study:
http://www.knizefamily.net/minimopar/oilfilters/index.html

As for the choice of oil, in my opinion you will be better served with a heavy-duty 15w-40 diesel oil such as Shell Rotella.
 
Of Bosch, Mobil 1, and K&N, in my opinion Mobil 1 is the best of the three, considering quality and price.

I however think you should consider buying a Wix filter [this includes Napa Gold & CarQuest Blue] it should be in the $6 to $7 dollar range and it is all the filter you will ever need.
 
Bosch is a rebranded Purolator.

The Mobil 1 and K&N are basically the same except the wrench lug on the end of the K&N, so it's a question of if that is worth $2 to you.
 
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm

The flimsiest looking ones were STP and Fram. They had what looked like cardboard and plastic internals.



Which of the two was plastic -- which was cardboard? I am holding two STP filters right now. Both do not show any carbpard - both have metal cages with many inlet holes.

Also - Please tell us what is wrong with those that have the durable plastic cage?
 
Last edited:
if you go to fleetfilter.com and buy Wix, it drops lower than anything at Walmart. more data at http://systems-engineering-associates.com/avocation
Originally Posted By: Petty
Of Bosch, Mobil 1, and K&N, in my opinion Mobil 1 is the best of the three, considering quality and price.

I however think you should consider buying a Wix filter [this includes Napa Gold & CarQuest Blue] it should be in the $6 to $7 dollar range and it is all the filter you will ever need.
 
I only ever buy the Mobil 1 filter when on sale or as part of a deal with some oil. The Mobil 1 filter and the K&N are similar, but certainly not an exact clone. Different media for sure. I've never used the K&N- just seems too high priced for what you get. (But it does flow well and is built like a tank, if that's what you're after.) If I'm going to spend that much, it's going to be for an EaO.

In your situation, I would consider using the STP 3682, which IMO would be a better match for the 20W-50 conventional oil you are using. There's nothing wrong or inferior about this filter. I don't think it is the newer e-core design, and it's still made by Champ.
 
Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm

The flimsiest looking ones were STP and Fram. They had what looked like cardboard and plastic internals.



Which of the two was plastic -- which was cardboard? I am holding two STP filters right now. Both do not show any carbpard - both have metal cages with many inlet holes.

Also - Please tell us what is wrong with those that have the durable plastic cage?


Oh,definitely nothing wrong with the plastic internals,I just prefer something made of metal over plastic. I actually used the Fram "classic orange" filters for probably 20 years or so,even on both of my 3000GT`s with no issue ever. Only reason I quit using them was paranoia after joining BITOG :^)
 
All my STPs have metal cages. So why the bark over STP? You probably picked up and examined 1-2 applications out of 20-30 that are popular.

Every filter manufacturer offers a variety of ways these things are built - depending on model and application. So don't knock an entire line of products based on 1-2 application models.

Signed:
A guy who mainly uses Wix and Purolator products.
 
Last edited:
Only 3.00 cans and bigger are Ecores. The smaller ones are not. They can't fit on the line machinery to make them. They're all Champ Labs.
 
Originally Posted By: wgtoys

As far as STP filters, the vast majority are Champion's Ecore design, just like most SuperTechs now are. Metal internals on either are typically a sign of old stock.


You may wanna check those facts.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Delta1
Which cartridge oil filter to use?
Replies
7
Views
395
ZeeOSix
NormanBuntz
Problem with K&N PS-1010 filter
Replies
10
Views
2K
MountainManDan
E
OG FRAM Titanium FS3614 C&P
Replies
7
Views
479
Glenda W.
S
Replacement for Purolator Boss Oil Filters
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
D1dad
Sidebite
Ford FL-820S C&P and Walmart FL1A Filter Observations
Replies
9
Views
820
Fair enough
Back
Top Bottom