Comparison of Fram/Purolator/Motorcraft filters via Brand Ranks consolidated data

[inline_five]

One thing you can do on a lot of vehicles with spin on filters that is pretty much always going to be an improvement is to put on a larger filter. This will increase filtration effectiveness, increase flow rate (especially on cold starts), and decrease bypassing. My LX's stock and recommended filter is about 3.4" long, but it has room for about 4.9". That's probably about a 50% increase in filter surface area for free.

Regarding the Frams - they definitely had a period where they were extremely good, and were my go-to for a while. There have been some significant quality concerns in recent months though, and I avoid them now. I'm using Carquest Premium until I find something better.

Looks like the Fram XG3614 (filter for my Maverick) and Fram XG3600 are all interchangeable with the same 12 psi bypass (vs 14.5 on the Motorcraft). So food for thought. Could also use the Motorcraft FL400S as well.

It's a shame things change, I'm more than willing to pay more for a higher end filter but I want it to actually be higher end not just marketing. And it would need to be a better filter that still does not damage the motor due to other issues (like being so good at filtering it has very little flow).

I remember Consumer Reports actually testing things regularly but that seems to have fallen by the wayside. And then, companies can just change their product.

 

[Hatsuwr]

And it would need to be a better filter that still does not damage the motor due to other issues (like being so good at filtering it has very little flow).

I don't think you are going to have any significant oil starvation issues with any halfway decent modern filter, especially if you are upsizing from stock and changing the oil and filter at reasonable intervals.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Looks like the Fram XG3614 (filter for my Maverick) and Fram XG3600 are all interchangeable with the same 12 psi bypass (vs 14.5 on the Motorcraft). So food for thought. Could also use the Motorcraft FL400S as well.

If the XG3600 fits, then go for that of the Endurance or Titanium in the 3600 size. My Tacoma specifies the Fram 3614, but I always run the 3600 instead since there's plenty of room for it.

It's a shame things change, I'm more than willing to pay more for a higher end filter but I want it to actually be higher end not just marketing. And it would need to be a better filter that still does not damage the motor due to other issues (like being so good at filtering it has very little flow).

You're never really going to be in a situation where a big brand name filter is so efficient that it's going to cause an oil flow problem. Three things ensure that: 1) Big brand filter makers have engineers and test facilities to ensure the design will work in all conditions, like the Motorcraft video shows, 2) Your engine has a positive displacement oil pump, and 3) The filter has a bypass valve that will ensure flow to the engine is the filter does become too flow restrictive from loading and or cold thick oil.

 

[inline_five]

If the XG3600 fits, then go for that of the Endurance or Titanium in the 3600 size. My Tacoma specifies the Fram 3614, but I always run the 3600 instead since there's plenty of room for it.


You're never really going to be in a situation where a big brand name filter is so efficient that it's going to cause an oil flow problem. Three things ensure that: 1) Big brand filter makers have engineers and test facilities to ensure the design will work in all conditions, like the Motorcraft video shows, 2) Your engine has a positive displacement oil pump, and 3) The filter has a bypass valve that will ensure flow to the engine is the filter does become too flow restrictive from loading and or cold thick oil.

Yes what I'm trying to prevent is the bypass valve opening. The better flow through the filter, the less chance it has of opening. I have no idea if it will open while cold, but a filter that provides at least as good a flow rate as the Motorcraft is desired, which when looking at the data isn't hard to do I suppose. That's all I was worried about.

Also, I'd imagine you want a filter with a bypass valve setting very close to OEM as that is what the system is designed for. As it is, the Fram filters are 11-17 and Motorcraft FL910 is 14.5, so I suppose close enough.

It's odd Ford doesn't offer a premium filter option for their vehicles.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Yes what I'm trying to prevent is the bypass valve opening. The better flow through the filter, the less chance it has of opening. I have no idea if it will open while cold, but a filter that provides at least as good a flow rate as the Motorcraft is desired, which when looking at the data isn't hard to do I suppose. That's all I was worried about.

If Ford specs the FL910, which is a relatively small sized filter, then they must not be too worried about it bypassing too much. So any other big name brand oil filter shouldn't have any more worry. Oil filter companies wouldn't stay in business very long if their filters damaged engines due to bad design.

Also, I'd imagine you want a filter with a bypass valve setting very close to OEM as that is what the system is designed for. As it is, the Fram filters are 11-17 and Motorcraft FL910 is 14.5, so I suppose close enough.

The filter bypass valve setting is also dependant on the filter. A filter that flows better and holds more debris (takes longer to increase dP with loading) doesn't need the bypass setting to be set as high. You can look at 10 oil filters all specified for the same engine, and their bypass settings will not all be the same.

 

[Carlostrece]

I don't trust Brand Ranks. I suggest disregarding Brand Ranks. The Oil Geek Guy is good though. There's another good Youtube channel where the guy is always testing automotive stuff, but I forgot the name of that channel. BITOG is good too.

 

[Fair enough]

I would be a little afraid of a tiny bypass valve in cold climates, especially not using a thinner cold rated oil, with 0w. A car maker would be testing in all climates.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Keep the engine revs down until the oil warms up some. When a filter that's not all clogged up goes into bypass, only a fraction of the flow goes through the bypass valve.

 

[garageman402]

One thing you can do on a lot of vehicles with spin on filters that is pretty much always going to be an improvement is to put on a larger filter. This will increase filtration effectiveness, increase flow rate (especially on cold starts), and decrease bypassing. My LX's stock and recommended filter is about 3.4" long, but it has room for about 4.9". That's probably about a 50% increase in filter surface area for free.

I agree with this completely. Every vehicle I have has the larger size filter, what that does effectively is slow the flow through the media as there is more media to flow through. I have made the comparison to a river, it is moving faster through narrows but slows down through wide spots. The same amount of CFM just different speeds. The larger filter is "widening the river" in that area so to speak.