[Cut Open] STP S3614 oil filter after 5000 miles

[jh0]

The car is a 1999 Saab 9-3 2.0L low pressure turbo with 140,000 miles on it. The oil it was running is unknown, bought the car on eBay for a pretty good deal.

Currently the car is running Mobil 1 0w-40 with a ACDelco PF53CL oil filter, probably change it at 3000mi because I put some B-12 Chemtool in the crankcase since what was in the engine prior was unknown. I will post a cut open pic of this oil filter as well.

 

[ltslimjim]

Consider getting a 'basic' UOA performed and posting it up here. That will be of more help as well, perhaps another filter cut open as well after your current fill.

 

[renegade_987]

Looks like it has FRAM OCOD - like end caps

 

[Donald]

Mobil 1 needs no additives. Its a great oil, no need to mess things up with oil additives. Forget the UOA until you have run oil without additives. The B-12 Chemtool may mess up a UOA.

I'll bet you will find the AC Delco filter significantly better than the STP.

STP stood for Studebaker Testing Products when I was young.

 

[pbm]

I have never used an e-core filter but that one looks pretty good after 5K...there are no wavy pleats like some others I've seen. Based on this picture I wouldn't hesitate to use one for a reasonable OCI like 5K.

 

[johnsmellsalot]

For an economy filter, it held up nicely. I can't believe I'm saying this but I think Fram is better because it has a metal center tube. I wouldn't use this filter on my car.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: pbm
I have never used an e-core filter but that one looks pretty good after 5K...there are no wavy pleats like some others I've seen.


That's because it has many tightly spaced pleats. If they are not tight with the open Ecore plastic cage, then watch out for media blow outs.

 

[chad8]

E-core= excellent
Has all the cheap features of ocod and e-core and looks great.
I'd use one any day for 5000 miles.
Champion has built a good solid filter for at least 10 years. Even when they changed the design to save money it still looks good.

 

[Vstrom]

Originally Posted By: Donald


STP stood for Studebaker Testing Products when I was young.

Guess I'm older than you- it originally was Scientifically Treated Petroleum

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: chad8
E-core= excellent


Apparently, you haven't seen the photos of the SuperTech Ecore filter pixs with blown out media.

 

[Texan4Life]

Did it job. one of the better looking ecore cut opens.

 

[cp3]

Welcome to the forum and thanx for the pics.

Looks like it held up good enough. If you could disregard the blow-outs, I think the e-core looks better than the orange Frams. As it is neither one should kill your car for a basic OCI.

Enjoy the new wheels!

 

[Virtuoso]

Perhaps important when cutting open e-cores is a picture of the media at the seam area. This seems to be a problem spot for these type of filters.

FWIW My SuperTech's always looked worse than the STP and AC/Delco e-core's I've cut open.


Looks good, though! Would love to see that media layed out after sitting on a few paper towels for a couple days; just to see how much junk it caught. Harder to tell when still saturated with oil.

 

[walk23]

What's wrong with e-core design under a 5-6 k run in normal conditions ? Certainly its not an issue with temp.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Virtuoso

Looks good, though! Would love to see that media layed out after sitting on a few paper towels for a couple days; just to see how much junk it caught. Harder to tell when still saturated with oil.


A better way to do it is wrap a couple of absorbent paper towels with a couple of rubber bands to hold it tight around the filter before the media is removed from the filter. It dries out the media pretty good for easy inspection of debris.

 

[Virtuoso]

Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
A better way to do it is wrap a couple of absorbent paper towels with a couple of rubber bands to hold it tight around the filter before the media is removed from the filter. It dries out the media pretty good for easy inspection of debris.


I used that method with the Quaker State's I've cut and it worked real well. With the fiber-endcapped e-cores, I just set them on a small stack of folded paper towels and it seemed to do a good job.

 

[Virtuoso]

I don't suppose those fibre endcaps are designed to allow much oil to pass through though?

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Virtuoso
I don't suppose those fibre endcaps are designed to allow much oil to pass through though?


I'd agree ... I don't think any oil really passes through the end cap material; too thick and dense IMO.

 

[steve20]

After removing the media from the housing,I unfold, and just hang 'em up with a clip----in a few days, enough of the media is dry enough to get a picture of what went on in the last x miles

 

[sw99]

Looks like it held up very well.