I have been pretty positive about the E-core design from Champion labs. I like the wide open center tube and the threaded-end bypass. I didn't think all of the E-core bashing was warranted.
However, my opinion was based on theory... now I cut one open and I'm not as thrilled as I'd hoped. Filter shown is an STP S3600.
The filter uses end caps that are not cardboard, but rather some kind of fibrous material almost like a thick cloth. Note the exterior glued seam on the element. Incidentally, the filter material is pretty thin on this STP filter (as thin as the material in the Advance Auto filter I put in another post last month, maybe even thinner).
The end cap material is not as rigid as cardboard. It is very flexible when pulled away from the element. It doesn't tear easily... it's strong, just flexible.
One thing that concerns me is that the end cap material easily pulls off of the filter media. There is no glue. I have heard from knowledgable people on BITOG that the end caps are "thermally bonded" to the media. Well I can tell you that this thermal bonding doesn't work very well. In use, I would guess that the bonding is strong enouch to prevent flexing of the pleats, but it doesn't instill confidence.
On the other hand, the nylon center tube is extremely strong. I am very impressed with it. When squeezed between my palms, I can only compress it slightly. It is definitely stronger than a typical metal tube and you have to love its wide open design. I hope other companies start using a center tube like this, provided the filter media can stand to have large open areas.
The baseplate uses the design with the extra set of holes. Picture above shows the anti drainback valve/bypass in its position over the holes.
A look at the enderside shows the inner lip which is the bypass valve. In bypass, the lip would be forced upward to allow oil to flow into the center tube from the second set of holes. (Sorry the image shows the baseplate upside-down in this case)
I really cut open this filter to get a look at the bypass. I really like a threaded-end bypass. Most filters have the dome-end bypass, which allows oil to flow over dirty media when in bypass.
I must say that this bypass doesn't impress me as much as I was hoping. The idea is nice, but I'm not confident that it will work that well. Even though the bypass lip is pressed firmly against the baseplate, it seems like it doesn't take much force to lift it. I suspect that it may leak a little in use, even when bypass is not necessary. That's kind of what I was worried about (from looking at the E-core brochure picture). I guess I was hoping for a bypass flap that looks like it has been engineered to have more "positive" operation... I know that would take some serious design effort, but this to me looks like just a minimally-engineered flap. I'd like to see some evidence on the performance of this bypass design from the company before I can trust it more.
All in all, this filter is less than what I expected. While the center tube exceeded my expectations and the bypass valve met my lowest expectations. The end caps and bonding to the filter media is a disappointment that I didn't expect. The STP filter media seems very low quality, hopefully other Champ filters (SuperTech, etc.) use better.
It is my opinion that the chief reason that Champ changed to the E-core design was cost savings, not product improvement. I just don't see anything on this filter that shows otherwise.
Would I use this filter? I'll have to think about it some more, but I'm a little more hesitant than before.
[ October 11, 2005, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: 59 Vetteman ]
However, my opinion was based on theory... now I cut one open and I'm not as thrilled as I'd hoped. Filter shown is an STP S3600.
The filter uses end caps that are not cardboard, but rather some kind of fibrous material almost like a thick cloth. Note the exterior glued seam on the element. Incidentally, the filter material is pretty thin on this STP filter (as thin as the material in the Advance Auto filter I put in another post last month, maybe even thinner).
The end cap material is not as rigid as cardboard. It is very flexible when pulled away from the element. It doesn't tear easily... it's strong, just flexible.
One thing that concerns me is that the end cap material easily pulls off of the filter media. There is no glue. I have heard from knowledgable people on BITOG that the end caps are "thermally bonded" to the media. Well I can tell you that this thermal bonding doesn't work very well. In use, I would guess that the bonding is strong enouch to prevent flexing of the pleats, but it doesn't instill confidence.
On the other hand, the nylon center tube is extremely strong. I am very impressed with it. When squeezed between my palms, I can only compress it slightly. It is definitely stronger than a typical metal tube and you have to love its wide open design. I hope other companies start using a center tube like this, provided the filter media can stand to have large open areas.
The baseplate uses the design with the extra set of holes. Picture above shows the anti drainback valve/bypass in its position over the holes.
A look at the enderside shows the inner lip which is the bypass valve. In bypass, the lip would be forced upward to allow oil to flow into the center tube from the second set of holes. (Sorry the image shows the baseplate upside-down in this case)
I really cut open this filter to get a look at the bypass. I really like a threaded-end bypass. Most filters have the dome-end bypass, which allows oil to flow over dirty media when in bypass.
I must say that this bypass doesn't impress me as much as I was hoping. The idea is nice, but I'm not confident that it will work that well. Even though the bypass lip is pressed firmly against the baseplate, it seems like it doesn't take much force to lift it. I suspect that it may leak a little in use, even when bypass is not necessary. That's kind of what I was worried about (from looking at the E-core brochure picture). I guess I was hoping for a bypass flap that looks like it has been engineered to have more "positive" operation... I know that would take some serious design effort, but this to me looks like just a minimally-engineered flap. I'd like to see some evidence on the performance of this bypass design from the company before I can trust it more.
All in all, this filter is less than what I expected. While the center tube exceeded my expectations and the bypass valve met my lowest expectations. The end caps and bonding to the filter media is a disappointment that I didn't expect. The STP filter media seems very low quality, hopefully other Champ filters (SuperTech, etc.) use better.
It is my opinion that the chief reason that Champ changed to the E-core design was cost savings, not product improvement. I just don't see anything on this filter that shows otherwise.
Would I use this filter? I'll have to think about it some more, but I'm a little more hesitant than before.
[ October 11, 2005, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: 59 Vetteman ]
