Filter Check

[BetaBear]

So, new to the forums, lurked in and out and decided to join. I used the search function, with conjunction to google, but I can't seem to find out the info I'm looking for.

I work as a production auto tech at the largest used car dealer in the U.S. (not sure if it's against company policy to associate their name with me as I'd be somewhat representing them, so i'll refrain from it just in case

) For the last year, I've used Purolator PureOne filters and Mobil's Conventional oil.

With my discount at work, however, I can get Carquest filters for cheap. We usually stock their red filters. This last oil change, I bought the Red filter at work and used it as it was only $1.79 after TN's high sales tax. I know that Wix manufactures all carquest filters. They even say it loud and proud on their website. I know the Red filters are the proselect versions and the blue's are the wix versions.

But, doing some reading, I found a small amount of info indicating that the element gets brittle in the Red filters and can tear.

I then found out my dad (who works for Champion Labs. Doesn't do anything important there though. Don't tell him I said that

) gets filter cards for free filters at work. He's not one to change his oil regularly or bother checking his air filter, so he's got gobs of filter cards stocked up for free filters. He basically walks over to the warehouse and shows his filter card, they punch out the card and give him a Champion filter.

Here is the Champ filter in question. Judging by Champ's cross reference it looks like it is the same thing as a purolator filter. I'm thinking purolator classic, but I'm not sure.
http://www.showmetheparts.com/BIN/images/champ/chPH253.jpg


In short, Here's my dilemma. I'd like to use both of these filters if I could, because they're cheap or in the 2nd case free. But, I will not put free on my vehicle if it isn't up to par.

Is there any data on how well either of these filters perform? My main concern on a filter is filtration, not much else. I just don't know how many people have access to a champion brand filter.

Can you even get champ filters anywhere besides directly from champ???

 

[barlowc]

What's your OCI length? To an extent that'll influence the opinions you'll get.

 

[BetaBear]

I knew that would get asked eventually, but my post was getting pretty long so I stopped early

I know I'll get some rocks and stones thrown at me for this, but I change the oil every 3k-4k miles, depending on my schedule. I know others are completely cool with extending their oil change intervals to 10k, 15k miles or more, but it's just what I do.

The vehicle is a 95' Jeep ZJ (Grand) with the 4.0L. It currently has 173k, and I bought it with 123k about 3 years ago. I guess that's about 16.5k a year.

Driving style. I drive about 2 miles to work everyday. There's usually 2 things happening when I drive it. Either it's a really short trip like to work, or it's a really long trip with lots of miles. There's no in between. In the last year, I've made the trip to Wyoming and back on 3 occasions, which is 2000k miles round trip.

When those two aren't happening it's usually towing something strange, like a car or fully loaded largest u-haul they offer. I did pull a u-haul 400 miles with it, and the U-haul empty was 2800lbs. Couldn't tell you how full it was, but we bent the back door trying to close it

It used to be a dusty country vehicle. It also gets abused occasionally cause I see a trail and decide to go down it alone... I've decided to never do that again after last winter. Dents happen in the tailgate...

But that's what it's going in. I'm planning on driving this Jeep to the ground, so filtration is more important to me than the oil is since I do such short change intervals and do more severe type of driverating. I loved the PureOne filters. The price was nifty at around 5.50 for the filter and they filter great. I used a Mobil 1 filter once and loved it, but they are much too expensive. I can fix the engine myself when it wears, and with the extra money saved into an account by not buying the mobil filter, I could probably pay for the parts and a bunch more filters too.

If no one has done any analysis of a champ filter, I might as well use it next change and see how it fares. I might even get another to send to someone if they have the ability to cut it open and also do a Used Oil Analysis to verify how well it did filtration wise.

I'm fine with using the Carquest Red filters, provided they don't fail under heavy stress. I know they filter fine, but the durability is what concerns me. I might have them order a Blue next time and see what price It will be. I think it was somewhere around $3 and some change for a blue filter, but It's a hassle to get because the parts associates have to take time from their schedules on customer vehicles to price out and make a part order for one measly oil filter. Customers are always first for me. 10 times easier to just pull the red off of the shelf for me.

But the champ filter.. that piques my interest.

 

[Oregoonian]

Here is a plan that I think would work for you situation:

PureOnes are great filters for efficiency and can easily do 7500 miles.....You can purchase PureOnes at Amazon at $5....and if you purchase 5 or more....shipping is free. Mobil 1 Extended Performance filters are great. but too expensive for your situation.

In addition....Pureolator has a rebate going on (www.pureoil.com) for $2 per filter. Net cost is now $3 per filter. Or....the Purolator Classic would also be a good choice but with a little less efficiency. NOTE: The price of a filter is nothing compared to the amount you spend on gas....so purchasing a better filter makes economic sense.

Modern conventional oils are much better than in the past... and can go 5000 to 6000 OCI easily. I would suggest using Pennzoil conventional.. or Valvoline... with an OCI just mentioned. Use the weight recommended. I'm guessing that 5w30 would work...but not sure.

One other suggestion: The fill-up prior to you oil change, dump a bottle of Gumont Regane High Mileage fuel system cleaner (under $5 at WM) in you gas tank....and do that prior to every oil change. This should clean your fuel system up nicely and provide your vehicle with extra power and possibly a slight increase in MPG.
_____________________________________________
03' Ford Focus (2.3L Duratec PZEV) / 98,450
Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 / Purolator PureUne / OCI: 8,000 +/-

 

[BetaBear]

Thanks for the suggestions , I can firmly say that the fuel system is clean.

The main thing is, If the champion IS the same thing as a Purolator classic, why spend the money on the classic when I can get them for free for the rest of the time my dad has filter cards. Just gotta pick one up when I go visit him.

I have contemplated buying the PureOnes in bulk. I do like that idea.

I'm still going to run my usual intervals. Just a personal preference. I've read and read about the advantages to them, and I know I probably could run 10k intervals, but even at 3k after a change valvetrain noise dampens considerably. but I actually look forward to changing the oil, and I always take it to get recycled. That's the main reason I change it so early by BITOG standards.

Right now I run Mobil Clean 5000. I've decided a while back I won't do synthetic again because I change the oil often, and so it's a waste. Plus the Jeep leaks like crazy on synthetic, although that was a while back. only one more leak to fix now

I am very open to a different oil though. I've read much about Pennzoil and have always recommended valvoline. I used to shy away from Pennzoil because I had seen earlier studies of high paraffin in the oil, and one insanely sludged car that ran strictly Pennzoil it's life @ 3000 miles, but recent testing has me wanting to switch.

Thanks for any help on this mystery

Working on cars is what I do for a living, so I know how to keep it going for a while. I just don't dwelve deep enough to know who makes the best stuff with facts. Of course everyone has biases, so I tend to like to see actual data to make my pick on oil and filters.

As for oil, I'm mainly looking for an oil that has a good additive pack for cleaning and maintains under high heat and stress. The 4.0L runs hot to begin with running lean to meet emissions standards, but the mechanical fan doesn't do too hot of a job in city traffic with the a/c on when it's humid and 98. I also run in cold weather starts a lot, so I'd like to have something that has some decent cold weather performance. Granted, I'm not in Wyoming anymore, so I don't have to worry about -30F cold starts in winter, but I still want to minimize wear.

Main reason into researching on the CQ Red and Champ filters is for future BITOGer's who are wondering the same thing. If I can get the champ filter's for free, that will benefit more people because testing can be done, and if it is a good filter, may be a great cheap alternative to filters in it's lineup.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Oregoonian

In addition....Pureolator has a rebate going on (www.pureoil.com) for $2 per filter. Net cost is now $3 per filter.


The rebate is actually $3 per filter on the PureOne.

 

[JellyBeanDriver]

Doesn't look like a purolator filter I've seen. More like an STP/Delco style filter.

 

[SteveTheisen]

When you are making the short 2 mile trips to work, a 3000 or 4000 mile change is completely appropriate. Esp with towing. Your longer drives you can get your 5,000-7500 mile changes. Those 2 mile trips where your car doesn't even reach operating temp aren't very good for the oil. There isn't a chance for the water to get out of the oil and also becomes acidic more quickly.

 

[Oregoonian]

Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
Originally Posted By: Oregoonian

In addition....Pureolator has a rebate going on (www.pureoil.com) for $2 per filter. Net cost is now $3 per filter.


The rebate is actually $3 per filter on the PureOne.

Thanks for correcting me ZeeOSix.....I havn't used it since I still have a fair amount of PureOnes in my stash. The rebate extends through October.

My local dealer (Bi-Mart) sells PureOnes for $5.79, and at times sells them for $4.79 ($1 off). With a $3 rebate, net cost would be $2.79. That is a great buy... for a quality mid-tier filter.

 

[kemo]

I bought 5 pureone filters, got the rebate, brought each filter to 2.59 a filter.

 

[BetaBear]

Here's a question? Would anyone be willing to test out the champ filter and post pictures, do a used oil analysis, and cut it open to examine it's material and structure? I could get my filter and another for a different vehicle if anyone is willing to try it out.

As much as I like the PureOne, I'm still interested to see how well the CQ Red filter holds up. I still need to get a price point on the Blue filters they offer. It might still be cheaper to buy a CQ Blue filter than have to stock up on PureOne filter's and get the rebate.

 

[TravsRam]

If you can get the Carquest Blue for real cheap, I would recommend that one. I have ran the Napa Gold for years with great success, which is the same as Wix/Carquest Blue. Great filter and it is reasonably priced.