Mopar vs SuperTech vs ACDelco at WM

[rastoma]

Had a chance to go to WM that's not local to me today while wife was in the book store. So I went and browsed around automotive while I waited to see if oil prices were any different here compared to home, they were not.

But I did see that they had Mopar oil filters which my local WM does not have. There was only one model of Mopar and it was the one listed for my '03 T&C van.

So I looked at it and a Super Tech and noticed the ST was shorter. I know I've read other threads that have said that doesn't necessarily matter but depends on the filter media inside. So I'm describing an EXTERNAL observation and not saying it's good or bad either way.

Dang it I forgot to write down the cost of the Mopar but I THINK it was about $5.50 so pretty reasonable for an OEM filter.

I took a couple of pics for reference, not the best as it was from my cell phone, but here they are anyway:

Mopar vs ST #1

Mopar vs ST #2

I also looked at filters for my 03 Blazer which is a pretty common filter that I know has been compared before. I didn't take pics as externally I couldn't tell any differences between a ST and ACDelco. They were both the same size. And from what I could tell by looking in the filters, they both looked just about the same in regards to the number of pleats. Also some kind of retainer inside, I guess is plastic? to hold the media in place looked identical, same spacing, same design. It's hard to describe without pics but I know most of you have seen a lot more filters than I have and hopefully know what I'm describing, again just from a not so technical external inspection.

Price difference between ACDelco and ST was about a dollar.

Anyway, that was my evening

Oh, MMO by the quart was over a dollar cheaper at this WM than my local which is only about 45 miles from each other. Strange how they come up with their pricing.

 

[postjeeprcr]

Here is a pic of the Mopar filter cut open and an AC Delco which is idtentical to the SuperTech

Mopar

ACDelco

 

[rastoma]

Yes there is that black plastic insert inside the media on the ACDelco, looks identical as the ST as you say.

 

[AuthorEditor]

The AC Delco and ST are both Ecore designs by Champion Laboratories, and I believe the Mopar is made by Purolator--the string around the middle is the giveaway.

 

[Herz]

All great filters, I use the ST16s on my Jeep often.

 

[Sayjac]

Below is the most is the most recent filter study (excluding river rat) I've seen that covers the ST/STP and Mopar. As stated above, the Mopar is made by Puro to Mopar Specs, similar to Motorcraft. The ST/STP are Champ. like the ACDelco.

This guy's spreadsheet is excellent. Two things before the naysayer(s) show up. Yes, the study is almost 3 years old so there have been some changes. And, the author did not understand that the ST/STP uses a combo adbv and bypass. With that in mind, it is well done, IMO.

http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/31190-oil-filters-dissected.html

 

[daves87rs]

Good pics!

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Below is the most is the most recent filter study (excluding river rat) I've seen that covers the ST/STP and Mopar. As stated above, the Mopar is made by Puro to Mopar Specs, similar to Motorcraft. The ST/STP are Champ. like the ACDelco.

This guy's spreadsheet is excellent. Two things before the naysayer(s) show up. Yes, the study is almost 3 years old so there have been some changes. And, the author did not understand that the ST/STP uses a combo adbv and bypass. With that in mind, it is well done, IMO.

http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/31190-oil-filters-dissected.html


I agree. The Mopar filter looks like a Purolator designed to Motorcraft specs with what looks like a base plate bypass I've seen on Motorcraft Purolators, but with a nitril ADBV. I've also heard that Fram supplies some of Mopars filters. I wouldn't pay $5.50 for as a Mopar unless I knew it had a baseplate bypass but even then I'd probably just go with a purolator classic or a P1.

 

[Herz]

got to admit the mopar filter looks cool.

 

[labman]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Below is the most is the most recent filter study (excluding river rat) I've seen that covers the ST/STP and Mopar. As stated above, the Mopar is made by Puro to Mopar Specs, similar to Motorcraft. The ST/STP are Champ. like the ACDelco.

This guy's spreadsheet is excellent. Two things before the naysayer(s) show up. Yes, the study is almost 3 years old so there have been some changes. And, the author did not understand that the ST/STP uses a combo adbv and bypass. With that in mind, it is well done, IMO.

http://www.300cforums.com/forums/general-discussion/31190-oil-filters-dissected.html


You are bringing that turkey up again?

 

[Sayjac]

Perhaps I could worded the part about Puro making Mopar and Motorcraft. Just as the Purolator makes the Motorcraft to MC specs, it also makes the Mopar to Mopar specs. Didn't mean to imply they are necessarily both the same. Although, both the MC and Mopar appear to have base end bypass. Which btw, by opening the box and looking before, you could easily see.

As for the string on Purolator's, as river rats' latest dissection of P1, Prem Classic and Bosch shows, not all have string. Size/dia. might the factor in whether there is string or not. The PL/L14610 and L10241 that I have cut open also had no string. Perhaps it is just the larger diameter filters that use string in the construction process.

Quote:
You are bringing that turkey up again?

Speaking of turkey's, my point of the naysayer showing up didn't take long. Deep lava's filter study beat's your thus far unsubstantiated Puro Classic "empty can" tales. River rat's pretty much put that fable to rest.

Oh wait let me guess, you don't like dome end bypass and German ownership.

 

[mrsilv04]

That picture of the e-core AC Delco reminds me why I'll going to stop buying AC Delco oil filters, once the e-core stock hits my WalMart.

 

[labman]

Oh yes, as long as it has a steel end cap, nothing else counts.

 

[Gary Allan]

Just a quick comment on "shorter".

The ST's can be shorter due to the lack of hardware required to (typically) hold the dome end bypass and the spring that compresses the cartridge against the base plate. You're typically getting the same media ..just missing the hollow, non-filtering part of the can. You're missing empty space.

 

[crazyoildude]

i will stop buying the a/c delco now that it has the e core also...

 

[Sayjac]

Thinking about the linked filter study, while I like the pics and spreadsheet, I don't agree with all the conclusions.

It's clear deep lava didn't understand the Ecores combo valve, so that somewhat affected his conclusions on the STP.

While I like Puro's, I'd have no problem using an Ecore. The last filter I took off a Tacoma was an ST #3614. I ran a 6mon ~5k OCI. I cut the filter open and it looked solid, including pleats, endcaps, and nylon center tube. It looked nothing like some of the orange cans posted here.

While I wouldn't pay more for an Ecore (ST/STP), I'd have no problem using them for a 5-6k OCI at the price of an ST. It does take some time to get used to the design.

 

[daman]

Glad i dont run AC anymore

 

[ronrackley]

When my stock of the old fashioned heavy duty Champion made AC PF-58 filters for my Northstar vehicles runs out, I suppose I'll decide between Wix/NAPA Gold and Pure One for them. I don't believe in spending money for a name just to feel like I have the best [Mobil 1 and K&N], but it doesn't seem wise to cut corners to save a dollar or two a filter [Ecore and the various ones with cardboard end caps] for filtering the lifeblood of the engines of cars that cost tens of thousands of dollars to replace.

 

[ziggy]

I have a mopar M 090 on my 95 neone im taking off in a few, oil change time. Bought it at walmart montsh ago. Seems to wrok fine, it donst give my car that ticking noise, various other fitlers do to it. Been using the walmart ac delcos too...and hacked em open after running 900 miles in 3 months. Alli can say is, the ac delco gave car a noticable ticking noise at start up, had carboard endcaps( dissapointing) and the e core. It did, seem to filter really good though.... i did have an issue, with the nitrile gasket on the ac delco..leaked on 2 of them from oil pup housing, down the filter.
I read about the moapr fitlers, on some oil filer website..Knez or something like that. He has hsi won cutaways, and information. According to him, the 090 is nothing more, than an oversized factory fitler, aka the sammler one. I forget teh aprt number. BUt he does say its an improvement over the smaller on..the 090 has way more fitle media in it. That is why the fitler is bigger...plus it has hte anti drain back vavle at the top* the corect position, not at the bottom.
I liked it, to be honest. it is in my opion, a very strong filter, and didnt give the engine that ticking noise. I am gunna opt for a fram tough guard though, and some citgo semi synthetic oil i had flaoting around...use em up.

 

[ziggy]

As for the ac delco..i prob wont use em agian I have 2 filters left. They are strong though. I have 2 supertechs i bought too, last year. Always wanted to try em, since their cheap and i do 3 month oil changes. The supertechs appear to be beter built than the ac delcos, in my opinon. Ive never hacked any open, so cant really say the quality of the media. Last year, i used a napa pro select (white filter)..3 months, 980 miles later, hacked it open, the media was crimpled and looked like it wa slidin of the filter housing inside!!!
The ac delco medai was very very tough and strong, and nearly impossible to rip, tear nad pry off the internal filter housing,a nd thats using a large large screwdrivier! the proselect media..i wa able to with little effort, peel it all off : X