New Carquest EP Oil Filters
- Thread starter cutnapath
- Start date
Now I am confused. Microgard Select claims 99% @ 25 micron. Car Quest Premium is 99.5% @ 20 micro. I believe these are the same filter which is the Premium Guard Extended Life where PG claims 99% @ 25 micron. The Carquest EP is supposed to be the PG Ultimate Synthetic that they claim 99.5% @ 25 micron. Who's is telling the truth here?
Just because they are all made under Premium Guard Inc with different branding doesn't mean the media can't be a bit different depending on the specs that AAP or O'Reilly asks for from PGI. Go by the published specs for the specific filter brand under PGI.
I called PG and asked this very question. The official 10k oil filter efficiency range is as follows.
99.9%@25
99.5%@20
98.7%@15(absolute)
The different house brands can choose to advertise anywhere in this range. These have a synthetic blend media.
The new EP or Ultimate is 99.5%@25 with a 20k rating. Slightly less efficient but more holding capacity. These have full synthetic media.
Did PGI actually say the media is exactly the same in all the extended (10K) filters regardless of branding ... or was that efficiency info for the filters branded as "Premium Guard"? If the Microgard Select was also 99.5% @ 20u, then I'd think O'Reilly would advertise it as 99% @ 20u instead of 99% @ 25u.
Thanks, I knew you had posted this before, and you saved me from searching for it! Bottom line, these are very well built filters made with quality materials, and do a great job of filtering out debris.
I get that. It just seems cost prohibitive to make multiple media types for different customers for a 10k filter. Seems like everyone's margins would be greater by picking your off the shelf choice. Standard, premium, super premium.
Has anyone actually done independent testing on these effecieny claims? (Not PGI alone, but any filter manufacturer). You could probably get away with claiming any spec that you wanted. What is stopping someone from claiming 99% @ 10 micron? Chances of any sort of FTC or class action situation are slim to none since someone would have to find a problem with engines failing because these filters don't meet advertised specs, and then determine the potential outcome would be worth the time and investment to legally pursue. Not exactly the same, but audio manufacturers or brands have been claiming highly exaggerated power output numbers for years and years, and if never heard of any sort of action against any of them. 5,000 watt advertised amplifiers actually producing a couple of hundred watts etc.
I specifically asked about Carquest Premium, Microgard Select, and PG EX. The techline rep said they’re the same media and there is an efficiency range which he provided me.
We also discovered a website error that was eventually fixed months later. On a different call I asked about the new EP which he had to contact engineering on because it was so new at the time.
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Official ISO 4548-12 testing per PGI.
The filter manufactures that advertise an efficiency are most likely using ISO 4548-12 which has been the world used standard for oil filter efficiency testing for over 25 years. The big name filter makers are going to check out their competition's claims. I know Fram did that since they had their own ISO efficiency test lab and tested other brands of filters bought off the shelves. If they think any competitors are showing false claims they get a letter from the lawyer for false advertising.
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Wonder why O'Reilly's doesn't use the 99% @ 20u (since it's 99.5%@20 - per post 64) instead of 99% @ 25u. I wonder if Carquest and O'Reilly have them ISO tested themselves and advertise efficiency based on that? Just seems strange that O'Reilly wouldn't go with 99% @ 20u for the MicroGard Select if they really are that efficient.
When I was in AAP store, they only had Carquest EP on the shelves. I had to ask at the counter for Premium filter which they had to get from storage. I wonder if EP will eventually replace premium version. When you getting an oil bundle that includes oil and filter, they let you pick Premium or EP with no price difference. Not sure anyone will pay $16 for it, but if its part of some oil bundle people will get it.
BrendanC
$100 site donor 2024
the CQ red/premiums were intended for commercial customers but with Fram/purolator letting blind bean counters engineer an build oil filters, they have removed them from sale in store so fully expect to see atleast the EP and Premium on the sales floors. i know EP is already out on the floor in my locations. all fram/purolator junk is on sale for close out.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Or HNBR
Honest question: If that’s the case, why haven’t we seen Fram pull the filters off the shelves, or at least heard of a lawsuit from a competitor, due to the leaking leaf springs. The assumption here is that they leak enough that they will not meet their claimed efficiency.
Seems like an easy way for smaller manufacturers to gain access to previously unavailable retail shelf space. Even just making the Walmart shelves available would be a huge amount of business for them.
It’s strange. My theory is they just chose the 99.9% efficiency.
My AAP’s have always had the Premiums out back.
When I was in AAP this week, buying some closeout oil and FD6607 (to flashlight test), saw the EP filter on the back shelves. At $16 even with an AAP 15% online discount, zero interest 'from me'. The CQ Premium fits the bill at a price point I'm willing to pay. I rather like that locally they are still in the back and must be specifically requested to purchase. Makes them like almost a hidden gem, imo. Also, possibly keep popular applications like the 84356 /(7317) in stock.
I max out at 8k miles a year, so even when running AMSOIL Signature Series, if I stick with a 12 month max OCI, I have no need for a 15k or 20k filter. The 10k Carquest Premium is perfect for me.
Who knows what's going on behind the scenes all the time between competing big oil filter companies, especially in these chaotic days. Most here know how dynamic and ever changing it is. And oil filter companies and country of origin change pretty frequently. I just know for a fact that Fram did buy competitor's filters and looked at the construction and even ISO tested some of them in their labs. What they do now with all their own chaos is unknown. Amsoil a long time ago (2010) even had independent ISO efficiency testing done on a bunch of competitor's filters and actually published those results.
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