I wonder why oil has lots of different specs and oil filters have none. Owners manuals will list specific oil viscosities and an API or ACEA spec. Are oil filters not of much use? Are they not rated because it makes no difference which one you use? Are oil filters there to keep the engine from leaking oil?
Spec for oil filters
- Thread starter LarryL
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You're right, Oil does have some specs on the oil packaging.
Then why are there so many different grades? Why not one grade for all vehicles?
There are specs for filters. But there are so many that there is no way that they could print them on the can.
Each OEM has their own filter spec for each engine that they use.
Basically these are three things:
Minimum Burst pressure
Minimum Collapse pressure
Minimum Filter Element performance.
Anyone who builds a filter for a particular engine meets those minimum specs ( at least manufacturers here in the USA). After that, how much better they perform is what seperates one brand from another.
Then why are there so many different grades? Why not one grade for all vehicles?
There are specs for filters. But there are so many that there is no way that they could print them on the can.
Each OEM has their own filter spec for each engine that they use.
Basically these are three things:
Minimum Burst pressure
Minimum Collapse pressure
Minimum Filter Element performance.
Anyone who builds a filter for a particular engine meets those minimum specs ( at least manufacturers here in the USA). After that, how much better they perform is what seperates one brand from another.
I've never seen a spec on a box. I'm looking at an Amsoil SDF filter box. It just says it warranted to be free from defects. Then there is a bar chart that proves it's better than other filters. For anything else, it looks like I'm on my own.
I would like to see something like 'API Good enough for a Ford', or 'API Grade I' or whatever.
I'm looking at a quart of 5w-30 oil that says:
Recommended for:
API CF/CH-4/SH/SJ/SL, ACEA E2, B5 and A3
That makes me feel better about my quart of oil. I wish there was something that would make me feel good about my oil filter.
I would like to see something like 'API Good enough for a Ford', or 'API Grade I' or whatever.
I'm looking at a quart of 5w-30 oil that says:
Recommended for:
API CF/CH-4/SH/SJ/SL, ACEA E2, B5 and A3
That makes me feel better about my quart of oil. I wish there was something that would make me feel good about my oil filter.
All the US filter companies build filters which meet the minimum specs of the OEM.
Simple as that.
All filter companies warranty their filter to meet or exceed engine manufacturers spec.
They also warranty their filter to be free of manufacturing defects.
Then it is up to each brand of filter to give the consumer the reasons to buy that brand.
That's called "marketing".
And even though each oil company lists the API information..do you really believe that each brand of oil is blended exactly the same?
As with oil, there are various brands of filter for various "usages". Are you using your car as a daily driver? Change oil at 3,000 miles? Do you have a higher performance engine? Drive with a lead foot? Want to protect you engine better? Are you going to keep your car longer than 2 years? 5 years? Is it a "classic"? Do you want to buy the most expensive because of automotive ego?
When you answer all those questions, you'll find a filter that meets your needs. What that is , is up to you to do the research and decide for yourself.
Simple as that.
All filter companies warranty their filter to meet or exceed engine manufacturers spec.
They also warranty their filter to be free of manufacturing defects.
Then it is up to each brand of filter to give the consumer the reasons to buy that brand.
That's called "marketing".
And even though each oil company lists the API information..do you really believe that each brand of oil is blended exactly the same?
As with oil, there are various brands of filter for various "usages". Are you using your car as a daily driver? Change oil at 3,000 miles? Do you have a higher performance engine? Drive with a lead foot? Want to protect you engine better? Are you going to keep your car longer than 2 years? 5 years? Is it a "classic"? Do you want to buy the most expensive because of automotive ego?
When you answer all those questions, you'll find a filter that meets your needs. What that is , is up to you to do the research and decide for yourself.
the Specs you seek are SAE specs
I've been told by a filter maker rep that most engine makers do not publish specs for oil filters. The aftermarket oil filter companies reverse-engineer the OEM filters to determine their filter listings for that engine.
You will see some companies with very thick catalogs and different filters for just about every engine. Other companies have very slim catalogs and the same filter is listed for many engines. There are often compromises made, but some companies make more compromises with the filter listings to reduce their inventory.
Ken
You will see some companies with very thick catalogs and different filters for just about every engine. Other companies have very slim catalogs and the same filter is listed for many engines. There are often compromises made, but some companies make more compromises with the filter listings to reduce their inventory.
Ken
Ken2:
Reverse engineeering on oil filters does happen. However, US OEM's share their specs with the filter companies. As other manufacturers have built plants in the US, they too share information.
The reason they do is, they don't want any warranty problems with the vehicles. Even if it isn't "their" filter.
For other foreign model vehicles that are imported there may be some reverse engineering going on. It's not as prevalent as it used to be.
One might also consider that various filter companies have either plants or agreements with other filter companies outside the USA, so they still get the information from other sources.
SAE testing procedures works for OEM's in the USA.
ISO testing procedures work for OEM's outside the USA.( International Standards Organization )
Don't be surprised if you don't start seeing ISO procedures for US OEM's in the future.
SAE and ISO are working towards coming up with common testing procedures.
Note: SAE does not make the "specs". They only standardize the testing procedures that filter companies use. The auto OEM's determine the "specs" they want for their engine.
Reverse engineeering on oil filters does happen. However, US OEM's share their specs with the filter companies. As other manufacturers have built plants in the US, they too share information.
The reason they do is, they don't want any warranty problems with the vehicles. Even if it isn't "their" filter.
For other foreign model vehicles that are imported there may be some reverse engineering going on. It's not as prevalent as it used to be.
One might also consider that various filter companies have either plants or agreements with other filter companies outside the USA, so they still get the information from other sources.
SAE testing procedures works for OEM's in the USA.
ISO testing procedures work for OEM's outside the USA.( International Standards Organization )
Don't be surprised if you don't start seeing ISO procedures for US OEM's in the future.
SAE and ISO are working towards coming up with common testing procedures.
Note: SAE does not make the "specs". They only standardize the testing procedures that filter companies use. The auto OEM's determine the "specs" they want for their engine.
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