SuperTech oil filter

labman · Mar 4, 2004

Most filters have an ADBV. They are easy to check, look for a black or orange flap covering the inlet hole around the the outside of the base. No oil on removal means it wasn't working if it was there. Sounds like a quality control problem.

A bigger filter means a bigger filter. Count on more oil capacity, but if you change brands, it may or may not have a bigger filter element inside. I am not even sure you can count on a bigger element in a larger filter of the same brand of filter. Another factor is the bypass valve. GM builds the bypass into the engine. Put a filter meant for one of them on an engine without a bypass, and it could burst. That is a big deal. All of them are set low enough to protect the filter. A non specified filter may have a different compromise between flow and cleanliness than your engine was designed with. I am not sure how big of a deal that is.

T-Keith · Mar 4, 2004

They have the exact same construction ADBV and all. Perhaps yours was defective? Maybe the oil harded the valve?

-T

FL-400S · Mar 5, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by T-Keith:
They have the exact same construction ADBV and all. Perhaps yours was defective? Maybe the oil harded the valve?
-T

The supertech was not on that long. Maybe 3-4 months and about 1500 miles. I drove the car home and it was fully warmed up. I let it sit in the driveway about 30-45 minutes while I ate lunch. Then I drained it and remove the filter and not a drop fell out of the filter. And it usually spills all over the block and bumper. Oh well Im running a FL-400S now with a silicon valve, though I do have another ST for backup.

ZR2RANDO · Mar 5, 2004

I'd think the ADBV on that particular Super Tech filter could have been weak/defective from day one...You said the STP filter did well, but this Super Tech did bad right? Both made by the same company, they probably both used the same ADBV, one just worked better than the other. I would not blow off the Super Tech filters just due to one bad example. If the rest of your shelf stock did it, then Id think about alternatives, The motorcraft filter is a good choice .

ZR2RANDO · Mar 5, 2004

The thread about getting bored and cutting open the Fram and Supertech shows a picture of a STP filter that looks like it was made by Wix, could be that is why the STP worked better than the Supertech in this case..STP is usually made by Champion. Your particular application may benefit from checking several different mfgrs for a winner. Super Tech filters work good for my case, sounds like STP or Motorcraft is better in yours..fun huh?

edwardh1 · Mar 5, 2004

many wall mart things are not the same as other products. And they keep cheapening their stuff. Rubbing Alcohol was less expensive than in the past - read the fine print - its now 48 % alcohol or whatever instead of the 90% they had been selling.

I quit using Super Tech filters because of the walmart connection.
went to pureone

Thomas Pyrek · Mar 6, 2004

I cut apart a ST3593a filter along with a few others (STP, s2808 and AC delco 1127 included). The Filtering medium is different from the one in the STP and seems identicle visually and similar, if not identicle strength.

This is an AC delco, but in a different size.

Pluto5 · Mar 6, 2004

Actually, Wal-Mart rubbing alcohol is 70% isopropyl by volume. Champion filters are OK, IMO you're wasting your money if you pay more than 2 bucks and change filters every 6 months or less.

[ March 06, 2004, 12:32 PM: Message edited by: Pluto5 ]

FL-400S · Mar 19, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by edwardh1:
many wall mart things are not the same as other products. And they keep cheapening their stuff. Rubbing Alcohol was less expensive than in the past - read the fine print - its now 48 % alcohol or whatever instead of the 90% they had been selling.

I quit using Super Tech filters because of the walmart connection.
went to pureone

Yeah, isopropyl alcohol is 70% and will always be 70% because thats the concentration that kill germs the best, not because its cheaper than 100%. You could go from pureone to motorcraft and buy two filters for every one.

Patman · Mar 19, 2004

A friend of mine told me he was going to the US last night and asked if I needed anything so I asked him to pick me up two Supertech oil filters for my mom's 94 Probe GT. I have been using NAPA Gold or Carquest Premium on her car, but wanted to find something cheaper for her, but up here the only filters under $5 are Frams.

I wish our Walmarts in Canada sold these filters.

haley10 · Mar 19, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Patman:
A friend of mine told me he was going to the US last night and asked if I needed anything so I asked him to pick me up two Supertech oil filters for my mom's 94 Probe GT. I have been using NAPA Gold or Carquest Premium on her car, but wanted to find something cheaper for her, but up here the only filters under $5 are Frams.

I wish our Walmarts in Canada sold these filters.

My local Wal-Mart has few Supertech filters now. It's looking like they will eventually be going 100% FRAM. They don't even stock a supertech that will fit my truck (only Fram).

It's one big orange wall. I wouldn't doubt if some Wally's may phase out the Supertech filters altogether.

FL-400S · Mar 20, 2004

Is wal-mart going to sell out of Supertechs then and not replace them? Maybe I should buy a few extras now? Ill actually be more pissed if they sell out of Motorcraft and I have to spend $3.50-$5 elsewhere (autozone) for the same $2.77 filter. I will really stock up on FL-400S for my cars then and FL-800S for my dads crown vics.

labman · Mar 20, 2004

I panicked a year ago and bought 4. I will use up the last one as soon as I figure out what I am going to do about them wanting $8.47 for 5 quarts of Pennzoil.

FordSVTGuy · Mar 20, 2004

When I cut open a Super Tech2 (820-FLS equiv), I thought the media was fine, but the center tube was very thin and weak. I was able to dent the center tube with very little pressure from my finger. I also cut open the Motorcraft 820-FLS and the center tube was much stronger. I could not dent the center tube with my figer at all. I would look at this aspect of the Super Tech for your application. To me it is not worth paying $1.00 less for a Super Tech filter that is clearly not the equal of the Motorcraft.

Thomas Pyrek · Mar 20, 2004

Well I guess there is one thing that we can do; complain. If we see the orange wall of doom growing then make a complaint that states this. If it doesn't do anything then what have you lost, 5 minutes of time? The rewards of a good $1.97 filter could be much better.

AtlasFBG2 · Mar 21, 2004

I stocked on the ST 3980 filters.I now have 30 of them stashed away.Got enough to last the cars life.Figure ill use 3 a year so im good for 10 years.Hope the filters are still good by then.

darkdan · Mar 21, 2004

Blue supertechs?

I was at walmart today and in a few sizes it was a blue box with a blue filter.

FL-400S · Mar 21, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by AtlasFBG2:
I stocked on the ST 3980 filters.I now have 30 of them stashed away.Got enough to last the cars life.Figure ill use 3 a year so im good for 10 years.Hope the filters are still good by then.

The only thing I would worry about is the rubber drying out. 10 years is a long time. You could keep a 5 year supply and go to PF52 delcos after that.

Grease is the word · Mar 21, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by AtlasFBG2:
I stocked on the ST 3980 filters.I now have 30 of them stashed away.Got enough to last the cars life.Figure ill use 3 a year so im good for 10 years.Hope the filters are still good by then.

Yeah, you are on the right forum.

ZR2RANDO · Mar 21, 2004

Y'all are acting like the Super Tech filters are going away? My local Walmart has plenty of them and doesn't seem to be decreasing the shelfspace for them at all. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
And AtlasFBG2,
Yes, you are in the right crowd here...

Rando

SuperTech oil filter

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