Unhappy GM Oil Filter

[JAM25]

This picture was taken while i did my girlfriends oil change on her 2012 Chevrolet Malibu 2LT 2.4L

The OLM was at 20% so i decided to buy the 5 quart Quaker State Ultimate Durability that was on sale at AAP with a P1 Oil Filter. Once the oil was done draining it was time to take out the filter. this is what i encountered.

Now i told her that if it was my car, i would go to the dealer she bought it from. (Castle BUICK GMC) and complain of the poor oil filter being used, and the potential harm ot can cause to the engine. she bought the car new to her but used overall with 20K miles with a fresh oil change once she bought it. the car is under her dads name since interest for her was to high. She said her dad does not want to do anything and does not want to deal with anything. i just stood and shook my head. now her vehicle is under warranty for i believe 12K miles but still what would you do if you found a filter like this with 20% still on the OLM and installed by a certified GM Dealer.?

P.S the Oil Filter had just one print on it that said "Made In Korea" No numbers or brand of any sort just Made In Korea I was like [censored] is this?

 

[montero1]

They're not going to do a thing. You'd have to prove it harmed the engine.

 

[eagle23]

Originally Posted By: montero1
They're not going to do a thing. You'd have to prove it harmed the engine.


^^ Agree. And there is *no* evidence it harmed the engine. It will still probably run 200k+ without incident.

Would I be happy about it? No. Would I worry about it? No.

 

[pbm]

It seems to be a common occurance with certain filters used on the Ecotecs. I'm not sure if it's because the filters are slightly too long and they crush or if the installation isn't perfect. My friend had something similar happen with his Equinox. I have often removed wavy (but not ripped) filters from my Ion.

 

[LeakySeals]

I'm with the new GF, whats the big deal? What is it you think is floating through the hole in that filter, and how did it get in? If your scared of things getting in the engine, you should be checking the air filter. Looking at the media, it was still filtering. Let us know how the Purolator fares, they are known for media tears also.

 

[Trav]

There is no problem. So it ran a few K essentially without a filter.
How many engines run just fine for years and sometimes decades without one even installed, just a screen if that.

The car had 20K on it when she bought it so all the break in stuff was long gone so the only stuff that needed to be filtered would be generated since the previous OC.
Hardly enough to cause engine damage IMO.

I would be willing to bet that almost every engine has at some point in its life has had a bad filter in some way, either torn media , bad ADBV, bypass, etc.
You wouldn't know it with a spin on unless you cut it open which the average person me included isn't doing.

I can understand her fathers point. He signed for the car with a warranty so he doesn't have to mess around with the problems of ownership for someone else.
Now here comes the boyfriend making noise about a torn filter and wanting to complain to the dealer. No way would i get involved in that major fiasco in the making.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Trav


I would be willing to bet that almost every engine has at some point in its life has had a bad filter in some way, either torn media , bad ADBV, bypass, etc.
You wouldn't know it with a spin on unless you cut it open which the average person me included isn't doing.




I've often thought the same thing. I've taken many filters off of engines over the years that had hardly had any oil in them at all. Others filled to the top. I'm sure some of these might have failed internally at some point.

 

[widman]

I agree, very little chance the dealer will do anything. Really there isn't much they can do. Not going to rebuild the engine for that (and that would cause more damage than good). They could take a sample of the oil for analysis to see what got through, but you already changed that.

It is as if it ran on bypass for part of that oil change. Another reason not to overextend the oil changes. Many cars end up in bypass for a while every day simply because the owners put oil in that is too thick.

The one benefit from reporting it is so they can file a report with GM. If no one reports it, it never happened and the filters have no problems. I would send them a picture and offer to return it to them for their investigation. They might send you a filter or two in return.

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: JAM25
.......what would you do if you found a filter like this with 20% still on the OLM and installed by a certified GM Dealer.?.....

Is this a GM ACDelco OEM cartridge filter? Based on your comments and other positive comments I've read here about GM OEM cartridge filters I'm assuming it isn't. That being the case, the very least I would do is take the filter to the dealer and ask them why they aren't using genuine GM OEM parts. No matter the answer I'd be ticked and let them know about it. If you have the service receipt with the description that might be more evidence of what filter was used or should have been used. As said though, doubtful they will do anything.

As for made in Korea, Wix/Napa Gold and P1 cartridges for Hyundia/Kia are made there, I believe same factory and they are very high quality. Every bit as good as H/K oem in my experience. So I don't think that can automatically be blamed in this situation. Curious how many miles on this filter?

Biggest issue for me here would be the dealer not using GM AC Delco OEM cartridges if that is the case.

 

[JHZR2]

The Bosch we had gotten as one of those autozone deals was made in Korea. Granted it was for the VW, not my ecotec saab. I've seen some deformation of the media, but that looks severe. That said, what's to say it blew out in use? Could it be due to being torqued when you removed the cap?

The purchase scenario is so bad in this case, I'd be avoiding any situation on this car too.. Is the father claiming the car on his insurance too? Playing games because someone can't afford a car, and then drawing all kinds of attention isn't the way everyone wants to roll.

I do think showing this in a courteous way to the shop foreman and service manager would be a good thing, though if they can save a few bucks with an off-brand filter, they may not care. If they have a requirement to use gm parts and they aren't, that may be worthy of a complaint to gm..

 

[Donald]

So 99.999% of filter never get cut open so people never know. I am sure it happens from time to time. Then the question comes to mind is at what point in the filter's life did this happen?

 

[Tuffy1760]

Might be just me but that looks like it was overtightened. Since she has a new boyfriend doing OC for her, no more dealer visits! She'll save money too! I smell steak in your future!

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: pbm
It seems to be a common occurance with certain filters used on the Ecotecs. I'm not sure if it's because the filters are slightly too long and they crush or if the installation isn't perfect.


I've seen the waviness too (on AC Delco and Pure One filters) and I suspect its just a characteristic of the design. I have no way of proving it but I think there's a lot of "play" available to accomodate filters of different lengths. In other words, I don't think its possible to crush one by over-tightening.

It IS important, though, to lube (with oil) the little O-ring on the bottom of the filter. The one that goes into the little hole at the bottom of the filter cavity.

 

[NHGUY]

Want to eliminate the problem? Buy a vehicle that uses the good old fashioned spin on filters.But prepare to buy used (old) as nearly everybody has fallen into the "tree hugger" trend of using drop in elements.Its the 1950s all over again.

 

[artificialist]

I have changed numerous Ecotec filters, and a never saw one that tore open.

However, I never saw one made in Korea.

 

[crazyoildude]

they wont do anything post it everywhere! lol

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
I have changed numerous Ecotec filters, and a never saw one that tore open.

However, I never saw one made in Korea.


I agree. I don't think this is an ACDelco filter. ACD cartridge filters are the best available for that application.

Also as easy as it is to change this filter, some shops don't change them, or even charge extra to change the filter because it tends to be an expensive oil filter lol.

 

[Sayjac]

Based on some recent comments on this thread, I'd like to refer back to the OP's post and my first post here.

First, I'm commenting as if I owned this vehicle, not concerned with all the extraneous bf/gf etc. drama.

No matter the point of manufacture, based on the OP's info this filter was found after a US based GM dealer was supposed to have done an oil and filter change. Most likely the GM dealer installed this filter and therefore is (or should be) backing the quality and construction of said filter.

There has been an implication that perhaps the filter might not have been changed by the dealer. Shame on them then, with the Malibu under warranty, the dealer is supposed to change the filter with the oil, period. Even without warranty it is SOP for the dealer to change the filter, even on a Honda. So either way, changed dealer supplied oil filter or left on from some previous oc, this is on the dealer. That said, the OP never said oil changes were done at other than the dealer.

There are also some clues as to the possible maker/supplier. The OP's filter uses an endcap that ends even with the pleat ends, doesn't wrap over the ends of the pleats. This is similar to AC Delco oem design, however as a search of ecotec filters will show, some low end filter suppliers like Premium Guard and Pentius also use this design.

Also, based on a search it appears there may be two ACDelco supplied ecotec filters. One made by Hengst, which seems preferred, and another. Either way, the AC Delco would/should be warranted by the dealer. But, based on the information provided I don't believe said filter to be an ACDelco.

And a search shows that while the gaping hole is extraordinary, some crooked, twisted or wavy media after use is not uncommon. There's at least one youtube showing how this can occur, (tightening cap) and has been noted previously in this thread.

All that said, since the OP asked a question about what to do and many replied, it would be courteous to return and follow up. Perhaps we could get more information and maybe determine the maker/supplier of this cartridge filter.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: sayjac
Is this a GM ACDelco OEM cartridge filter? Based on your comments and other positive comments I've read here about GM OEM cartridge filters I'm assuming it isn't. That being the case, the very least I would do is take the filter to the dealer and ask them why they aren't using genuine GM OEM parts.

Biggest issue for me here would be the dealer not using GM AC Delco OEM cartridges if that is the case.


Exactly ... old GF of mine has a Chevy Malibu and she had the oil and filter changed a the Chevy dealer. I asked for the filter back for inscription out of curiosity, and it was a genuine AC Delco. It looked perfect to me with about 5,000 miles on it. Pleats were perfectly straight on it. So apparently the genuine AC Delco cartridge filters are something the dealer should be using, and as sayjac has said, it they are using some cheap aftermarket filter that blows out the media, then I'd be upset over it too.

 

[antiqueshell]

I be willing to wager good money that when the oil was changed last time they simply didn't change the filter. It looks OLD!

I too would go back to that last GM dealer that did the OC and ask why they didn't use a genuine GM filter.. or more to the point why they didn't change the filter AT ALL.


More reasons why they call them $tealerships.