What a remarkable lack of intelligence there is available to us regarding oil filters.
I recently installed an oil filter, make and model of which I haven’t used before. My decision was based on the reputation of the manufacturer, advertising, frequency of use amongst those in populations such as frequent these pages, recommendations, and other anecdotal evidence of quality of construction and function.
Since then, I searched this forum on the name of the manufacturer, to find references that would validate my choice. There were plenty of hits, but what I learned was anything but satisfying. Not that the filter that I selected was generally or universally panned, but that the threads and comments and digressions indicated that we really don’t know much at all about any particular one of this component of our vehicular oiling systems.
What I mean to say is that there is wide and considerable diversity of opinion and knowledge about these devices: what they can and cannot do, their performance and longevity, their construction, design specifications, price, availability, and other attributes. One thing is clear, however: the manufacturers are, in general, not terribly forthcoming with those data that would truly benefit those who are interested and engaged enough to wish to make informed decisions as to which filter is best for any one particular driving style or vehicular application.
The set of posts that were returned in my search included descriptions of experiences and statements of opinions that ran the gamut.
o One person stated that because a particular manufacturer makes a certain model filter that is considered low end, that all of the products from that factory are such. This, despite the fact that that manufacturer also makes two of the expensive, top of the line filters—at least as far as they are generally regarded by buyers hemisphere-wide.
o I read diametrically opposed opinions as to why a particular effect on oil pressure occurred following installation of a certain filter in a standard application. Both reasonable and entirely plausible.
o Brands and models can, it seems, suck and be perfectly adequate at the same time.
o Even BOBISTHEOILGUY himself weighed in on one thread with the suggestion, reasonably supported by photo evidence and with reference to analyses, that perhaps it’s really only flow that matters after all, that filtration of particulates is a secondary concern of far lesser importance.
o Angels dance on the heads of pins. This many microns is sufficient; no, gotta tighten it up. This flow is good; no, not good enough. Silicone is fine; no, nitrile it must be. A filter, when removed from the block, won’t drain the oil left trapped inside. This is bad, media’s clogged; no, good—means it has good capture
We don’t know too much at all, it appears. For most, if not all filters, we don’t know actual flow rates of oils. Those manufacturers that do provide data don’t typically tell us the particular weights of oils used to measure those rates, and at what temperature and pressure. We don’t know the true composition of many of the media used. Information about filtration efficiencies is often fuzzy. We don’t know the design specs for numbers of engine start cycles. I'm not aware that we have certified, unbiased testing data on the performance of any of the filters that are most regularly discussed here. We've seen evidence of construction quality and defects, but it's one thing to cut open a filter and attempt to determine how well it's made. It's quite another to know how well it actually performs. Even the idea of what constitutes performance itself is debated.
What’s a poor motorist to do? We can debate the minutiae of the facts of the oils we use based on analyses, MSDS and product specification data, certification requirements, and other facts. But when it comes to the filters that we use, it is decidedly an unsatisfactory state of affairs. It is an enjoyable intellectual exercise to discuss the subject here in these pages, but I, and, I expect others, typically come away wanting. By and large, we’re left to our own devices in the end—anecdote, brand loyalty, prejudice, habit, price.
It all makes for good and entertaining reading. I’m glad to be here just the same. I sure wish I could know whether I made a good choice, though, before it’s too late.
I recently installed an oil filter, make and model of which I haven’t used before. My decision was based on the reputation of the manufacturer, advertising, frequency of use amongst those in populations such as frequent these pages, recommendations, and other anecdotal evidence of quality of construction and function.
Since then, I searched this forum on the name of the manufacturer, to find references that would validate my choice. There were plenty of hits, but what I learned was anything but satisfying. Not that the filter that I selected was generally or universally panned, but that the threads and comments and digressions indicated that we really don’t know much at all about any particular one of this component of our vehicular oiling systems.
What I mean to say is that there is wide and considerable diversity of opinion and knowledge about these devices: what they can and cannot do, their performance and longevity, their construction, design specifications, price, availability, and other attributes. One thing is clear, however: the manufacturers are, in general, not terribly forthcoming with those data that would truly benefit those who are interested and engaged enough to wish to make informed decisions as to which filter is best for any one particular driving style or vehicular application.
The set of posts that were returned in my search included descriptions of experiences and statements of opinions that ran the gamut.
o One person stated that because a particular manufacturer makes a certain model filter that is considered low end, that all of the products from that factory are such. This, despite the fact that that manufacturer also makes two of the expensive, top of the line filters—at least as far as they are generally regarded by buyers hemisphere-wide.
o I read diametrically opposed opinions as to why a particular effect on oil pressure occurred following installation of a certain filter in a standard application. Both reasonable and entirely plausible.
o Brands and models can, it seems, suck and be perfectly adequate at the same time.
o Even BOBISTHEOILGUY himself weighed in on one thread with the suggestion, reasonably supported by photo evidence and with reference to analyses, that perhaps it’s really only flow that matters after all, that filtration of particulates is a secondary concern of far lesser importance.
o Angels dance on the heads of pins. This many microns is sufficient; no, gotta tighten it up. This flow is good; no, not good enough. Silicone is fine; no, nitrile it must be. A filter, when removed from the block, won’t drain the oil left trapped inside. This is bad, media’s clogged; no, good—means it has good capture
We don’t know too much at all, it appears. For most, if not all filters, we don’t know actual flow rates of oils. Those manufacturers that do provide data don’t typically tell us the particular weights of oils used to measure those rates, and at what temperature and pressure. We don’t know the true composition of many of the media used. Information about filtration efficiencies is often fuzzy. We don’t know the design specs for numbers of engine start cycles. I'm not aware that we have certified, unbiased testing data on the performance of any of the filters that are most regularly discussed here. We've seen evidence of construction quality and defects, but it's one thing to cut open a filter and attempt to determine how well it's made. It's quite another to know how well it actually performs. Even the idea of what constitutes performance itself is debated.
What’s a poor motorist to do? We can debate the minutiae of the facts of the oils we use based on analyses, MSDS and product specification data, certification requirements, and other facts. But when it comes to the filters that we use, it is decidedly an unsatisfactory state of affairs. It is an enjoyable intellectual exercise to discuss the subject here in these pages, but I, and, I expect others, typically come away wanting. By and large, we’re left to our own devices in the end—anecdote, brand loyalty, prejudice, habit, price.
It all makes for good and entertaining reading. I’m glad to be here just the same. I sure wish I could know whether I made a good choice, though, before it’s too late.
