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Oil Filters--OEM or something else?

RedMF40

RedMF40

Well-known Member
Been at least 20 years since I changed my own oil, but now that I've installed a lift at my place I plan to start doing it again. I remember just buying one of the aftermarket brands like WIX or Fram or whatever back in the day.

Does it make any sense to buy something other than OEM for the oil filter? I checked prices before posting this and found:

Purolator Boss for my car (Honda) $12.99
Fram Titanium $14.99

Don't know yet how much the Honda filter is, but I can't imagine it's much more than these prices unless someone out there knows better. And feel free to share opinions about any of the aftermarket filters. I know some of the quick-ee lube places use filters that might be no better than a roll of toilet paper. Maybe worse. I don't know from filters.

Gerrit
 
Oem . Just bought a cheap hydraulic filter was about the
same price as oem but where the filter ends attached to the
filter was not made right with a gap between the end and the
filter can
 
(quoted from post at 23:33:22 10/25/20) I know some of the quick-ee lube places use filters that might be no better than a roll of toilet paper. Maybe worse.
Gerrit
Click to expand...


My grandfather had a late 50's Rambler with a toilet paper filter added to it.
 
Baldwin, Wix, Purolator are reputable brands. Fram and unknown store brands can be risky.

Hard to go wrong with OEM, but some can be pricey.

If you are going to be servicing your own vehicles now, and plan on keeping them for a while, look into buying a case of filters online. Buying them one at a time from the auto supply is the most expensive route to go.

I try to buy my filters online and oil from Walmart. That's the most economical combo I have found.
 


This topic has been on the twice a year schedule here at YT for many years. There are a few reports of tests that get put up and the the NEARLY indisputable conclusion is to use WIX, don't use FRAM. My personal observation is that the only reason for the popularity of FRAM is the popularity of Wally World. I like my locally owned auto parts store, and I figure that if I keep going there they will continue to be there.
 
I find it really annoying that many stores now sell THREE Fram oil filter lines. Huh? OK, I get that Fram wants to rebrand to get past their reputation as a mediocre filter, but why three. <a href="https://www.fram.com/products/consumer-products/oil-filters/">And going to the Fram web site, they list SIX different lines</a>. How about just making one filter that does the job?

I generally use Delco filters on my GM vehicle, although I might use the Mobil 1 brand if it's on sale. Or Wix. I think regular oil changes using a quality full-synthetic oil like Mobil 1 are more important than oil filter brand. Oh, speaking of Mobil 1, it also comes in a <a href="https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/for-personal-vehicles/our-products/motor-oils/mobil-1-motor-oil-products">bewildering array of product lines</a>. Enough already!
 
Pretty much all the Hondas take the same filter. Around $ 7.00 dollars at the dealer ! The Honda filters also have a way nicer o-ring type gasket.
 
I use Napa Gold are OEM, NAPA golds meet OEM specs don't cheap down on the filter... If you read the specs on house brands they clearly state they are not to be used for OEM extended oil change intervals.

Your Honda, my local NAPA stocks Altrom filters they use to claim they were the OEM manufacture I have used them they are a buck are 2 better priced than the golds. Go to Amazon and get a pack of drain plug washers replace every time. Play safe when installing the plug they are the worst for stripping out (aluminum threads in the oil pan what a concept)... I think the OEM filter comes with the washer...

For the DIY guy when you break the oil plug loose it should spin right out with no help if it needs help the threads on the oil plug are bad replace the oil plug life will be good...

Buy a cap wrench for you filter and one of those tools I wish I had thought of I love it.

https://actron.com/content/drain-plug-pro
 
Billy .... what did you see inside the filter that made you shy away from Fram? Hopefully not mouse turds or cockroaches .... LOL !!! Or maybe it was something that you didn't see that made you shy away.
 
Frantz. I knew guys who sold them. Never had one, though. If you had one the instructions were to put in a new roll of toilet paper every one thousand miles and put in a fresh quart or so of oil. You never did drain the oil as you would with a conventional oil change.
 
Hastings filters used to be made in Hastings Mi and were a quality filter, They are made elsewhere now and I dont know how they are now
 
Your Honda, my local NAPA stocks Altrom filters they use to claim they were the OEM manufacture I have used them they
For the DIY guy when you break the oil plug loose it should spin right out with no help if it needs help the threads on the oil plug are bad replace the oil plug life will be good...

[b:8f9b67ea23]Buy a cap wrench for you filter and one of those tools I wish I had thought of I love it.
[/b:8f9b67ea23]

That's cool, I'll order that tool. Thanks for the real-world tips. I know you run a shop and appreciate your taking the time to respond to DIY posts.

Gerrit
 
X2 I have always used napa gold filters
and always will.Napa gold is made by Wix
which is one of the best quality filters
made..I do not know how your local napa
is,in terms of service,but the guys at my
napa,are some of the nicest guys so I do
not mind going there for all my
car/truck/tractor parts.They also have a
AAA discount which I always use.

Rock
 

Looks like I revived a common topic, didn't mean to beat it to death. I went online, looking for more info on Honda filters and who might make them. After going down a rabbit hole of different discussion forums, the general consensus (right or wrong) is that they are made by Fram. And for this post, I gather Fram is the one filter no one here really likes. Funny how that works.

For my OP, it looked like price was the main consideration, but I'm really wondering if a WIX, NAPA or some other filter is actually going to be BETTER than OEM?

Not going to lose any sleep over this, will likely just go with whatever is easiest to get my hands on. Honda dealer is nowhere near where I live but I have a NAPA store close by. Can always order a bunch online as someone suggested.

BTW a Honda filter from the dealer is six bucks.

Gerrit
 
Also Honda recommends a new washer for the drain plug every time. And they do have a torque spec. for both the drain plug and the oil filter.
 
(quoted from post at 06:14:51 10/26/20) Also Honda recommends a new washer for the drain plug every time. And they do have a torque spec. for both the drain plug and the oil filter.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I remember that now from when I had an '84 Accord. Really a nice-driving car, 5-speed. Finally got rid of it when rust started encroaching on the rear suspension parts.

Thanks for the reminder,

Gerrit
 
I've used Fram almost exclusively for over 40 years and never had an oil related problem. Had one guy tell me they plug up. Maybe because they caught stuff your other
filters let through?? Someone on here once posted he cut one open and it had brown paper inside. Sure, they have a plant somewhere full of people cutting up used
shopping bags. How about the A-C filters filled with cotton waste.
 
I own Fords. I buy Motorcraft filters for them. My cars only take 2 different filters...FL910s and FL500s...just bought a case of each off Amazon, cause Walmart was out when I went to the store.

For the tractors/lawnmowers/atv's, Napa has a sale every spring, 50% off Napa Gold filters. I print off my spreadsheet with the filter numbers, head to the store, and get my filters. They usually have to order
a few of them, still get the 50% off.

FWIW

Fred
 
Wix! I’ve tried to get my brother to use them on his Deere’s, but he won’t do it. Says white oil filters wouldn’t look
right on a Deere. I do enjoy pointing out the black OEM Deere filters say “Made in Mexico” but the white Wix say “Made in the USA”
 
Fleetguard. You would be surprised how may OEM labels get slapped on Fleetguard filters. At one time the Deere ar43634 were fleetguard.
 
your best is to buy OEM when u cam. oem filters will be the most efficient for your vehicle. meaning they will have a smaller micron rating
than a jobber filter . for example the oem will have 7 micron while the jobber could have 10 micron ratings. the 7 micro stuff will pass
through the filter. plus you need to know its rating for each filter. the other day i cut open some used filters making rain caps when cleaning up shop and you
cannot tell any differences from fram, oem or wix or fleetguard by looking at the filter. guess i should have taken picture of the inside for
show. you will not pick out god or bad so i dont know why everyone hates fram, or picks a brand without looking inside. this is what i was
taught many years ago is to use OEM for best results. plus all these posts here and basically no evidence to support the post.
 
I use carQuest which is Wix, I believe NAPA is also Wix. My auto store has a half price sale in the spring and I stock up. I like to have them on hand when i want to do an oil change. Years ago I cut a bunch of different brands open. The Frame appeared to be poorly made.
 
Over the years I've used almost every brand of oil filter ever made...I haven't had a single engine
failure caused by the oil filter....I've even used the dreaded Fram with no problems.
 
Napa pizzed me off over an oil pan and I have not been in there store only once since then. I just use Baldwin can get them easy and are local for me. Fleet guard has to come from 15 miles away so I have converted over to the Baldwins completely. I 've never had a filter problem with any of them never had an oil related problem either that I could say was the oil for sure. I have had other issues cause problems for me though. I don't even use the coveted hytran or low ash oils either . I buy from the local fuel guy for oil and have not found any problems. I did this in the over the road trucks over a 20 year period. Put 1,150,000 on one truck and ran the other to 1,140,000 the 1,150,000 is still in use today and I still have the other one.
 
Are you thinking of using one of the premium filters and changing the filter less often?
 
(quoted from post at 03:28:28 10/26/20) I find it really annoying that many stores now sell THREE Fram oil filter lines. Huh? OK, I get that Fram wants to rebrand to get past their reputation as a mediocre filter, but why three. &lt;a href="https://www.fram.com/products/consumer-products/oil-filters/"&gt;And going to the Fram web site, they list SIX different lines&lt;/a&gt;. How about just making one filter that does the job?

I generally use Delco filters on my GM vehicle, although I might use the Mobil 1 brand if it's on sale. Or Wix. I think regular oil changes using a quality full-synthetic oil like Mobil 1 are more important than oil filter brand. Oh, speaking of Mobil 1, it also comes in a &lt;a href="https://www.mobil.com/en/lubricants/for-personal-vehicles/our-products/motor-oils/mobil-1-motor-oil-products"&gt;bewildering array of product lines&lt;/a&gt;. Enough already!
Click to expand...

It's called MARKETING. You sell good-better-best. Some people will look at the "good" level product, see the better and best level products, and choose one of the more expensive options because they think they're getting more for their money. Some people will look at the best, and see the less expensive good and better options, and choose one of them to save money. Regardless of which product the customer chooses, it's a WIN for Fram because they are selling filters.

As far as Mobil 1 being "bewildering" all you have to do is read what's on the label. It tells you precisely what application the particular type of Mobil 1 is good for. The differences in formulations may be splitting hairs, but again it is called MARKETING. You have a specific application, and oh wow, they have an oil with that specific application right on the label! Guess who you're buying your oil from.
 
When we bought our last Subaru I told the dealer that I change my own oil, and he said be sure to use Subaru filters or they might not honor the warranty. So I do, we can buy them online for <$8. But when I had it changed at a Subaru dealer in Arizona they used an aftermarket filter! I just changed it this morning myself, Subaru filter and Mobil 1 0-20.
 
(quoted from post at 11:22:38 10/26/20) Are you thinking of using one of the premium filters and changing the filter less often?
Click to expand...

No, I always change oil and filter at the same time. Decided to go with OEM, was in the big city today and stopped at a Honda dealer. see pic.

Gerrit
mvphoto64007.jpg
 
wise choice! NOW, who tears there engine down after 2 or 3 hundred thousand miles to actually check the brgs. to see what the oil filter and
oil is actually doing??? just as i thought basically nobody. so yes all oil filters work just some better than others but all must do the job! its a useless debate.
not one bit of technical information here.
 

You done good those will hold up in court : )...

Oil change jobs are a lost leader, to make up for it a big percentage use low cost house brand filters. Those filters cost a shop a couple bucks to me its just not worth it to make a few extra bucks on a lost leader. I use a quality filter up-sale it I make the same as if I used a low cost house brand filter. I have been bit by cheap filters lucky for me we caught it before it turned into a 5K engine job I will not go back to a cheap house brand filter again... One cheap filter can ruin your day/week/year over a few bucks because you cheeped out...

If a shop cheaps out on the filter on your ride what else will they do to pocket a few extra bucks... Think about this if a filter messes up a engine on a 2K car it will cost me more then its worth to replace the engine if they want a cheap filter I am not your guy...

The oil plug had been stripped out when I got my Honda I got it a little off when I tapped and put a insert in it. I got it to stop leaking I don't take the plug out anymore I suck the oil out thru the dipstick tube... I can get it all but maybe a pint I change it at 3K because I can : ).... NO one can make money on a service buying the oil from a parts house to make any money a shop has to buy in bulk... The least I buy is a 55 gal drum up to filling 200 gal bulk tanks. When you buy like this I can buy full synthetic cheap : ) It would make Y'all mad as ell if you knew how the parts stores were reaming you out on the convenience of bottled oil... I don't want to tie up my money in bulk oil I have to if I want to make money at it...

One more tip its a habit you need to get into... After you install the oil plug CLEAN IT AND MARK IT a dab of RTV will do if for noting else its those few seconds you spend paying attention to the plug to KNOW you tighten it...
 

One more tip its a habit you need to get into... After you install the oil plug CLEAN IT AND MARK IT a dab of RTV will do if for noting else its those few seconds you spend paying attention to the plug to KNOW you tighten it...


That's a really good tip. I hadn't thought of that and lately my mind isn't always on what I'm doing so I could see leaving it loose by accident.

My local shop does loss leader oil changes for $19.99. Tire rotation, all that. I bring them other work but I know they're not making anything on these oil changes. Also, they put their least-skilled tech on them, as seen from the condition of the car when I get it back. Still need to get that magnetic gizmo for the drain plug but I have a work-around I can use until then.

Anyway, thanks for all the tips and advice and shared experiences from everyone. Be interesting to see how my first oil change goes after all these years.

Gerrit
 
Filters are not going to filter out much of the sludge that gets into the oil. I use the cheapest filter I can but I change the oil every month on a vehicle used often.
 
I violate every rule of modern oil changing. I still change it every 3000 miles - with modern engines with variable timing and hydraulic tensioners on the timing chains
you can't get the full use of the oil because those parts are so sensitive to dirty or partially broke down oil. Because I change it so often I use the cheapest filters
I can find - Super Tech filters by Champion labs are a good filter you don't have to worry about coming apart because of cheap glue. That or I find Purolator filters
that are now in some kind of a partnership with Bosch.
 
Bosch divested from the Purolator partnership.

I believe Purolator is wholly owned by Mann-Hummel. THey (M+H) may have bought out WIX too ??

I use pretty much 100% WIX (which also make NAPA and used to make Carquest filters) have used a Purolator or 2. OEMs should be ok but I don't know what level of performance they are made to. probably good for quality build but who knows about the performance. they may only be made for basic oil change intervals. ??
 
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