Originally Posted By: SwedishRider
Originally Posted By: dnewton3
5-6k mile O/FCIs?
It won't matter one bit. Seriously, it simply won't matter. They are both excellent filters, and either is grossly under utilized at your planned interval. And since the cost is a wash, we might as well speak to other criteria ...
You might as well have a debate about which color of can compliments the block paint. Or perhaps which weighs less so that you get a micro-fractional increase in fuel mileage. Or which has a smoother exterior to cut down on wind resistance ...
I have fallen into a routine of 6-month service intervals, trying to go through my vehicles once in April and once in October. Typically, that will mean about 5-6K miles in that time frame. It's just easier to knock them out in one or two days than play it by miles and have to do them one here and one there. I try to service the lawn equipment on the same days as the vehicles.
I bought a Fram Ultra just to check it out. It was $8.97 plus tax (Walmart) for a total of $9.54. I don't recall the NAPA Gold total cost, but it was pushing $8 out the door if I remember correctly. I priced the Wix through my Amsoil PC account, and if I buy an entire year's worth in one shot, the cost averaged out to be a bit over $7 a filter including shipping and taxes. If I buy all my oil and other Amsoil items on the same shipment, the cost would keep going down as shipping would become less expensive per item as more items are added on one shipment.
I'm still pondering at the moment. The build quality of the Fram Ultra feels pretty darn good. And a Wix/NAPA Gold/P1 will be within about $2-$2.50 per filter of the Fram Ultra at Walmart's prices. Theoretically, I could run the Ultra for two OCIs, but I prefer to change the filter with each oil change. Is that $2ish spread over time worth the increased build quality of the Fram Ultra? That's the bottom line question I suppose...
Not knowing about your specific vehicle(s), I'll just presume they are well maintained and in good shape ...
5-6k miles is easily doable on just about any shelf-brand filter; Puro Classic, Fram EG, M/C, etc. They will all do a decent job. You can spend more for "better" filters, but they will not return your investment in reduced wear; there is no data that supports that conclusion. If you OCI that often, the filter is really only there to catch large chunks, and small stuff passes anyway. Therefore it is the combination of the anti-agglomerates keeping soot small so as to avoid gouging action of particles against surfaces, and the tribochemical barriers reducing contact wear.
That "2ish" dollars you spend is certainly worth it if it makes you sleep better at night; I'll not debate that. But that money won't protect your engine any "better"; there's no proof I'm aware of to support that statment.
