Well the 51348, 51516 have the same burst pressure of 275, and the same bypass valve setting 8-11psi, as does the 51515 and 51068. (which these bigger filters do 290psi)
So spec wise, it's no more or less.
the obsession for a bigger filter is the ability to have extra oi for the motor without overfilling the sump.
Also, the extra filter media helps, yes, probably not much, but it isn't hurting.
Also, more oil, more cooling capability, and possibly slightly longer life of the oil.
I always prefill my oil filters whenever possible, I do this simply because I was shown it 25 years ago and I've never seen a reason to not do it. The engine doesn't get starved for for that 1-2 seconds, it "wets" the filter so it doesn't get a "shock" of oil being blasted at it and I'm such in a habit of doing it, I simply can't not do it.
On some cars like the camry's & avalons that have the filter upside down, I prefill the filter half way and let the media absorb the oil then I spin it on.
But when the filter is filled with oil, to me the engine shouldn't care about a longer filter, the oil pump pumps oil in and it gets spit out to the engine, to me it's a non-issue.
I know the mfgr's spec a specific size filter while even they know they can use a larger size, but choose not to.
I believe it's because of oil capacity spec. Not to often you see a 5.7qt capacity, you'd see like 5 or 6.
So IMHO it's for filling spec more than anything.
However, as we use bigger filters, WE are on our own for filling spec and I agree, for warranty purposes as well.
When any car is under warranty, I don't go straying from what the mfgr specs, I don't put the cold air intake on or the K&N repl. I stick with the stock replacement filters.
I wish I had a camera to photograph the chevy dealer when my father in law brought his carpet steaming van in for a fuel pump. they flipped when they saw the 2qt size oil filter with a magnet on the base and a finned heat sink wrapped around it.
They tried the scare tactic, but he told them what they could do with their thoughts. (finally).
I've been using that 2qt filter for 3 years, the motor is revved 2500-3000 rpm for hours on end, middle of winter, and middle of California summers. They're half sized itsy bitsy filter and dino oil didn't cut it for me, and I'd be embarassed to let that happen as a BITOG member!
So he held an 8qt capacity oil system, 2 in the filter, 5 1/2 in the motor and another half in the oil cooler.
