"High end" oil filters

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Originally Posted By: Paul_Bell
I've re-examined the Fram Ultra, it's just a single layer. Not necessarily a bad thing.

The Fram Ultra is a dual layer filter. As shown on the Fram website:

Originally Posted By: Fram Website
Ultimate dual-layer synthetic media provides up to 15,000 miles of engine protection and 99%+ filtration efficiency.
 
I believe you that the Fram website says that. I've read what the Fram website says.

The one I have is a single layer.

Let's compare the photo of the one I opened for examination to the photo from Fram's website. See any difference?

Ultra_zps76531747.jpg
 
Again friends, I'm not saying the Fram Ultra is bad-I'd use it without reservation.
 
To create this filter comparison, I consulted a friend of mine who is a distribution manager for one of the brands noted here. I again consulted him about the bypass spring to clarify it's use and description.

Yes, it does hold everything together. It also allows the filter element to shift allowing oil to bypass it under high PSI moments like cold start up, high engine RPM and when the media is plugged.

I do believe these filters can operate in bypass under certain circumstances-even if the engine block has it's own pressure bypass built in such as GM engines as correctly pointed out by Mr. 901 Memphis.
 
Very nice job on the pics Paul. Your cutaway of the filter media from the center tube was unique. Thanks for posting, people can draw their own conclusions with further research.
 
Who cares if its a dual layer or single layer? The end result (actual filtration performance) is all that matters. Neither Amsoil nor RP tout "dual layer media" at all, despite clearly having two layers. But the backing layer is probably more structural to prevent the top layer from squishing through the wire mesh than it is for actual filtration.

And rating the Wix above any of the others is a known bogus rating. It may look good, but it has a significantly poorer filter rating than the Amsoil, RP, and Fram Ultra.

Furthermore- you didn't actually show ANY of the bypass mechanisms or valves. Those "stamped steel" or coil springs are just the media retaining springs. The RP in your pictures, for example, has a base-end bypass valve that is never shown at all, nor do we see any dome-end bypass valves.
 
Also there are some othher pretty bold and unfounded assumptions along with "two media layers are better." It appears you assume crimped media ends are somehow better than glued (glued actually guarantees a 100% seal, crimping can leave gaps for un-filtered oil if not done along with a sealant or glue). And of course there's the ever-present assumption about metal end-caps being better- which I tend to agree with but its far from a closed issue.
 
Paul, thanks for posting and your insights.

You went to considerable time and expense to share your experiment with BITOG.

Like you, I appreciate the quality of the Fleetguard filter you dissected.

Disassembled, you have to wonder if FRAM hasn't over "value-engineered" its OCOD.

There are certainly no tolerances or margin of error there for the variations that typically occur in the manufacturing process.
 
Originally Posted By: Paul_Bell
I believe you that the Fram website says that. I've read what the Fram website says.

The one I have is a single layer.

Let's compare the photo of the one I opened for examination to the photo from Fram's website. See any difference?

Ultra_zps76531747.jpg

The one you cut apart has NO bypass valve, while the exploded view XG8a has one (the nylon "button" in the center of the leaf spring).
 
Originally Posted By: kschachn
And yet no evidence of that happening right?

Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
Interesting-the Amsoil, RP, & Stratapore all seem to have the same (guessing Donaldson?) media! My biggest fear of the Extra Guard isn't the fiber end caps as much as those WIDE pleats, very Purolator Classic-esque, any moisture, short tripping-those will fold over, distort, & pull down on the endcap, causing ADBV failure or possibly even allowing oil to bypass the media altogether.
I've seen Extra Guard photos, both here & elsewhere, of severely distorted media & end caps-I've not personally been brave enough to run one beyond 3,000 miles to "see what happens"!
 
Yessir, the Fram had the plastic thing in the spring, same as shows in their illustration. I was more interested in the filter media than anything else.

The basics of why I did this was to simply show what's inside these filters-which I haven't seen anybody else do. So many people cut filters open and show them after use which is useless to me.

We can all draw our own conclusions about what's "best" for our applications, driving conditions, OCI and expenditure.

I'd agree with Tig 1. The oil used is very important.

I was happily surprised to see that Fram can indeed make a great filter, despite being slightly different than their description.

I also wanted to see if the Amsoil and Royal Purple filters are THAT much better than others as they claim. Turns out it they're way better than standard filters but on par with other high end and more easily found filters.

About media filtration abilities and ratings, I'll leave that to those with the means to test them. However, I'm confidant that all of these filter quite well-and it's reasonable to assume better than standard paper filters.
 
Originally Posted By: Paul_Bell


I also wanted to see if the Amsoil and Royal Purple filters are THAT much better than others as they claim. Turns out it they're way better than standard filters but on par with other high end and more easily found filters.


The big difference is the ADBV material choice. The Fleetguard and Donaldson filters use Nitrile, whilst the AMSOIL, RP and Fram Ultra use Silicone. This can make a noticeable difference on applications prone to noise due to ADBV leakage.
 
This is what a Fram bypass valve looks like. If it does not contain the nylon center piece and spring, its just a retaining leaf spring. In this picture its a combination bypass valve/retaining spring.

 
Thanks for doing this. Most of the filters we see on BITOG are used. I would use any filter on your list except for the low-end Fram.

I never see any Fleetguards in the store, though. Mostly commercial (non-passenger car) applications I guess?
 
As I like filter porn, I want to thank you for cutting these open. While I'm not afraid of the "cardboard" Fram, in the last 20 years I've only used them on some relabeled MicroGards. No, my engine didn't blow up.
With that being said, since you paid good money for some "high end" filters, how about spending a few bucks more on a decent filter cutter? JMO....
 
Originally Posted By: Pajamarama
So the Purolator Synthetic filter doesn't count as high-end? I'm a little disappointed it wasn't included for whatever reason.


I don't think there is any rule against you buying one and cutting it like the OP.

You could add the photos to this thread.
 
Originally Posted By: 01_celica_gt
call me crazy but that was some really bad info and comparison but decent pictures.

In my opinion, your diagnosis and opinion (not facts) of this so called "filter comparison" is god awful...



I'll second, third,& fourth that post. Happy someone said it
 
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