Recomended Oil Filter for GM 3.1L

[Chris11]

Hello everyone. I'd like to know what Oil Filter anyone could recommend for my GM 3.1L V6 Engine. I've been using AC Delco Duraguard Oil Filters for years but sadly they've lost their quality due to their E-Core design from Champion Labs. I live in Canada so Purolator's are not available hear nor are Wix (unless I order them online which I don't really want to do). I've been looking at Mobil 1 Filters, K&N and Napa Gold. So far the Napa Gold looks good to me. I believe that Wix makes them. The Napa Gold is cheaper here than the Mobil 1 and K&N and yes even my AC Delco, which I have to buy from the dealer (Walmart in Canada doesn't sell them like in the USA).

Does the Napa Gold 1040 have less pleats than the AC Delco PF47? Is it taller or shorter? I've tired looking online but came up empty. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

[Virtuoso]

Based on your choices, I would go with the Napa Gold; no problem.


Oh, and..

 

[Chris11]

Yeah that's what I was thinking. Thanks. I've heard lost of good feedback on those filters. I'll pick one up soon and try it out. I've heard they have a thinner gasket on the base plate than the E-Cores so hopefully that won't cause any leaks. Also I believe the Napa Gold 1040 has 6 holes on the plate as opposed to the 8 on the AC Delco. I don't think that will matter though as the old AC Delco's only had 6 to begin with.

 

[Oregoonian]

What is your intended OCI?

If your OCI is under 7000K +/- (miles)...the Napa Gold would be OK'

If your going for an extended OCI (about 10K)...I would spend the extra $$$ on a Mobil 1 or K&N.

 

[Chris11]

Well I use Conventional Oil (don't hate me! LOL!) and change it every 3 months. I do a lot of short commutes to work 5 days a week (works out to about 4 kms or 3 miles) and the oil has only about 1,500 kms or 932 miles on it when I change it. Those short trips are obviously hard on the oil so I change it early well before 5,000 kms or 3,000 miles. Its piece of mind. When you use Conventional Oil it really doesn't cost all that much especially when I do it myself.

 

[Chris11]

Just to add to the above the engine has 99, 300 kilometers or 61,702 miles on it. It's a 96 too. Sorry for all the conversions. America never go metric! LOL!

 

[renegade_987]

Originally Posted By: Chris11
Well I use Conventional Oil (don't hate me! LOL!)


Trust me, no one will hate you for using conventional. A huge # of people on this site use conventional with confidence

 

[buickman50401]

Originally Posted By: Virtuoso
Based on your choices, I would go with the Napa Gold; no problem.


Oh, and..

Agreed. You're choices are kind of limited and there's no need to toss a M1 or K&N on it.

Heck I'm running a Quakerstate (purolator classic clone) and Fleet Farm house brand oil in a 3.1L Buick blended at 1qt 5w20, 3.5qts 5w30 and one can of LubroMoly MoS2

 

[Chris11]

One question I have is looking at the Oil Filters like K&N, Mobil 1, Napa Gold etc, they have a metal core and metal end caps. The E-cores have paper or felt and have a plastic core. Given the fact that I live in a really cold climate in the Winter, wouldn't the metal cores with the holes in them become cold (metal gets cold) and restrict the oil flow?

I was watching YouTube the other day with 2 different videos, one an Accura dealearship the other a Honda dealership and they were talking about the importance of using OEM filters as opposed to aftermarket ones. The part that I found odd was their OEM oil filters had the paper end caps (not sure what was in the core) and the aftermarket ones had metal). They said to stay away from the aftermarket. Okay I get it they want to make sales but still I found it a little odd.

 

[mechanicx]

I think Honda OEM are now basically Fram Toughgards maybe made to Honda spec but still a Fram toughgard. Your OCI and using dino seems reasonable considering. ACDelco does still offer the PF47 classic style but not many places carry it. The NapaGold is a quality filter but the efficiency rating on some of thsoe filters aren't very high, but that's a whole other discussion.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Chris11
Given the fact that I live in a really cold climate in the Winter, wouldn't the metal cores with the holes in them become cold (metal gets cold) and restrict the oil flow?


No ... the thicker oil (due to cold weatehr0 trying to go through the media is what will restrict the flow. The holes (in the center tube and base plate) flow way better than any media can.

 

[Chris11]

Yeah I heard about the low efficiency rating on those. The only info I could find on the Napa Gold 1040 was the nominal micron rating which was I believe 21. I think nominal means what it will catch 50% of the time. I could be wrong though. The AC Delco says it helps trap particles up to 25 microns or one-third the width of a human hair. Not sure if that's the nominal or absolute. I wish the Napa Gold would tell me what the absolute was. Oh well. I think i'll give it a try. Thanks everyone for your help and knowledge.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Chris11
I wish the Napa Gold would tell me what the absolute was.


Go to WIX's website and look-up the beta ratio for the filter you're interested in - it would be a 51040 in WIX.

Did if for ya:
http://www.wixfilters.com/filterlookup/PartDetail.asp?Part=51040

Beta Ratio:
2/20=6/20

[Note - Red goes with red, blue goes with blue, that is WIX's beta ratio format]

That means it is 50% efficient (Beta 2) @ 6 microns and 95% efficient (Beta 20) @ 20 microns. Pretty good actually.

 

[Chris11]

Thanks! That's great! I'll check it out.

 

[ZeeOSix]

The only thing screwy about WIX's specs on the 51040 is that they show the "Nominal Micron Rating" @ 21 microns, while the 95% efficiency (Beta 20) is at 20 microns. Doesn't seem to correlate.

Beta Ratio: 2/20=6/20
Nominal Micron Rating: 21

 

[Chris11]

Yeah I just noticed that too. Weird. Not quite sure what to think of that. I also hope if I get this filter that it's not built in China or Mexico or something (no offense to anyone who lives there). Please be made in the USA.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Chris11
Yeah I just noticed that too. Weird. Not quite sure what to think of that. I also hope if I get this filter that it's not built in China or Mexico or something (no offense to anyone who lives there). Please be made in the USA.


I'm sure it's still made in the USA. Look at the box to be sure when you pick one up.

 

[Chris11]

For sure I will. The K&N here retails for $15.99, M1 $14.99 (though it's currently on sale for $10.99) but the Napa Gold is only $5.99! The AC Delco I was getting from the dealer was $8.20. I gotta admit though I like the K&N's nut on the bottom. My Oil Filter is underneath the car right beside the Oil Pan. When I use my Oil Filter Wrench to remove it it hits the the pan so I can't turn it enough to loosen it so I always end up getting the hammer and screwdriver and hammering it through to get the leverage to turn it. The K&N would save me from that but I will for sure go with the Napa Gold. Thanks again for all your help.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: Chris11
For sure I will. The K&N here retails for $15.99, M1 $14.99 (though it's currently on sale for $10.99) but the Napa Gold is only $5.99!


That's even a good price in the USA. Better by more than one.

 

[Texan4Life]

I have used Wix 51040, Mann ML1000, Group7 V111, and pureone PL10111 on our 95 grand am 3.1L