Oil Filter Poll!!

That too.

What I think is a hoot is when I pick up a Fram filter at O'Reilly and look inside and it's a Microguard, or a Pennzoil filter at K-Mart...

Someone thought they were getting a Fram for the price of a Microguard or Pennzoil, and they could have just been honest about it and bought the cheaper filter and got the same one with black or yellow paint.

 

This is an area where I prefer non-OEM parts so I know exactly what I'm getting, at least in theory.

Car manufacturers are known to change suppliers from time to time, and while the specs and external appearance are likely identical, it's impossible to disassemble an oil filter beforehand to assess build quality. It's also difficult to determine oil filter performance after the fact, and I don't think Toyota invests a whole lot of resources in this regard given that filters are by nature disposable and sell for only a few bucks each.

Companies like Purolator and WIX on the other hand have a vested interest in research, quality control, and consistency because their entire business revolves around filtration.

 

More or less. AC Delco has been made by Champion Labs for at least 15 years, but for the last 8 or so, they have been the new "E-Core" construction that is possibly worse than Fram, and certainly no better.

Toyota maintenance parts have been Denso for a very, very long time.
There were rumors that Toyota filters were Purolator about 20 years ago, but it was never confirmed. The speculation was because of a string that was found tied around the filter element... but the metal can and base were not matched.

You do realize that "Purolator" is no more?
They were purchased by Bosch about the same time Champion started using the E-Core design. At the same time, Bosch pulled their production from Champion and moved it to the newly-acquired Purolator facilities.

But saying "Companies like Purolator and WIX on the other hand have a vested interest in research, quality control, and consistency because their entire business revolves around filtration" could equally be applied to Champion labs and Allied-Signal's Fram division.
Purolator and WIX happen to (currently) be top-notch products.
Champion and Fram happen to (currently) be crap.... except for the premium filters. The Champion Mobil-1 and K&N are top-notch, as is the premium Fram. These companies KNOW how to make a good filter... they choose not to because their marketing maintains sales and their new construction maximizes profits..... and their entire business revolves around profit... not filtration.

 

I ordered the OEM from ebay 10/$40 with free shipping. I have a case of Napa Gold filters for the wife's Honda and those are good too. Probably would have purchased Napa Gold for the Taco had it not been for the ebay deal.

 

I use Mobil-1 because of the 15k mile "warranty". I drive about 1K miles a week all highway, little traffic, so I run at about 10K OCI.

 

Read the fine print...

The EP filters and EP oil are "warranted" to 15k, but they also say that if your vehicle is still under factory warranty, you should run factory OCI, which is 5000 for the Tacoma, even the 2.7 models that ship from the factory with Mobil-1.

 

This is on their warranty page:

"What the Period of Coverage Is -
The Mobil 1 Extended Performance limited warranty is valid for 15,000 miles or your vehicle’s OEM recommended oil change interval, whichever is longer."

That being said, it is very unlikely that there would be a problem even under the 125K extended warranty period (service agreement). If there is, I will be covered, but it may take some work to enforce it. Given my driving pattern, I wouldnt have a problem with pushing it to the full 15K, but will be keeping it at 10k to have some margin.

 

I have a box of the OEM filters that I am using, but I have to be honest that I would be a lot more concerned over the potential negative effects from all these suspension, wheel, intake, exhaust mods I see people doing to their vehicles than I would worry over exactly what brand of oil and filter is used.

Assuming both oil and filter are changed regularly on schedule.

 

Yeah, I heard something to that effect. Thanks for the details.

I think it's interesting how the marketing is geared toward the cheap crap. And without the internet and forums like BITOG and this one, I wouldn't have the foggiest idea which filters were good.

Sometimes I wonder if oil and filter sales are driven largely by word of mouth...

 

Are the OEM filters the same as the Denso filters spec'ed for Tacomas?

I bring this up because RockAuto sells the Denso filters (part #1501003) for $3.15 each.

 

I don't have any doubts that M1 EP is good for 15K, but potential oil burn scares the hell out of me.

My mother's RAV4 has started to burn about 1 quart every 5000 miles. At that rate, if nobody bothered to check and add oil, the engine would likely seize before the 15K miles were up because it only holds 4 quarts.

 

Nope, not the same. The Denso aftermarket filter is possibly worse with a smaller media area. Posted this in the other thread:

 

OEM and Amsoil for my Taco

 

Why not the Amsoil filter as well? Which grade of Amsoil do you use and how often do you change your oil?
I'm thinking about switching to Amsoil myself. I'm looking at the EA filter and their top grade 100% synthetic. They say I can go 15,000 miles of "severe" service before I drain but I plan on changing oil and filter every 8-9,000 miles aprox or twice a year. Just not sure if I want to go much farther than that on the same filter. The extra cost is minor and well worth the convenience of not having to crawl under my truck and change the oil in the dead of winter!

 

K&N makes Mobile 1, WIX makes AMSOIL, Royal Purple is supposedly a great filter but $$$ and hard to find local. I get oil filters at cost from a buddy at a local auto parts store K&N is nice with the removal nut on it. Especially on hard to reach filters. Sure beats ramming a screwdriver through the filter... which i've had to do on some older cars.

Oh yeah OEM Toyota is made by Denso I'm about positive.

 

If your changing oil every 10K or 6 months Amsoill XL and the EA filter are fine. Save yourself approximately $2.30 per quart.

 

Wix Oil 51348

 

Gotta love the Amsoil fanbois.

Yup... same filter element whether the can is 3" or 6" long.
Real quality there.... not.

 

Has anyone seen any relieable research data with actual filter testing that's not mfg infuenced? Maybe by Road & Track or even Counsumer Reports.

 

I have been a diesel technician for over 20yrs. OEM is always the way to go. But if I ever use other than OEM I only use Wix. But what do I know.