Not all oil filter are created EQUAL!
 

I recently had an oil change due on my SC but had no filter, so I went to Pep boys and found a Percolator filter and decided to use it for this oil change. I thought all oil filter should be about equal. I also decided to go ahead and buy an extra one just in case. I ended up using them on two oil changes. What I noticed was the the amount of very fine metallic shavings on the magnetic oil plug. Since then I have bought and used Mahle oil filters and I was surprised that the magnetic oil plug had no metal shavings at all. I imagine that the Mahle did a better job. Its Mahle from here forward!

put a Puralator in one hand and a Malhe in the other, you can feel the differance in weight. The Malhe is much heavier

Over the years there has been much said about the internal check / backflow valves, etc....flow path, spring loaded "end-valve", etc, etc...that may be missing on the aftermarket units ...

Go w/ Mahle.....

- Wil

+1 for Mahle

The old red Purolator 260s had the internal check valve and were everybit as good as the Mahles of the day.

The new white Purolators are crap, there isn't much inside of them.

I bought one just to see what was in there

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In a recent post on another thread, somebody said that Mobil 1 filters are excellent. I'd always assumed they were simply a marketing exercise--an ordinary Fram or Purolator or whatever filter with "Mobil 1" emblazoned on it. I'm still not convinced...

Here is a pretty good site that compares several different manufacturers. It also explains certain "tell-tale" characteristics that can help you identify the real manufacturer of private label filters.

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html

There is only one thing you need to know, Mahle;)

That minimopar site is fascinating. Summarizing it in way too few words, it basically says that the Mobil 1 filters _are_ substantially better, that they're manufactured by a company called Champion (not the sparkplug people), and that Mahles are very similar, perhaps even identical, in deisgn and construction to Champion filters, drainback valve and all.

Oh, and that the world's worst oil filters are anything made by Fram.

Why is that? Do you have evidence to back up your claim?

oh no we here we GO AGAIN! and its only wednesday! LOL! would be interesting test between MAHLE and MOBIL 1 filters.

If you read more than simply the last post in line, you'll better understand what's being said.

I said I was summarizing what the very interesting, thorough and detailed minimopar site says, not my opinion. If you go there, you'll see a certain amount of evidence. Up to you whether or not you want to accept it.

There was a guy about 10-12 years ago on the old porschephiles mailing list that had his 944 engine taken out by a Fram filter. He got into it with Fram and in the end he proved that it was the filter that blew the engine and Fram paid for a rebuild.

That's the only story I know of first hand, but I have heard there are many more...

Mike

Fair enough Steve.

Mike, I've heard those stories as well...some related by mechanics. However, an explanation was given that seems plausible as well. I posted on it previously....


"In talking to a Mann engineer I was told that the Fram single-pass efficiency percentages were amongst the best in the industry. He had no comment on the ruptured canisters though."

From Fram regarding filter failure: http://www.fram.com/pdf/OverPressurized.pdf

I have no reason to defend Fram other than to look at the popular beliefs and try to understand the root cause of failure.

rough cost on mobil 1 filter is $14 bucks. mahle about $7.95 they blow frams out all day at $2.99-$3.99.

i say we cut a mahle at 3000 miles and a mobil 1 at 3000 miles and see whats up?

If you spend some time reading sites dissecting Fram filters, you will see that they are consistently of poor construction. The only filter they made that is worth a damn is the HP-1, and that is because it's the old standby for all of the racing world and is indeed of better construction than the rest.

I recently changed my filter and purchased a Napa Gold at my local FLAPS and weighed it - came in at 523 grams, much more than a mahle or mann for that matter. The construction was second to none. Would use it again in a heartbeat. The Mobil 1 filters for 964 and later 911s are on nationwide backorder.

K&N also makes a wonderful filter, but I would say it's not as good as the Mobil 1 when it comes to filtration. I would say that the K&N probably has the highest burst strength.

Yes, the minimopar site says that good as they are, Mobil1 filters aren't worth the money, since they're no better than other Champion-made filters that cost substantially less.

Mobil 1 is a huge marketing thing, good as the oil is. They now have "extended-life oil," "SUV and truck oil" and I believe "four-cylinder oil." Pretty soon they'll have "variable-valve-timing oil" and "cars equipped with nav systems oil"... And filters, and Mobil 1 dipstick rags and drainpans.

LOL, I agree on the rebadging of oils. I tested various formulations of the same weight and they are the same, just marketed to European Cars or Truck and SUV and same with the "Extended Life" which I found no different from the tri-synthetic from last decade and their more recent super-syn.

see alot of k&n's on off road race vehicles due to safety wire option. have seen a fram burst on 350 chevy and puke motor. owner stated it was frams fault and bellied wife up to fight fram. needless to say wife dumped duties back on him, and nothing ever came of it.

have used napa golds and they seem to be good. but i am anal when it comes to 3000 mile oil changes or if i take 911 to track. the day after track...........out goes 11 quarts dirty oil and in goes 11 quarts clean oil and new mahle.

my question..........is a mobil 1 filter worth $7 bucks more????

My personal opinion is yes on the M1 filter (if you can get them - I couldn't just recently for my 91), considering how much time it takes to do an oil change and how much the oil that goes into the engine costs, especially if synthetic.

TOO DAMN FUNNY! right on! i will stick w/mahles. next dragon to slay today???

Well, I can't verify it, but this is from a link on the above page.

But the site I referenced earlier says that the Mobil 1 and Mahle are virtually identical--possibly actually identical--in construction, case thickness, drainback valve, materials and other interior features. I think that's what Charlie is talking about...

Interesting info...sounds credible as well.

I'm curious how the Mann engineer came to his conclusion. I should've asked.

who makes aircraft oil filters? seems there would be some real testing involved there for quality!

cashflyer,
Thanks for the link to that site. Very informative, and I will stop putting Fram filters on my wife Grand Cherokee. Wonder if Mahle makes filters for Jeeps?
-Matt

LOL........


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well just talked to our A&P,IA guy and the mfg. he uses for all planes is CHAMPION. said there was one other mfg. but couldnt remember name off hand.

rickm too damn funny! who would have thunk?

Champion is well known for aircraft engine filters...as you say, performance should be a given for certification, both to satisfy manufacturers and FAA. Having said that, I will continue using Mahle ........

Heh heh...not sure if it's an oil filter though. :cool:

It isn't. It's an air filter.

I always used Champion oil filters on my airplanes.

Looks like Champion is the largest. Kelly seems to be another MFR.

Amsoil's previous line of filters (the SDF line) was made by Wix... same as Napa Gold. Now Amsoil has a new line (the EAO) that has a much improved, synthetic media filter element.

I believe they dropped their Hastings line of filters, but still carry Wix and Donaldson in addition to their EAO line.

this question may prove once and for all, what is the best or most respected oil filter for a porsche engine. WHAT FILTER WAS USED ON PORSCHES AIRCRAFT ENGINE that they once offered??????

Baldwin filters enjoy a great rep in the heavy equip. industry.
They also make filters for cars and trucks but I never checked for one to fit my SC. I use them on my other cars.

FWIW,...The ONLY oil filters we will use are the Mahle (OC-54) ones (and before those, the German-made Purolator PC-260).

I used to keep 2, 40 gallon garbage bags here full of American-made oil filters that had ballooned or burst casings, as well as faulty anti-drainback valves. In some cases, the filter burst without the drivers knowing it and all the oil was pumped out on the ground in a few minutes.

Needless to say, that was a VERY expensive experience.

No Yankee filters (on Porsche's) for me,....:)

That was me. It was a 944 Turbo. Fram had the wrong or defective gaskets on the bottom. The oil leaked out but landed on the 944T's undertray so there wasn't a telltale puddle.
-Chris

I bought some official Porsche filters for my SC over the summer, the ones with the nice "PORSCHE' logo. To my dismay, they said 'Made in the USA'.

You're lucky they didn't say, "Made in China."