We were very excited about being able to share the physical differences with our customers to help them better understand not only how this vital component works, but also the difference between the economy brands and the aftermarket and factory brands we are using in our services.
The oil filter used on your vehicle is one of the most critical pieces of equipment and often gets over looked. The filter’s purpose is to do exactly what it’s called, filter the oil. As engine oil is circulated it runs through a filter element where any particulate is taken out of the oil and then returned to the engine. This is crucial to the longevity and performance of the engine. Internal engine clearances are set to the thousandth of an inch and even the tiniest of particles can cause excessive wear or even damage. It is important that quality filters are used to ensure the particulate is trapped and the filter will be able to work efficiently throughout the duration of the oil life cycle. With increased oil life cycles due to the now common use of synthetic oils, this is especially important.
Our comparison results:
Average Cost Increase: Quality aftermarket or OE filter vs an economy filter is $3.27
Packaging Quality: The aftermarket and OE filters are packaged to ensure filter remains clean during storage to lessen the risk of contaminate entering the filter and therefore the engine where the economy filter is not.
Exterior Construction: The aftermarket quality and OE filters have deeper and better thread engagement and better O-Ring construction to ensure more effective sealing, larger fill hole diameter to allow for better flow and therefore more oil can be filtered
Internal Construction: Aftermarket quality/OE filters allow for better separation of filtered and non-filtered due to its welded metal construction and better flow control valve construction. The economy filter using cardboard and glue for the top and bottom construction allows oil to pass between the cylinder and the sleeve. Oil will also promote the breakdown of the glue and cardboard over time.
Bottom Retainer/Bypass Valve: The aftermarket quality/OE filters provide better construction to prevent the filter from failing due to a potential sudden increase in oil pressure. The purpose of the bypass valve is to allow the filter to promote oil flow in the event of an oil pressure spike. It will bypass the oil filter and flow the oil back into the engine to prevent it from starving the engine of oil. Having a valve made of steel and being integrated into the filter cylinder is more stable than a plastic valve with plastic retainers. If one of the retainers were to fail, it would keep the valve open and allow the oil to continuously bypass the filter and therefore putting contaminated oil into the engine for an extended period of time.
Element Construction: The aftermarket quality/OE filters provide more pleating lowering the risk of clogging the clogging the filter. The aftermarket quality filter offers 48 pleats that are .16” larger than the OE filter and the OE filter offers 54 pleats that are smaller. Both provide a better construction to allow for longer filter life (vs. 45 pleats at .507 in the economy filter).
Economy
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Quality Aftermarket
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Original Equipment
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Retail Price
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$4.99
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Retail Price
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$7.98
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Retail Price
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$8.53
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Packaging
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Packaging
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Packaging
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Filter is not covered
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Filter comes with plastic shrink wrap over top to protect and keep it clean during storage
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Filter comes with plastic shrink wrap over top to protect and keep it clean during storage
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Exterior Construction
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Exterior Construction
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Exterior Construction
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Thread depth:
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.200
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Thread depth:
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.315
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Thread depth:
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.295
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No. of threads:
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4
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No. of threads:
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6
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No. of threads:
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5
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Gasket used:
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Flat O-Ring
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Gasket used:
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Factory Style Round O-Ring with locking lip
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Gasket used:
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Factory Style Round O-Ring with locking lip
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No. of fill holes:
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10
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No. of fill holes:
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6
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No. of fill holes:
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8
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Fill hole diameter:
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.180
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Fill hole diameter:
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.246
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Fill hole diameter:
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.195
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Top seal type:
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Crimp type top seal
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Top seal type:
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Spot welded top seal
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Top seal type:
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Spot welded top seal
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Internal Construction
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Internal Construction
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Internal Construction
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Cartridge Top Construction:
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Cardboard
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Cartridge Top Construction:
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Coated Steel
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Cartridge Top Construction:
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Non-Coated Steel
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Flow Control Valve:
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Flow Control Valve:
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Flow Control Valve:
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Rubber, received into cardboard top directly into cylinder, creates poor seal, allows oil to pass between cylinder and sleeve
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Neoprine Rubber received into outside metal collar for better sealing
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Neoprine Rubber received into outside metal collar for better sealing
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Element Attachment to Top and Bottom of Cartridge:
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Glue
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Element Attachment to Top and Bottom of Cartridge:
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Epoxy
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Element Attachment to Top and Bottom of Cartridge:
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Epoxy
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Center Cylinder Construction:
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Perforated metal
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Center Cylinder Construction:
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Perforated steel welded to top and bottom
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Center Cylinder Construction:
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Directional perforated steel welded to top and bottom
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Element Joint:
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Metal Crimp
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Element Joint:
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Paper crimp with glue
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Element Joint:
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Paper crimp with glue
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Element Thickness:
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.030
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Element Thickness:
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.030
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Element Thickness:
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.030
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Pleat Depth:
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.507
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Pleat Depth:
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.580
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Pleat Depth:
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.420
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Total Element Length:
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45 inches
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Total Element Length:
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55 inches
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Total Element Length:
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45 inches
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Total No. of Pleats:
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45
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Total No. of Pleats:
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48
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Total No. of Pleats:
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54
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Bottom Retainer:
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Paper glued to element
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Bottom Retainer:
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Steel welded to center cylinder
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Bottom Retainer:
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Steel welded to center cylinder
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Bypass Valve:
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Hard plastic with plastic spring retainers attached to stand plate
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Bypass Valve:
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Steel welded to center of cylinder
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Bypass Valve:
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Steel welded to center of cylinder
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Stand plate:
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Attached to bypass plate
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Stand plate:
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Separate Spring
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Stand plate:
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Separate Spring Steel
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