Fritz330

I know Fram is garbage and should be avoided so what filter is the best?

hypervish

FRAM isn't garage, sure they had the whole orange can of death situation but they've improved.

IMO, FRAM Ultra is one of top filters on the market.

I'm a member over on BITOG, and we've seen a lot of tearolators in the past few months, sorry I mean Purolators. Many of them are tearing, letting unfiltered oil through the system. It's been seen in both the Classic and Pure One filters.

Purolator used to be my go-to filter, but I won't put one on my car till they fix this.

PFB

Unless someone can prove scientifically that one aftermarket fliter is better than another, all you are going to get is meaningless hearsay, testimonials, or unsubstantiated opinions

Stick to Toyota/Lexus filters. You won't go wrong, and the quality is consistent. The cost difference is not much anyways, so why chance it?

PuReChaos

I use toyota filters. They aren't much more than other filters. Honestly in my opinion as long as your doing regular oil change intervals I dont mind slapping on which ever oil filter.

LeX2K

Toyota filters all the way, excellent value for the money they have never let me down.

Oro

I've done a metric cra& ton of research into this and I've settled on something that is simple and makes me happy. BTW, I agree, Fram ISN'T junk, but for the money there are better things. Here is what I do:

a) When I order from RockAuto, I get a year's supply of Denso filters (the aftermarket blue ones) for all the vehicles if I don't have that much on the shelf. About $4.50 apiece and superbly built and packaged filters. Denso is the Toyota OE filter, but I find the aftermarket Denso ones to be much better built than the factory ones.

b) if not on hand, I go to Napa and get either a Silver ($3.25), or Gold ($7). Both are made by Wix and excellent. Silver has a nitrile ADBV and less aggressive media vs. the silicone ADBV and media in the Gold. Only real difference. I usually go Silver because it's quite good and a vastly better value.

There are PLENTY of other routes you can take, and they will work fine, but that is what works for me and is very cost-efficient and simple. I put a premium on the quality of the build of the filter over incremental media differences. A few more passes through and the particles are caught; 75% vs. 98% at a certain filtration level is very little difference in the real world. But it's moot if it leaks - so I value consistent quality build and Denso and Wix deliver that at reasonable prices.

Fritz330

Just ordered a bunch of the Denso blues from Rock Auto.

Thanks

tomf

It doesn't matter which filter you use. They all meet the minimum requirements of the engine manufacturer.

There is no way for a lay person to look at any filter and make a determination on how good it filters.

There are no scientific studies comparing different filters.

There is one study that compared two filters (a normal one and one claiming to be extended use) using conventional oil. Based on their parameters, the oil needed to be replaced (because of low base number at about 10,000 miles) before any filter needed to be replaced.

My conclusion: If you use synthetic oil and any filter and change the oil every 5000 miles you have vastly exceeded the minimum requirements. Overkill by a long shot.

That being said, I'm swayed by filters that appear to be quality. My favorite now is Bosch. I like Denso also. But if I'm in a hurry I'll use any brand filter that's handy.

speedkar9

I've always used FRAM. Tried Purolator last year, but now that Walmart doesn't stock them anymore, I've switched to Toyota OEM oil filters.

The only thing good about the FRAM is it has a grippy side making it easier to tighten by hand.

Oro

PS, Fritz330 - if you are ordering from RockAuto and the Denso's are in a different warehouse than your other parts, and it makes an annoying shipping bump, check the Wix. They have them cheaply, too (~4.30 I think). Their Wix is the Napa Gold. Sometimes navigating the RockAuto shipping matrix is maddening.

Today I decided to do an unsheduled oil change 500 miles early on my Acura SLX, because I had time now and might not for a month (and it needed it - I have been using Delvac HDEO to clean up some dirty rings and it's getting very black, I noticed). I was not at home but at my parents' house and my dad's nice, roomy workshop. I went to the local Napa and got a Napa Silver for $3.30. I ain't going to loose sleep about it. If I had gone and got a Fram Tough-Guard, I would not loose sleep either.

Purolator Classic, OTOH, I'd still be losing sleep over.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...PL14610#UNREAD

Lexmex

I like K&N, I use an HP-2009 which is a bit bigger than the OEM-sized HP-1002, but still fits comfortably on the front of the 1MZ-FE engine.

Fritz330

They shipped Saturday and are due to arrive Wednesday. Can't ask for better service. At $2.91, the price was right too. The shipping was almost as much as the filters so it's a good thing the price was right.

Ricko

K&N or Mobil1 - whichever is on sale with the synthetics (Mobil1 or Castrol Syntec)

Ricko

Oro

Yes, that is why I bundle them ahead with other orders. Or get wix (different warehouse), if my order is coming from that warehouse. But the price is so good you can rest easy most of the time.

Now put some Mobil 1 5w-30 HM or some Pennzoil PP in there and feel like a great parent.