AJM
01-09-2008, 03:03 AM
Well, I told you guys I had done some research. I started searching all over the net for info on who made what. I found some interesting data...
I've narrowed this down to what is nomral for me to find in my area.
Filters:
Fram (owned by honeywell)
Overall opinion about these filters no matter where I go is that they are junk, and possibly dangerous to your engine in multiple ways.
"Years ago Fram was a quality filter manufacturer. Now their standard filter (the radioactive-orange cans) is one of the worst out there. It features cardboard end caps for the filter element that are glued in place. The rubber anti-drainback valve seals against the cardboard and frequently leaks, causing dirty oil to drain back into the pan. The bypass valves are plastic and are sometimes not molded correctly, which allows them to leak all the time. The stamped-metal threaded end is weakly constructed and it has smaller and fewer oil inlet holes, which may restrict flow. I had one of these filters fail in my previous car. The filter element collapsed and bits of filter and glue were circuilating through my system. The oil passge to the head became blocked and the head got so hot from oil starvation that it actually melted the vacuum lines connected to it as well as the wires near it."
I would avoid any of these filters. The extra guard has the above porblem, while the double guard has it's own special problem.
"The big problem is that they are trying to cash in on the Slick 50 craze. They impregnate the filter element with bits of Teflon like that found in Slick 50. As with Slick 50, Teflon is a solid and does not belong in an engine." (double guard)
The only other drawback to this filter is that it is capped on each end with cardboard instead of metal. (toughguard)
It would be wise to aviod both Penzoil and Quaker State as they are simply rebadged fram extra guards.
Purolator
Purolator Prem plus
A decent low $$ filter. No matter what sites I went to, what studies I read, this filter seems to get decent marks on filtration and internal construction.
If your not running your Subaru hard, this would probably be just fine for you.
Pure One:
This is an excellent filter for the money (usually around 5-6 bucks). It filters right up there with the two other best filters out there, K&N and mobil 1. (excluding amsoil, partially because I have no data on these). Pure ones also are very well constructed internally.
Motorcraft
Motorcrafts are purolator pure ones at a cheaper price. The case is a prem plus ,but the internals are those of a Pure one. Usually motorcraft filters run around 3-4 bucks (cheaper than a pure one)
There is a Motorcraft filter that fits Subarus. Its number is FL-810. I have been using this filter for the past 6k (two changes) with excellent results.
Subaru OEM
From what i've gathered this is a Purolator. Which one it is, i'm not sure. Someone, if you have good concrete evidence, please correct me.
Bosch
For a long time these were a simple Champion labs filters, but recently Bosch has bought purolator stock. My guess would be that thier filters will soon be purolator.
Champion Labs (not owned by the company who makes Champoin spark pluggs. This is a common misconception)
Champion has two levels of filters. The lower level encompases these brands.
Car and Driver (target)
STP
Supertech (walmart)
Older Bosch
These are all ok filters. I have personally used the stp and it seems to do it's job. From the info and data I saw, I would say that like the base purolator, if you don't drive your car hard, any of these (including walmart's) will do just fine. Most of them (excluding bosch) are pretty cheap as well, running under $4.
These is another tier of champion labs filters. These filter much better and are well suited for high performance duty. They are as follows:
Mobil 1
One of the best filters out there. It ranks in the top three on filtration, and is well built inside iwth a very nice anti drainback. They do run expensive at almost $11 where I live.
The one that fit our Suabrus are m-12 and m-8...I think. It would be best to double check.
K&N Gold.
These are not wix filters!
Similar to the mobil 1. Exvellent filtration and tough antidrain back. I used these filters for 3-4 changes with no complaints. It is, however, the most expensive filter readily attainble at you local auto parts store. They usually run $13+ here.
Of course there is a K&N that fits our Subarus and it is Hp-1004.
Wix
I have heard both good and bad about these filters. The good always being about overall well contruction internally concerning aint drain back etc. What I found disturbing was some of the filtration tests i saw were not so hot. That being said, they still ranked ok. I have personally never used one, but i'm considering trying one out.
Other brands made by Wix:
Napa Silver
Napa Gold
Both of these are just a rebadged Wix.
AC Delco
I've read that these are a champion labs filter. I however, am not sure of this. Honestly, I lost interest because they only make one filter that will fit a Suabru, and it's practiacally impossible to find.
Brands I've left out...
Amsoil-I'm pseronally not interested. I didn't research them.
Mopar- They do not make filters that will fit a Subaru I belive.
None of this is gospel. If someone would like to show me data to counter anything i've pointed out...please do so.
I can cough up 3-4 sources if nessary.
I've narrowed this down to what is nomral for me to find in my area.
Filters:
Fram (owned by honeywell)
Overall opinion about these filters no matter where I go is that they are junk, and possibly dangerous to your engine in multiple ways.
"Years ago Fram was a quality filter manufacturer. Now their standard filter (the radioactive-orange cans) is one of the worst out there. It features cardboard end caps for the filter element that are glued in place. The rubber anti-drainback valve seals against the cardboard and frequently leaks, causing dirty oil to drain back into the pan. The bypass valves are plastic and are sometimes not molded correctly, which allows them to leak all the time. The stamped-metal threaded end is weakly constructed and it has smaller and fewer oil inlet holes, which may restrict flow. I had one of these filters fail in my previous car. The filter element collapsed and bits of filter and glue were circuilating through my system. The oil passge to the head became blocked and the head got so hot from oil starvation that it actually melted the vacuum lines connected to it as well as the wires near it."
I would avoid any of these filters. The extra guard has the above porblem, while the double guard has it's own special problem.
"The big problem is that they are trying to cash in on the Slick 50 craze. They impregnate the filter element with bits of Teflon like that found in Slick 50. As with Slick 50, Teflon is a solid and does not belong in an engine." (double guard)
The only other drawback to this filter is that it is capped on each end with cardboard instead of metal. (toughguard)
It would be wise to aviod both Penzoil and Quaker State as they are simply rebadged fram extra guards.
Purolator
Purolator Prem plus
A decent low $$ filter. No matter what sites I went to, what studies I read, this filter seems to get decent marks on filtration and internal construction.
If your not running your Subaru hard, this would probably be just fine for you.
Pure One:
This is an excellent filter for the money (usually around 5-6 bucks). It filters right up there with the two other best filters out there, K&N and mobil 1. (excluding amsoil, partially because I have no data on these). Pure ones also are very well constructed internally.
Motorcraft
Motorcrafts are purolator pure ones at a cheaper price. The case is a prem plus ,but the internals are those of a Pure one. Usually motorcraft filters run around 3-4 bucks (cheaper than a pure one)
There is a Motorcraft filter that fits Subarus. Its number is FL-810. I have been using this filter for the past 6k (two changes) with excellent results.
Subaru OEM
From what i've gathered this is a Purolator. Which one it is, i'm not sure. Someone, if you have good concrete evidence, please correct me.
Bosch
For a long time these were a simple Champion labs filters, but recently Bosch has bought purolator stock. My guess would be that thier filters will soon be purolator.
Champion Labs (not owned by the company who makes Champoin spark pluggs. This is a common misconception)
Champion has two levels of filters. The lower level encompases these brands.
Car and Driver (target)
STP
Supertech (walmart)
Older Bosch
These are all ok filters. I have personally used the stp and it seems to do it's job. From the info and data I saw, I would say that like the base purolator, if you don't drive your car hard, any of these (including walmart's) will do just fine. Most of them (excluding bosch) are pretty cheap as well, running under $4.
These is another tier of champion labs filters. These filter much better and are well suited for high performance duty. They are as follows:
Mobil 1
One of the best filters out there. It ranks in the top three on filtration, and is well built inside iwth a very nice anti drainback. They do run expensive at almost $11 where I live.
The one that fit our Suabrus are m-12 and m-8...I think. It would be best to double check.
K&N Gold.
These are not wix filters!
Similar to the mobil 1. Exvellent filtration and tough antidrain back. I used these filters for 3-4 changes with no complaints. It is, however, the most expensive filter readily attainble at you local auto parts store. They usually run $13+ here.
Of course there is a K&N that fits our Subarus and it is Hp-1004.
Wix
I have heard both good and bad about these filters. The good always being about overall well contruction internally concerning aint drain back etc. What I found disturbing was some of the filtration tests i saw were not so hot. That being said, they still ranked ok. I have personally never used one, but i'm considering trying one out.
Other brands made by Wix:
Napa Silver
Napa Gold
Both of these are just a rebadged Wix.
AC Delco
I've read that these are a champion labs filter. I however, am not sure of this. Honestly, I lost interest because they only make one filter that will fit a Suabru, and it's practiacally impossible to find.
Brands I've left out...
Amsoil-I'm pseronally not interested. I didn't research them.
Mopar- They do not make filters that will fit a Subaru I belive.
None of this is gospel. If someone would like to show me data to counter anything i've pointed out...please do so.
I can cough up 3-4 sources if nessary.