1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
The best publicly available oil filter analysis ever was done by AC Delco back when they were promoting their "Ultraguard" line of super premium filters (made by "Champion", a parts company that makes a whole lot of different filters to the specs of whomever's name is on the label). Naturally their filter outperformed by a wide margin anything else that was tested, but alas after a few years they tired of trying to promote something good in a market where $1.00 "White Box" filters dominate, it was discontinued. Performance was measured using a modified ISO test procedure designed to emphasize the filters' ability to catch small size particles and a measurement of cold flow resistance.
Anyway, the second best filter out there was the Purolator Pure One. The Mann filter was not tested, and Mann owns Purolator. The closest thing to the Ultraguard is the top Fram Filter, which uses the same kind of filtering medium (screen backed synthetic pad) as the Ultraguard, but there is no data comparing its efficiency. Mobil 1 filter did well on the particle capture, but was among the worst for cold flow pressure. I published their results in NINES back then.
Most of the "analyses" you see are of the cut-open-and-look variety; that's what BITOG does and I've done that as well. The problem is you can make a judgement on the quality of assembly and area of filtering medium, but there is no way assess the quality of the filtering medium without doing a lab test. That said, the traditional Saab filter, made in England and identified by the two grooves in can, is now being distributed by "ProParts" and is available from eEuroparts. It uses the grooves, rather than end caps, to hold the filter paper in place and as a result has an industry best "filter area to can size" ratio. I have no data on the quality of the media they use, though. That style of filter used to be distributed by AC/Delco, but some time around the turn of the century they changed to same manufacturer as all the other filters - Champion, I think.
BTW, Fram is no longer owned by Allied/Bendix, as they during the bad old days when their filters featured cardboard and string internal construction.
The latest trend in oil filters is the naked "cartridge" filter, and those all look alike, except for the Purolator Pure One that uses a blue filtering medium rather than tan. The 9-3SS uses that style.
posted by 104.139.90...
, Mon, 18 Aug 2014 08:36:42
, Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:18:25, Tue, 12 Aug 2014 18:30:35, Tue, 12 Aug 2014 16:22:05, Tue, 12 Aug 2014 18:02:30
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