C.J. Roberts
TJ Addict
From an outfit called Tesla Tale? WTF does Tesla know about oil filters?
10 Worst Car Oil Filter Brands
- Thread starter mxz800
- Start date
deserteagle56
Member
Bought a 1988 Chevy S10 Blazer new. Drove it 321,000 miles before finally selling it. Engine was still going strong when I sold it and it never had anything but the cheapest Fram filter I could buy.
A 4.0 just doesn’t care.
One reason this forum is still going strong is the engines are. TJ’s are still everywhere.
With so many jeep owners mechanically involved with their vehicles if there were any significant, brand related filter related engine failures, It would be all over the jeep world.
Also stop and think - Fram and all of these companies are well aware that they are liable for catastrophic engine failure should it be proven to be created by their filter. Businesses know that quality counteracts your warranty exposure.
One reason this forum is still going strong is the engines are. TJ’s are still everywhere.
With so many jeep owners mechanically involved with their vehicles if there were any significant, brand related filter related engine failures, It would be all over the jeep world.
Also stop and think - Fram and all of these companies are well aware that they are liable for catastrophic engine failure should it be proven to be created by their filter. Businesses know that quality counteracts your warranty exposure.
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Most folks would be surprised if they knew how much and how often the oil filter goes into bypass in a typical engine.
I never use the cheap Fram filters. Don't trust them. Their upper end filters are pretty decent but I don't use them either.
I use Motorcraft for my F150 AND.....my TJ!
I normally use Wix for everything else. I know Wix has had some issues lately. Some here have mentioned leaks and at my employer, we have a large fleet of vehicles and recently had a rash of bad Wix filters. Probably 20-25 of them from what I was told by our head mechanic. So, I may be switching to something else.
I use Motorcraft for my F150 AND.....my TJ!
I normally use Wix for everything else. I know Wix has had some issues lately. Some here have mentioned leaks and at my employer, we have a large fleet of vehicles and recently had a rash of bad Wix filters. Probably 20-25 of them from what I was told by our head mechanic. So, I may be switching to something else.
Quality oil and proper oil change intervals are more important than oil filter brand. I keep my vehicles forever and routinely get 300K on them. I had a 95 F350 7.3 that had over 400K at 25yrs before I sold it to my nephew. He still has it. I’m old enough to remember people bragging that they had 100K on their vehicle. You Northern Folks will have your vehicle rust out before you have an engine failure due to a bad filter. I do usually use Wix but that is only because I use an internet supplier and get them for 1/2 the price of auto parts stores.
That was a BFD not all that long ago. 100, or 120K and it was done for, unless it was a diesel or a certain GMC V6. Designs are better, materials are better, machining is tighter, and most especially lubricants are VASTLY better.
My first car was a ‘78 Monte Carlo. Was given to me for a day’s labor because it had ~80k miles and the owner said it was just about done.
CreepinDeth
TJ Addict
Most domestic vehicles from the 70s emissions era (73+) had an expected 100K life cycle. There were exceptions to the norm
This went into the 90s for some like Chrysler/Dodge especially. Got a 1990 Dodge Dynasty from a Fire Chief @ auction that had a service file 3” thick and only 70K. Gave it to my mother and it blew the trans at 77K, amongst a plethora of other surprises
Between the rusted out bodies and failed powertrains, they just didnt last anywhere near what modern vehicles do. Which is at least 50-200% longer depending on the manufacturer
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I've watched a lot of videos showing how Indian shops & some smaller factories work to manufacture and repair, some of it is just downright amazing... not that I am saying I'd trust those oil filters. But I've seen them do repairs of axles and busted axle shafts, for example, that just blew my mind how well they were done. Especially the repairs of axle shafts from big commercial trucks. Not to mention their shops often have dirt floors with equipment like lathes that look like they came out of the 30's or 40's.
I'd take a South Bend from as early as I could find.
I was in tears when I found out the Chrysler actually purchased Jeep in about 1986- I think in the long run it turned out to be good because they couldn’t afford to change the vehicle as much as the Ford or GM could have-I think it would have quickly lost it’s identity or at least eventually-
Fuel injection was the catalyst to vehicle durability that we had never seen as Americans-
The smaller Japanese engines consumed a lot less fuel so there was less gasoline washing down the cylinder walls and they generally had higher durability-
Basically efficiency won the day- But it took a long long time.
These rigs are still energy pigs- but fun enough we don’t care.
In all 7 of my vehicles I use and will only use WIX. Years ago when I knew less I used other filters.
And they do it in the dirt.
I watch those videos all the time and am amazed. Cracked front axle? Just weld it and off you go and put twice or more of a load it was designed for. Snapped a rear axle in the middle of a busy highway? Send 10 guys out in a 3 wheel rickshaw and fix it in traffic. It just shows what can be done with a rock and a butter knife.
Thank God we live where we do.
I was the same way until the recent buy-out and quality issues. It's getting bad enough where some of the local Napas want to switch suppliers due to come backs.
I haven't bought a Napa gold since I saw the "Made in China"
The biggest reason for engines lasting longer is FUEL INJECTION ! Especially in cold climates.
No more washing cylinders and rings with raw gas every startup. That said I used Fram filters on all my Chevy's over decades and hundreds of thousands of miles . Havoline and Valvoline in 20W-20 single weight and eventually 10 - 40 then 10 - 30 , never had any oil related issues.
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