GCG

While Napa Gold filters have a glass-enhanced cellulose media, their Platinum line has a wire-backed micro-glass synthetic media and is designed to "shine" with synthetic oils.

I've been trying to find the Napa Platinum equivalent to their Gold 1042, but no luck so far. Do you guys know if that's available?

reece146

NAPA Gold is made by WIX. Have you tried cross shopping with WIX part numbers?

pickleseimer

And the equivalent WIX filters are about a third less than NAPA where I get my parts.

GCG

What I meant is that I haven't been able to cross-reference the Napa Gold 1042 to a Napa Platinum equivalent

I don't know if they manufacture it. It seemed weird if they didn't, considering this is the filter used by C5s, which would assure there is a market for a Platinum version of it

Does anybody know if it exists and what's its number?

Must_Have_Z

I've wondered about this also. I looked up the specs for both the Gold (1042) and Platinum (41042) on NAPA's website. Interestingly enough, all specs are the same except the flow rate. The GOLD filter flows about 2 GPM more than the platinum! Not sure what the point of going to the platinum is then? I'll save the $5 and stick with the gold.

pickleseimer

Looks like it is PFL41042. You should erify with a call to the NAPA store. It looks like the Gold filter flows a higher rate than the Platinum according to the specs, if that matters to you.

Edit: sorry, my post and Must Have's hit the thread at about the same time.

Bill Vett

Wix 5042xp looks like it's the same as the NAPA platinum.

Oldvetter

I switched from DELCO Premium filters to NAPA Gold because of better flow. Most of the "super filter" oil filters do not flow as well. I value flow. I am sticking to NAPA Gold.

GCG

Did you notice a difference in your oil pressure when you switched to NAPA Gold? Was it significant?

1 SIC Z

Has anyone used this filter and if so what are your thoughts?

GCG

Thanks everyone for providing info on this.

Armed with all this information I did some homework and it seems the equivalent for the NAPA Platinum 41042 in WIX's lineup is the 51042XP, as Bill Vette mentioned.

Interestingly enough, even though WIX makes NAPA's filters, I found a detail that's listed different between them: oil flow rate.

NAPA Gold 1042 -> 9-11 gpm
NAPA Platinum 41042 -> 7-9 gpm

WIX 51042 -> 9-11 gpm
WIX 51042XP -> 9-11 gpm

1 SIC Z

So which filter is the preferred choice, the 51042 or 51042XP?

GCG

According to WIX and NAPA, the 51042XP and 41042 respectively, were developed to go hand-in-hand with synthetic oils to help achieve longer oil change intervals. OTOH, the 51042 and 1042 are advertised for synthetic blends and conventional oils.

For some reason, the more popular ones seem to be the WIX 51042 and NAPA Gold 1042. It looks like the oil flow rate issue mentioned along this thread is part of the equation, although the specs I found on the WIX's website say they are the same between their 51042 and 51042XP...

yaknow

I felt more assured going with the NAPA gold series with all my cars

reece146

We are in no position to second guess NAPA/WIX so I'd suggest running the suggested filter per the type of oil you use.

I run synthetic in my toy vehicles but do much shorter change intervals than is normal with synthetic oils. In that case I guess I could get away with either filter. If you are planning on running synth and making the change interval like 7500+ miles then run the filter that is meant for that.

For street driving it likely doesn't matter which filter you use, regardless. If you are tracking your car (real track with turns) it might be more important.

Just my opinion.