cmonkey713

So I go to Pep Boys to get a new oil filter for my 2007 LS-2. No PF-48 filters to be found, replaced by the PF-48E filter. After a little inter-web research The PF-48E is the replacement for the classic PF-48 and will be used on production vehicles. The difference is in the relief valve inside the filter which is supposed to be a better design. All this was news to me, so in goes the new PF-48E, maybe I was the last to know.

MikeERWNC

Yep... My Wal-Mart sold out of the PF-48 at least a year and a half ago.
I have put more than twelve PF-48E on my car since the change over.
Glad to see you are finally changing your oil.

Gearhead Jim

camgci

You must change your oil once a month. How many miles do you go between changes?

MikeERWNC

I drive my car for work.
I do the oil every 3K in every vehicle I own.

Before any of you start flaming a person's oil changing habits, remember it is their car to do with as they please.
I personally don't care that some of you go 7500 - 10K miles on an oil change.
My car has close to 150K trouble free miles and I will continue to PM it as I see fit.
A 30.00 oil change is nothing to keep the inside of my engine perfect and clean.
I do the ATF and all other fluids every 50K miles.

Someone will get a well maintained car when I sell it at 300K miles.

jft69z

I cut apart a PF48E recently to see how it compared to the old PF48. It now looks more like a Fram filter inside compared to the old ones made by Champion Labs. They were bought out by Fram a few years back I think, so it looks like they must have changed the construction techniques to the Fram way of thinking.

The relief valve is just a plastic button now where the old one had a soft seat that sealed better. The filter element itself now has the glued fiber end pieces as opposed to nice metal end plate on both sides.

I have pics somewhere that I can load up later to the old thread with all the cut up filters. I was disappointed to say the least after I took it apart.

Joe

Black LS2

Would love to see pics Joe...are you thinking NAPA Gold then?

jft69z

I'll pop them up when I get home later tonight.

Right now I have a bunch of UPF-48R filters left from the case I bought when I first got the ZR1. They are overkill for my CTS-V and GMC 2500HD and the old PF-48 was fine for them. Now....probably will either use the UPF48R or possibly the NAPA Gold for those cars.

I may have to do another round of chopping filters to see if the Mobil1, current UPF48R, and K&N filters fell to the Fram way of doing things. Those other filters were also made by Champ Labs at the time.

MikeERWNC

Now I am glad that I replace my filters more often... Less chance of a plastic failure after long hours of usage...
However, more of a chance to score a bad filter off of the shelf.

ssmike56

Yikes! I just bought a PF48E to do my pre storage oil change. I was wondering what the E meant, now I know.

cmonkey713

When I removed my engine pan to replace the gasket due to pesky small leaks. The engine only has 11K on the clock and has had the engine oil changed three times. There was just a very slight black residue most likely from engine assembly lube but the Mobil 1 oil was clean with no metal on the magnetic drain plug. I cleaned the pan at the local .25 cent car wash and it looks like new. Will reinstall this weekend and fill with Mobil 1 and a new PF-48E filter. It was very interesting to see the inside of the pan and how everything relates to the structural integrity of the engine.

choprfgr

Thanks for the info jft69z

What brand filter would you recommend?

jrose7004

I hope the oil companies send you both a Christmas card and a birthday card for your avid support of their sales effort!

cclive

My ExxonMobil dividends thank you.

jft69z

Hard to say, everyone has their own theories and preferences when it comes to oil and filters. I just cut them open...

Here is the original thread with a bunch of cut up filters. I'll add to that link when I get the pics for the PF48E.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...vs-upf48r.html


Joe

LS14ME2

The "E" refers to the E core filters... Not a lot of love for those at all..I personally will not use them from any MFR..

One of the best filters on the market now is the Fram Ultra series (gold can)... reasonable cost and excellent filtering performance...

jrose7004

Kenny, I thought that you were a K&N man?

Kent1999

Has anyone cut open a PF48R filter lately?
(filter for the dry sump motors -- fits the same as the PF48, but supposedly stronger/better than the PF48 for the higher oil pressures of the dry sump)

Hopefully the E-series filter "improvements" haven't migrated there too.

jft69z

I added the pics of the PF48 vs. PF48E to the other post with the filter cutaways.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1590845777

I'll probably be doing the UPF48R, K&N, and Mobil1 filters as well when I get some time to go shopping.

Joe T.

Gearhead Jim

I wonder if the apparent lack of quality in this filter, is somehow related to the C7 engine failures supposed to be caused by poor quality filterers?