I like Mobil 1 Oil&Filter- Great info 
Oil Filters?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Council Bluffs Iowa
Oil Filters?
Will be doing my first oil change and want to know what filter I should get. I want to pick it up locally at a parts store (AutoZone, Advance Auto, NAPA, etc.) as I don't want to wait for mail order. What is everyone's choices?
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36,838
Likes: 438
From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
Everything you ever wanted to know...
The purpose of an oil filter is simply to filter out foreign particles from the oil that will damage the engine. The primary factors for a filter are the size of particles it will capture and the flow rate it will sustain.
Obviously you want a filter that can maintain acceptable flow, while removing the most amounts of particles. Oil flow is critical for lubricating a performance engine, while particle removing is important for engine longevity.
If you had a pure racecar you would want a filter with the best flow, since you would be replacing the oil every race and engine life is not relevant. For a streetcar engine life is very relevant.
The UPF44 filter is a Gen-3 Synthetic non-woven laminate filter that is actually made by Champion Labs for AC Delco.
The Mobile-1 filter is a Gen-5 Synthetic non-woven laminate filter that is actually made by Champion Labs for Mobile-1.
The AMSOIL SDF filter is a Gen-12 Pressed Cellulose filter that is actually made by Baldwin for AMSOIL.
There is no correlation to generations between Synthetic and Pressed Cellulose filters, only between themselves.
The real comparison of these filters can be easily expressed by their Pore Sizes and Flow Rates. The key is to balance flow vs. filtration. Remember that flow is also relative to overall particle removal. If a filter flows twice as fast, then the oil will travel though the filter twice as often and remove more particles.
Fram TG8= Lg Pore>40 / Smallest Pore>15 / Average Pore>41
Fram TG8= Flow@ 20psi = 4.3 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min>2.02
Purolator = Lg Pore>43 / Smallest Pore>10 / Average Pore>42
Purolator = Flow@20psi = 3.8 gpm Raw / fl-oz/in³/min>1.49
---
UPF44 = Largest Pore>45 / Smallest Pore>17 / Average Pore>43
UPF44 = Flow@ 20psi = 3.0 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->1.97
Mobile-1 = Largest Pore>56 / Smallest Pore>16 / Average Pore>52
Mobile-1 = Flow@ 20psi = 5.3 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min>2.27
AMSOIL = Largest Pore>52 / Smallest Pore>17 / Average Pore>50
AMSOIL = Flow@ 20psi = 9.5 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->3.58
---
WIX = Largest Pore>65 / Smallest Pore>19 / Average Pore>58
WIX = Flow@ 20psi = 5.9 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->2.50
Fram X2= Largest Pore>61 / Smallest Pore>23 / Average Pore>57
Fram X2= Flow@ 20psi = 8.5 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->4.49
From the above list you can see that the UPF22/Mobile-1/AMSOIL filters are all high-flow “small particle” filters. The WIX/FRAM X2 filters are “large particle” filters. They will leave more particles in our oil, but generally flow faster. Fram TG8/Purolator are low-flow “small particle” filters that will clean the oil well, but restrict oil flow though the engine greatly.
I personally would not put a large particle filter on a modern performance engine like our Z06’s. They do not meet the standards specified by GM. I would also not use a very restrictive filter like the Purolator. For the oil filters that flow well with good filtration, the results are obvious.
The Mobile-1 filter flows at almost twice the rate as the UPF44, while filtering out the same particle sizes. The AMSOIL flows at 3 times the rate, while filtering out the same particle sizes.
This is the difference between OLDER generation filter technology and newer generation filter technology. All the good filters (UPF44/Mobile-1/AMSOIL) will also last significantly longer then the junk filters. In case you don’t change your oil as often as you should.
The UPF44 is a very good filter overall. It is however not the best by any means.
Peace
Willfulone
The purpose of an oil filter is simply to filter out foreign particles from the oil that will damage the engine. The primary factors for a filter are the size of particles it will capture and the flow rate it will sustain.
Obviously you want a filter that can maintain acceptable flow, while removing the most amounts of particles. Oil flow is critical for lubricating a performance engine, while particle removing is important for engine longevity.
If you had a pure racecar you would want a filter with the best flow, since you would be replacing the oil every race and engine life is not relevant. For a streetcar engine life is very relevant.
The UPF44 filter is a Gen-3 Synthetic non-woven laminate filter that is actually made by Champion Labs for AC Delco.
The Mobile-1 filter is a Gen-5 Synthetic non-woven laminate filter that is actually made by Champion Labs for Mobile-1.
The AMSOIL SDF filter is a Gen-12 Pressed Cellulose filter that is actually made by Baldwin for AMSOIL.
There is no correlation to generations between Synthetic and Pressed Cellulose filters, only between themselves.
The real comparison of these filters can be easily expressed by their Pore Sizes and Flow Rates. The key is to balance flow vs. filtration. Remember that flow is also relative to overall particle removal. If a filter flows twice as fast, then the oil will travel though the filter twice as often and remove more particles.
Fram TG8= Lg Pore>40 / Smallest Pore>15 / Average Pore>41
Fram TG8= Flow@ 20psi = 4.3 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min>2.02
Purolator = Lg Pore>43 / Smallest Pore>10 / Average Pore>42
Purolator = Flow@20psi = 3.8 gpm Raw / fl-oz/in³/min>1.49
---
UPF44 = Largest Pore>45 / Smallest Pore>17 / Average Pore>43
UPF44 = Flow@ 20psi = 3.0 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->1.97
Mobile-1 = Largest Pore>56 / Smallest Pore>16 / Average Pore>52
Mobile-1 = Flow@ 20psi = 5.3 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min>2.27
AMSOIL = Largest Pore>52 / Smallest Pore>17 / Average Pore>50
AMSOIL = Flow@ 20psi = 9.5 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->3.58
---
WIX = Largest Pore>65 / Smallest Pore>19 / Average Pore>58
WIX = Flow@ 20psi = 5.9 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->2.50
Fram X2= Largest Pore>61 / Smallest Pore>23 / Average Pore>57
Fram X2= Flow@ 20psi = 8.5 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->4.49
From the above list you can see that the UPF22/Mobile-1/AMSOIL filters are all high-flow “small particle” filters. The WIX/FRAM X2 filters are “large particle” filters. They will leave more particles in our oil, but generally flow faster. Fram TG8/Purolator are low-flow “small particle” filters that will clean the oil well, but restrict oil flow though the engine greatly.
I personally would not put a large particle filter on a modern performance engine like our Z06’s. They do not meet the standards specified by GM. I would also not use a very restrictive filter like the Purolator. For the oil filters that flow well with good filtration, the results are obvious.
The Mobile-1 filter flows at almost twice the rate as the UPF44, while filtering out the same particle sizes. The AMSOIL flows at 3 times the rate, while filtering out the same particle sizes.
This is the difference between OLDER generation filter technology and newer generation filter technology. All the good filters (UPF44/Mobile-1/AMSOIL) will also last significantly longer then the junk filters. In case you don’t change your oil as often as you should.
The UPF44 is a very good filter overall. It is however not the best by any means.
Peace
Willfulone
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Wow.....nothing to add to Chip's post above me. 
I use the UPF44.
I use the UPF44.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 629
Likes: 0
From: Aberdeen MD
Great info, Thanks. Since I change oil every six months regardless of mileage I will stick with the Wix filter. I get them at www.filter1.com. We use them on all of our Mack trucks, Peterbilt truck and all of our Caterpillar and Case equipment without any problems.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsburg Pa
Willfulone
Excellent information on the general workings of an oil filter.
One thing that also should be mentioned is a filter's capacity to hold the contaminants (dirt) that it has removed from the oil.
Excellent information on the general workings of an oil filter.
One thing that also should be mentioned is a filter's capacity to hold the contaminants (dirt) that it has removed from the oil.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
The K&N filter out-flows almost all others, while still filtering extremely well. In addition its higher flow rate quiets the lifter-tap noise that is common to many C5s. I have tried the Mobil-1 and ACDelco, but feel that the K&N is most effective in this area.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 77
From: Louisville KY
I am a legalist so I use the ac delco filters and always have.
One additonal thought - many years ago on my Buick Grand National I learned about magnets on the oil filters. So for the last many years, (the Buick GN, 97 Camaro Z-28, and now the 03 MN6 Vette) I have put a filter mag on the side of the filter. I can not prove any difference, but if there is a small piece of metal floating around in there, the magnet will get it of the filter material does not. I take the filter off the engine, then take the magnet off of the filter. Just my .02 worth.
One additonal thought - many years ago on my Buick Grand National I learned about magnets on the oil filters. So for the last many years, (the Buick GN, 97 Camaro Z-28, and now the 03 MN6 Vette) I have put a filter mag on the side of the filter. I can not prove any difference, but if there is a small piece of metal floating around in there, the magnet will get it of the filter material does not. I take the filter off the engine, then take the magnet off of the filter. Just my .02 worth.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast CA
Originally Posted by Jim2003
So for the last many years, (the Buick GN, 97 Camaro Z-28, and now the 03 MN6 Vette) I have put a filter mag on the side of the filter. I can not prove any difference, but if there is a small piece of metal floating around in there, the magnet will get it of the filter material does not.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
Originally Posted by Willfulone
Everything you ever wanted to know...
The purpose of an oil filter is simply to filter out foreign particles from the oil that will damage the engine. The primary factors for a filter are the size of particles it will capture and the flow rate it will sustain.
Obviously you want a filter that can maintain acceptable flow, while removing the most amounts of particles. Oil flow is critical for lubricating a performance engine, while particle removing is important for engine longevity.
If you had a pure racecar you would want a filter with the best flow, since you would be replacing the oil every race and engine life is not relevant. For a streetcar engine life is very relevant.
The UPF44 filter is a Gen-3 Synthetic non-woven laminate filter that is actually made by Champion Labs for AC Delco.
The Mobile-1 filter is a Gen-5 Synthetic non-woven laminate filter that is actually made by Champion Labs for Mobile-1.
The AMSOIL SDF filter is a Gen-12 Pressed Cellulose filter that is actually made by Baldwin for AMSOIL.
There is no correlation to generations between Synthetic and Pressed Cellulose filters, only between themselves.
The real comparison of these filters can be easily expressed by their Pore Sizes and Flow Rates. The key is to balance flow vs. filtration. Remember that flow is also relative to overall particle removal. If a filter flows twice as fast, then the oil will travel though the filter twice as often and remove more particles.
Fram TG8= Lg Pore>40 / Smallest Pore>15 / Average Pore>41
Fram TG8= Flow@ 20psi = 4.3 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min>2.02
Purolator = Lg Pore>43 / Smallest Pore>10 / Average Pore>42
Purolator = Flow@20psi = 3.8 gpm Raw / fl-oz/in³/min>1.49
---
UPF44 = Largest Pore>45 / Smallest Pore>17 / Average Pore>43
UPF44 = Flow@ 20psi = 3.0 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->1.97
Mobile-1 = Largest Pore>56 / Smallest Pore>16 / Average Pore>52
Mobile-1 = Flow@ 20psi = 5.3 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min>2.27
AMSOIL = Largest Pore>52 / Smallest Pore>17 / Average Pore>50
AMSOIL = Flow@ 20psi = 9.5 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->3.58
---
WIX = Largest Pore>65 / Smallest Pore>19 / Average Pore>58
WIX = Flow@ 20psi = 5.9 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->2.50
Fram X2= Largest Pore>61 / Smallest Pore>23 / Average Pore>57
Fram X2= Flow@ 20psi = 8.5 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->4.49
From the above list you can see that the UPF22/Mobile-1/AMSOIL filters are all high-flow “small particle” filters. The WIX/FRAM X2 filters are “large particle” filters. They will leave more particles in our oil, but generally flow faster. Fram TG8/Purolator are low-flow “small particle” filters that will clean the oil well, but restrict oil flow though the engine greatly.
I personally would not put a large particle filter on a modern performance engine like our Z06’s. They do not meet the standards specified by GM. I would also not use a very restrictive filter like the Purolator. For the oil filters that flow well with good filtration, the results are obvious.
The Mobile-1 filter flows at almost twice the rate as the UPF44, while filtering out the same particle sizes. The AMSOIL flows at 3 times the rate, while filtering out the same particle sizes.
This is the difference between OLDER generation filter technology and newer generation filter technology. All the good filters (UPF44/Mobile-1/AMSOIL) will also last significantly longer then the junk filters. In case you don’t change your oil as often as you should.
The UPF44 is a very good filter overall. It is however not the best by any means.
Peace
Willfulone
The purpose of an oil filter is simply to filter out foreign particles from the oil that will damage the engine. The primary factors for a filter are the size of particles it will capture and the flow rate it will sustain.
Obviously you want a filter that can maintain acceptable flow, while removing the most amounts of particles. Oil flow is critical for lubricating a performance engine, while particle removing is important for engine longevity.
If you had a pure racecar you would want a filter with the best flow, since you would be replacing the oil every race and engine life is not relevant. For a streetcar engine life is very relevant.
The UPF44 filter is a Gen-3 Synthetic non-woven laminate filter that is actually made by Champion Labs for AC Delco.
The Mobile-1 filter is a Gen-5 Synthetic non-woven laminate filter that is actually made by Champion Labs for Mobile-1.
The AMSOIL SDF filter is a Gen-12 Pressed Cellulose filter that is actually made by Baldwin for AMSOIL.
There is no correlation to generations between Synthetic and Pressed Cellulose filters, only between themselves.
The real comparison of these filters can be easily expressed by their Pore Sizes and Flow Rates. The key is to balance flow vs. filtration. Remember that flow is also relative to overall particle removal. If a filter flows twice as fast, then the oil will travel though the filter twice as often and remove more particles.
Fram TG8= Lg Pore>40 / Smallest Pore>15 / Average Pore>41
Fram TG8= Flow@ 20psi = 4.3 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min>2.02
Purolator = Lg Pore>43 / Smallest Pore>10 / Average Pore>42
Purolator = Flow@20psi = 3.8 gpm Raw / fl-oz/in³/min>1.49
---
UPF44 = Largest Pore>45 / Smallest Pore>17 / Average Pore>43
UPF44 = Flow@ 20psi = 3.0 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->1.97
Mobile-1 = Largest Pore>56 / Smallest Pore>16 / Average Pore>52
Mobile-1 = Flow@ 20psi = 5.3 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min>2.27
AMSOIL = Largest Pore>52 / Smallest Pore>17 / Average Pore>50
AMSOIL = Flow@ 20psi = 9.5 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->3.58
---
WIX = Largest Pore>65 / Smallest Pore>19 / Average Pore>58
WIX = Flow@ 20psi = 5.9 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->2.50
Fram X2= Largest Pore>61 / Smallest Pore>23 / Average Pore>57
Fram X2= Flow@ 20psi = 8.5 gpm Raw Media / fl-oz/in³/min->4.49
From the above list you can see that the UPF22/Mobile-1/AMSOIL filters are all high-flow “small particle” filters. The WIX/FRAM X2 filters are “large particle” filters. They will leave more particles in our oil, but generally flow faster. Fram TG8/Purolator are low-flow “small particle” filters that will clean the oil well, but restrict oil flow though the engine greatly.
I personally would not put a large particle filter on a modern performance engine like our Z06’s. They do not meet the standards specified by GM. I would also not use a very restrictive filter like the Purolator. For the oil filters that flow well with good filtration, the results are obvious.
The Mobile-1 filter flows at almost twice the rate as the UPF44, while filtering out the same particle sizes. The AMSOIL flows at 3 times the rate, while filtering out the same particle sizes.
This is the difference between OLDER generation filter technology and newer generation filter technology. All the good filters (UPF44/Mobile-1/AMSOIL) will also last significantly longer then the junk filters. In case you don’t change your oil as often as you should.
The UPF44 is a very good filter overall. It is however not the best by any means.
Peace
Willfulone
Going to look at the upf -44 ac didn't think it was a champion
labs. Still don't like the a/c's