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2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Originally Posted by Kevinl
I have a few A/C Delco 46E filters laying around. Would these filters fit the C5? If so, what does the (E) designation stand for?
Good question? I just came back from Walmart and all I could find was the PF 46E. The book in the store specifies this as correct for my 97. Not sure what the E stands for?
BULLETIN ACD09-187
DATE: NOVEMBER 2009
TO: All ACDelco Distributors
SUBJECT: Cancellation of Classic Oil Filter Design: PF46, PF47, PF52 and PF61
ACDelco is suspending the offering of classic filters PF46, PF47, PF52 and PF61. The re-introduction of the classic filters was announced on bulletin ACD09-174, published in late October.
Any orders currently in the system will be filled, and stock will be exhausted and not replenished.
The newer design will continue to be available boxed from the PDC’s and direct ship from the supplier on the Durapack program.
Boxed from the PDC Durapack numbers
The part number packaging and labeling for these filters are being changed to reflect the ‘E’ suffix. This will be a rolling change that will occur over the next few months. The PF46E, PF47E, PF52E and PF61E are the same filters you receive today as PF46, PF47, PF52 and PF61.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
Effective Date
Classic filters will be available until inventory is exhausted.
When I called the Mobil 1 hot line, the 800# oil advice line they run, they advised the high mileage formula had the additive package that most closely followed the oil formulas back when the car was new. They said the modern blend oils don't have the anti wear packages needed for some of the cam angles on this engine.
I read that before about the high mileage version. Good to know Mobil themselves told you the same thing. Not that I think it will destroy the car to use regular Mobil 1, but the new stuff is definitely not the same formula as when the C5 was a new car.
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2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
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Originally Posted by zachaeous
Here is a bulletin from Delco:
BULLETIN ACD09-187
DATE: NOVEMBER 2009
TO: All ACDelco Distributors
SUBJECT: Cancellation of Classic Oil Filter Design: PF46, PF47, PF52 and PF61
ACDelco is suspending the offering of classic filters PF46, PF47, PF52 and PF61. The re-introduction of the classic filters was announced on bulletin ACD09-174, published in late October.
Any orders currently in the system will be filled, and stock will be exhausted and not replenished.
The newer design will continue to be available boxed from the PDC’s and direct ship from the supplier on the Durapack program.
Boxed from the PDC Durapack numbers
The part number packaging and labeling for these filters are being changed to reflect the ‘E’ suffix. This will be a rolling change that will occur over the next few months. The PF46E, PF47E, PF52E and PF61E are the same filters you receive today as PF46, PF47, PF52 and PF61.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
Effective Date
Classic filters will be available until inventory is exhausted.
Thank you. I have not had a C5 for a few years until this past week. I did do a little more searching and saw some discussion on the internet about these E filters. Supposedly it's an Eco friendly filter that no longer has metal inside. Plastic instead. The filter element is supposed to be very good but some felt the transition to plastic on the internal frame of the filter may be problematic.
FWIW GM engineering took a 2002 Z06 in for a teardown inspection in 2012. The Corvette was that of a GM chassis engineer who used the Corvette as a daily driver, autocross, HPDE car. With over 215000 miles at the time, the engineering group at the Tech center was wondering about how the engine was holding up. Since this was not only a boulevard driver but also HEAVILY raced in different categories on Hoosiers, they thought it would be a good test mule. As an engineer he regularly changed his oil every 3000-4000 miles and used AC-44 filters til they were not available and then changed to WIX. When they tore down the engine then were amazed at how little wear the valve train, pistons, rings, etc had. They buttoned up the engine and that Corvette has 270,000 miles on it and today it is an autocross/HPDE car only and still is a strong runner.
Great if it works for you. I will follow the manual recommendation.
The key word is approximate. The full line is the optimum oil level. If 6.5 qts doesn't get to the full line, you might want to add oil until it does. That extra pint of oil adds about 1/4 inch to the level of oil to get to the line.
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Did the oil change on my, new to me, 97 yesterday. 6 1/2 quarts put it right on the Full mark on the dipstick. I did use the AC Delco Professional Series PF-46E. That's what was on the car. Mobil 1 5W 30 from WallyWorld. Then I changed out the anti freeze. Also claybarred the car and polished it. Nice to be back in a C5. I'm enjoying it
Good question? I just came back from Walmart and all I could find was the PF 46E. The book in the store specifies this as correct for my 97. Not sure what the E stands for?
Anyone know?
Take a look at this. It adds some historic perspective
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
When I left GM it was PF 44.
the "E" stands for Ecore.... its a cheaper version of a standard metal core filter. the Ecore has a plastic element cage, compared to a metal one.
the PF 44 was replaced with a PF 46, which is what I use now.
The key word is approximate. The full line is the optimum oil level. If 6.5 qts doesn't get to the full line, you might want to add oil until it does. That extra pint of oil adds about 1/4 inch to the level of oil to get to the line.
"Approximate" is lawyer's speak for "this way we don't get sued". Am sure GM engineers had a good reason to put 6.5 quarts. It's not as though they built several engines with different capacities.
"Approximate" is lawyer's speak for "this way we don't get sued". Am sure GM engineers had a good reason to put 6.5 quarts. It's not as though they built several engines with different capacities.
"Approximate" means approximate. Means not exactly 6.5. That's why they tell you to check after filling and add oil to the correct level. I do that with all my cars. This argument comes up every now and then and after hearing all the arguments including different dipsticks, I have decided to keep my oil at the top line instead of below it. It is not overfilling. You can do what you want.
I see the PF46 filters are almost three times the price of the PF46E on Amazon.
If you look below the price of 9.99 of the PF46 on Amazon you'll see "more Buying Choices" at 4.19.
Ordered 4 on Tuesday and on my porch yesterday with my Mobile-1, and I'll change my oil today.
