Best oil filter.....
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,791
Likes: 4,614
Best oil filter.....
I transplanted a "built" LS7 into my 2000 C5, but retained the "Batwing" oil pan, as I didnt want the dry sump. But since the engine is considerably larger than the LS1, I'm looking for recommendations as to the best quality oil filter that fits the Batwing. Not sure, but I don't think any of the LS7 oil filters would screw on, or may have other fitment issues. I'm hearing Wix is a good one, and hearing Fram is no longer the quality it once was. Confusing!! Anyone care to chime in? Thanks.....
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,466
Likes: 886
From: Fort Wayne IN
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C5 of the Year Finalist
2016 C5 of the Year Finalist
2015 C5 of the Year Finalist
Wix or Napa Gold (Wix).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,271
Likes: 24,567
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,244
Likes: 885
From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '17 thru '26
Mobil1 or Wix.
Can't really speak to the quality of Fram. I remember some old studies that did not paint Fram in a good light but if I remember correctly these were from about 10-15 years ago so I can't refer to those as meaning too much now.
Can't really speak to the quality of Fram. I remember some old studies that did not paint Fram in a good light but if I remember correctly these were from about 10-15 years ago so I can't refer to those as meaning too much now.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
Fram's Ultra Synthetic line is in a total different league compared to the rest of their lineup:- Metal endcaps
- Dual layer synthetic media
- Wire mesh reinforcement as a 3rd layer behind media
- Silicone anti-drainback valve
- Thicker canister
- Up to 20,000 miles with synthetic oils
- Made in the USA
Check this out for more details.
Take a look at this video showing one of them after 10000 miles in a car:
I have gone to Bosch Distance Plus for every vehicle. For the C5, D3332. I have been very pleased with quality and performance. Oil has a cleaner appearance when time to change.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 157
From: Pennsylvania
bigger is not better. It takes time for oil pressure to fill that remote system and gigantic filter. The time it takes to build oil pressure is where the most engine wear occurs. Plus there is no evidence that supports the need for a larger filter. Buy a quality filter and change it on time and you will be fine. There is no evidence that any one premium filter will do your engine any better than the others.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 502
Fram's Ultra Synthetic line is in a total different league compared to the rest of their lineup:- Metal endcaps
- Dual layer synthetic media
- Wire mesh reinforcement as a 3rd layer behind media
- Silicone anti-drainback valve
- Thicker canister
- Up to 20,000 miles with synthetic oils
- Made in the USA
Check this out for more details.
Take a look at this video showing one of them after 10000 miles in a car:
This is the Fram I've been using and another option is the Napa Platinum filter....very similar for those that are afraid of the four letter word....FRAM, lol. If my memory serves me right, Amsoil was the first to use the synthetic nano filtration media for consumers. I'm guessing Donaldson came up with the filter media first and either builds them for Amsoil or licensed the design to them. The key to a good filter is not only filtering but minimal drop in oil pressure. Very few of us will ever put enough miles on our Vettes to really be able to show if an oil filter cut into motor longevity. There are a lot of cars with over 200k on the odometer running the el-cheapo $3.77 Fram filter bought down at Walmart.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 157
From: Pennsylvania
This is the Fram I've been using and another option is the Napa Platinum filter....very similar for those that are afraid of the four letter word....FRAM, lol. If my memory serves me right, Amsoil was the first to use the synthetic nano filtration media for consumers. I'm guessing Donaldson came up with the filter media first and either builds them for Amsoil or licensed the design to them. The key to a good filter is not only filtering but minimal drop in oil pressure. Very few of us will ever put enough miles on our Vettes to really be able to show if an oil filter cut into motor longevity. There are a lot of cars with over 200k on the odometer running the el-cheapo $3.77 Fram filter bought down at Walmart.
my my point exactly there is no evidence that any oil filter will increase engine life or reduce engine wear. The key is regularly maintaining your vehicle. There are many non automotive engines out there that work in dirtier environments that have no oil filter and operate just fine. With the quality of the material in these engines and the oils we use today these engines may run just as long if they did not have a filter. Honestly after breaking the engine in there is no real metallic debris in the engine and carbon is smaller than the filter can capture.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,786
Likes: 425
From: North Georgia, USA
Both are excellent and more than "good enough."
CarQuest blue filters are also the same as the Wix Gold and Napa Gold.
If you want to go a little higher, Wix has the XP and Napa sells that one as Platinum.
Mobile 1 is made by Champion Labs, and so is the K&N. I think some of the Bosch filters sold in the USA are also made by Champion Labs, IIRC. Those are all good products as well.
Look at filtration specs and flow rates. Flow rate is especially important and the AC-Delco original filters actually won't flow as much oil as the oil pump will pump on most LS series engines. This means the by-pass valve actually does open and allow unfiltered oil to the bearings at higher RPMs. That doesn't occur with the better filters I've mentioned. All of those are capable of flowing far more filtered oil than the capacity of the stock oil pump (and even more than most "high volume" pumps).
CarQuest blue filters are also the same as the Wix Gold and Napa Gold.
If you want to go a little higher, Wix has the XP and Napa sells that one as Platinum.
Mobile 1 is made by Champion Labs, and so is the K&N. I think some of the Bosch filters sold in the USA are also made by Champion Labs, IIRC. Those are all good products as well.
Look at filtration specs and flow rates. Flow rate is especially important and the AC-Delco original filters actually won't flow as much oil as the oil pump will pump on most LS series engines. This means the by-pass valve actually does open and allow unfiltered oil to the bearings at higher RPMs. That doesn't occur with the better filters I've mentioned. All of those are capable of flowing far more filtered oil than the capacity of the stock oil pump (and even more than most "high volume" pumps).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 105
From: Olathe Kansas
I have always been a wix fan.. The 51042 is what i've run for years ..
But now Wix has the XP line of filters designed for synthetic oils. So in all my apps that
use synth oil, I've switched over the the XP.. So my vette (and friends' vettes) get the 51042XP
But now Wix has the XP line of filters designed for synthetic oils. So in all my apps that
use synth oil, I've switched over the the XP.. So my vette (and friends' vettes) get the 51042XP
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,427
Likes: 862
From: Bay Area CA
Wix XP are excellent filters.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 717
Likes: 11
From: Pleasanton CA
I transplanted a "built" LS7 into my 2000 C5, but retained the "Batwing" oil pan, as I didnt want the dry sump. But since the engine is considerably larger than the LS1, I'm looking for recommendations as to the best quality oil filter that fits the Batwing. Not sure, but I don't think any of the LS7 oil filters would screw on, or may have other fitment issues. I'm hearing Wix is a good one, and hearing Fram is no longer the quality it once was. Confusing!! Anyone care to chime in? Thanks.....
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,786
Likes: 425
From: North Georgia, USA
AC Delco filters generally are good for filtration, but very limited capacity for flow rate. They nearly always cause the engine to open the bypass valve at higher RPMs. The stock oil pump flows around 6.5 to 7.0 gpm at 6000 RPMs, and over 5.0 GPM at 2500 RPMs. The AC-Delco PF46E filter is rated to flow only 3 gpm.
That's why I recommend Wix filters. The 51042 and 51042XP filters both flow in the 9 to 11 gpm range, which is more than adequate for full filtration in any LS-x engine at any attainable engine speed with stock(ish) oil pump.
In the later engines in the C7s, GM and AC-Delco moved the bypass valve into the filter itself, and there's always discussions in the C7 tech area about which filter with which bypass pressure setting to use. The truth is, bypass valve setting is really only an issue with AC-Delco filters. If you use a filter that is adequate for the oil flow from the oil pump, you never need to worry about the bypass valve (unless you never change your oil and filter and your filter becomes clogged).
That's why I recommend Wix filters. The 51042 and 51042XP filters both flow in the 9 to 11 gpm range, which is more than adequate for full filtration in any LS-x engine at any attainable engine speed with stock(ish) oil pump.
In the later engines in the C7s, GM and AC-Delco moved the bypass valve into the filter itself, and there's always discussions in the C7 tech area about which filter with which bypass pressure setting to use. The truth is, bypass valve setting is really only an issue with AC-Delco filters. If you use a filter that is adequate for the oil flow from the oil pump, you never need to worry about the bypass valve (unless you never change your oil and filter and your filter becomes clogged).