AORoads

I agree and really good of you to do this with pics and all.

A suggestion: cut the two paper elemt Delco filters sideways and pull the pleats apart. Look at the sides of the filter element where it's cut and pulled out to stretch it. See if the fiber/cellulose cut ends look the same, PF to UPF. That might tell you something even if it's just "coated" or "layered" in with something. Even if you have only a cheap magnifying glass, take a look at the cut ends---you may see something.

Great stuff. And thanks.

AORoads

cross-referencing other same brand filters that will work?

jbomx363

How do you figure?

Looking at the photos, the Napa Gold appears very similar to the ACDelco.

C5kid

I agree, I would love to see what is inside both of those since there is quite a price difference.

C7/Z06 Man

1) From the pics shown the "PF48" looks just fine to me; Hell when you add it all up it may have even more filtering area and less flow restriction than their other UPF filter.

2) The dry sump system has higher oil pressure so it can stand to lose a little pressure pushing the oil through a denser media. The wet sump system does not and you need pressure to keep things apart. Oh, and due to the lower pressure of the wet sump system and the possible higher media flow rating the by-pass valve may not open as often on the wet sump system and a side benefit due to the less pumping pressure the engine has to drive/produce is a little extra HP...

3) This maybe the most important thing of all. If you have an engine problem you will never get any $hit from the dealer or GM using their OEM filter and lets face it GM must think it's good to go for at least 100,000 warranty miles. After "seeing" the pics I'm sticken to it.

PS: Also notice that the six flow holes on the bottom of the PF48 filter are larger than the UPF48R six holes in jft69z "first" set of pics!!!

jft69z

The NAPA filters appear to be a good quality filter. The major difference seems to be they use a coil spring to keep everything in place while all the others (AC, M1 & KN) use a spring plate.

jft69z

Wait no more. I went shopping today.

It looks like the UPF48R, Mobil1 M1-113 and the K&N HP-1017 are all indeed the same filter, at least visually. The heavier wall cases, filter elements, spring plates are identical and the base plates even all have the same "ZZ" mark stamped in them.

I cut the filter media as AO Roads suggested and they all look the same as each other in regards to look, feel, texture, taste (), tear resistance and fibre resemblance.

I couldn't find the 'super tech' brand at Walmart so I picked up a Fram Toughguard that is supposed to be near the top of their line. I looked at the most expensive one they offered & it looks the same as this one. What a piece of absolute crap this one is! The case came apart with a few turns of the cutter and it got worse from there. Even the standard duty AC PF48 & NAPA Gold filter use significantly thicker metal for their cases. The relief valve is a toy & the cardboard filter ends look like they were made and assembled in a kindergarten art class.


The Mobil1 website says they " combine a mixture of synthetic micro fibers and natural fibers to produce a highly efficient oil filter."

K&N says "Our oil filters also use a resin impregnated cellulose filter media. This allows for higher flow rates while providing outstanding filtration."

It looks to me that they are all the same, just a different play on words and advertising. It's obvious that the 3 are all made in the same place with what appears to be the same materials. I guess it comes down to price and brand preference at this point. I certainly don't feel bad about putting the GM Ultraguard filters in my car after seeing what's inside the others.

If anyone wants anything else cut open let me know.

Joe T.

A date with the Can Opener...



UPF48R, Mobil1 M1-113 and K&N HP-1017:



Their filter elements and baseplates appear identical:





UPF48R, Mobil 1, K&N, and PF48 filter elements:



Fram Toughguard- P.O.S.:

GOLD72

That should be pretty clear evidence that they are all made by the same manufacturer, ie, Champion Labs.

erick_e

Thanks for the work.

If you still have the filters, I would be curious to know the surface area of the pleated filter media. Maybe you could measure the length of the media material.

AORoads

that's pretty damned good info and pics, Joe T. thanks very much. they certainly do look similar, the UPF, K&N and Mobil 1 fliters.

C5kid

NICE!!! Thanks for doing a good break down of each filter.

jbomx363

I knew the answer before I posted, just wanted to see what the other 2 guys were going to come up with..

Here is a good article on who makes what (did similar to what you've done here, but yours is specifically for vette filters), albeit it was last updated in 2008 that I could see, and it was about filters in general, leaning to Chrysler applications:

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters/index.html

And this link is the "guts" of the filters:

http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oil...eference.html#

Gearhead Jim

Joe-

That was absolutely fabulous work, your information is far beyond anything I expected to get from starting this thread!



Now that you've opened all those filters, open yourself a beer. Or two.
If we meet some day, I'll buy you another.

I hope your shoulder gets well soon, but what an example of making lemons into lemonade!

Again, thanks.

j_digi454

Very informative and enlightening. Appreciate the effort.

jft69z

About 54" length (54 total pleats @ 1") x 2.125" (actual filter width not buried in the glue = 114.75 sq. in. for the UPF/M1/K&N filters.

jbmox363- I've seen those sites a long time ago & they're very well done. The only thing was some of it was a bit older & not specific to our vehicles like you said. The one constant from those sites is that the Fram is still the piece of crap it was back then .

raspyc6

I have the M1-113 in the line of duty now and it is just fine. I probably use the PureONE from Purolator most of all though. Am I a bad Corvette owner? Thoughts?

...I figured that question was a reasonable curveball for this thread.

jft69z

Which Purolator model number is it? What's one more...

I just looked and saw they have a PL12222 & a plain L12222. They had the plain white L12222 at walmart but didn't see the yellow PureOne.

j_digi454

Go for it, I use the PureOne filter as well. It's Purolator PL12222 PureONE Oil Filter.

jft69z

There's none in stock right now but they'll have it by about noon tomorrow.

JoesC5

GM is not in the business of selling or promoting other brands of oil fliters.