Get Oiled Up at the Zone

[Turtle]

Really ? ...... where exactly did you come up with that data ? (since STP really makes no mention whatsoever on their site about their oil filter line, much less any disclosure regarding their construction ...)

Two places, actually. Most synthetic filters have "synthetic" on the box to let you know it's a higher end synthetic filter. I know that's hardly the litmus test, as there may very well be synthetic filters that aren't labeled as such, and the filter inside the box can change on a regular basis. But this one doesn't say synthetic, and some of the boxes at the store did. I know that most oil filters are made of paper (cellulose or cellulose in combination with other natural fibers, binders and resins), and when they are made of something else, especially a mesh metal or a synthetic, it's usually promoted in the packaging. But not always.

Purolator's new PureOne filter with the "Micronic Media" is just a specialty paper.

But, I also checked with the Federal Mogul Web site, who makes the Champion oil filters (and many others. They absorbed a lot of Champion Labs a few years ago. I've picked up or delivered many times to a Champion facility, only to arrive and find it's now a Federal Mogul facility. They're kinda like Johnson Controls and batteries in that respect). The Web site says they are constructed with "embossed papers". Which usually means a combination of cellulose and cotton. Sometimes fiberglass instead of cotton, tho. If they were synthetic or metal mesh, they'd probably want to promote that, as those tend to be for high end or specialty filters.

The last STP filter for a Sprinter that I had a look at was entirely white ..... no hint of yellow whatsoever. It did not appear to be paper ....

Dunno what to tell ya. Might have been synthetic, or might be any number of flavors of cellulose-based media. Different types of resins are used to allow for smaller micron filtration down below the 40 microns of standard paper filters, and that can change the texture and appearance of the cellulose. I've seen a couple of different synthetic filters that look and feel just like a cellulose-cotton based felt material, but it's purely synthetic. Same with the Sprinter gasoline engine "fleece" filter - it's 100% synthetic, but feels like a taught-nap fleece wool.

No doubt that you can buy one filter and then a month later buy the same filter and it's a of a different construction, maybe even from a different manufacturer. Can't keep track of 'em like you used to. Regardless of the media, they should all perform to the same specs, though. Significant reputations are on the line with these things, so I'm pretty confident in most of 'em to filter to at least a set minimum standard.

It is quite likely that STP sources at least some (if not all) of their filters from a major OEM filter manufacturer...

Yup

The actual OEM on the STP filters is likely Champion Labs or Purolator ..... although it's certainly possible that it could be someone else (as cited in the above link)

Yup. Purolator is part of Clarcor now, tho. Their stated oil filtration media is either a resin impregnated cellulose material, or fiberglass.

Certainly possible. The only way one would really know is do a series of UOA's with particle counts to try and get a big enough statistical sample to determine whether one filter was filtering better than another.

True. But I would think that between different brands, the same filter for a given engine is generally going to filter in the same micron range or at roughly the same efficiency. I can't imagine one brand filtering at 20 microns and another brand filtering at 10 without the 10 micron filter loudly and proudly exclaiming that fact on the outside of the box. Maybe not the micron size, but certainly the filtration efficiency as measured by those various SAE standards. Most filter at 20 microns, and then list a 96%, 97.% or 99% efficiency. They just don't tell you that they're filtering at 20 microns. You've got to go look up the SAE specs for that.

Unfortunately many filter manufacturers and resellers do not publish detailed specs (Wix is one that does) giving the filtration ratings for the products they sell.

Yeah, I think a little slip of paper with all the detailed specs should be required.

It means one has more pleats than the other ......

Until you actually get to the amount of media surface area the filter actually has in it (measured in square inches) it's all just speculation. They all likely have a very similar amount, owing to the design of the filter.

Yeah, but interior diameter and circumferences are the same on all three filters, as are the outer circumfrence, height of the filtering media is essentially the same, as are the pleat depths. Yet they all have differing numbers of pleats. Wierd.

Awwww .... I dunno ...... I find plastic burns real well ......

Oh, it'll burn well, but it'll also give off toxic gasses, one of which is cynanide. So don't through your old oil filters into the fireplace and then stand there breathing deeply.

STP, Fram, Mann

[aileron]

Ok, not having anything better to do today I stopped at an Autozone to look at the oil filters.
The STP 8481 that they have listed for the Sprinter is a MANN filter in STP box. Maybe they just switched manufacturers, because when you click on the description of the filter on Auto Zone's page it says something about Champion. So maybe the whiter filter was made by Champion.
The STP costs $11.49 and comes with 4 o-rings that are just about the right size, but not exactly. So, I will stick with the $7.45 MANN filters from europarts that come with 3 o-rings, the correct size.

[aileron]

Ok, here is another kind of sprinter oil filter that I haven't seen before. I ordered some parts from a place online that I forget now, and they were listing sprinter oil filters cheaper than anything I have seen. I ordered one just to see what it is.
In the pictures I included a MANN filter just for comparison.
It comes with 4 o-rings, the big one and the small one are the same size as the mann's, but the other 2 in the middle, one is a tad small, one is a tad big compared to the middle size of the mann.

[ebsprintin]

Thanks. Good find on the sale. Pays to do the math. I saw the sale, knew they don't carry the filter I need, and passed it up. I've since gone back. One store didn't let me switch an extra quart of oil for a filter, but another store did. It just occurred to me that I could also just get an 06 or earlier filter and auction it off to some of you guys. Do I hear ten dollars.....?

eb

[Turtle]

Made in Taiwan. Interesting. The STP one that I got was made in China. The Fram filters I have were made in South Africa.

[aileron]

Made in Taiwan. Interesting. The STP one that I got was made in China. The Fram filters I have were made in South Africa.

It's Thailand, not Taiwan, not that it matter much....

[Turtle]

Sorry. I do that every now and then. I once called a turbo charger a throttle plate.

[skyraider]

Maybe nothing. I've used several Fram oil filters, 8 I think, but they just don't seem to be as well built as the Mann filters. I usually change the filter-only at between 5000 and 7000 miles, which gives me around 17,000 miles between changes. If I don't do that, it drops to about 12,000 or so. Once I didn't change is out at the 5000-7000 miles, and let it go to the 12,000 (or whenever it was the ASSYST told me to change it). I pulled out the Fram filter and it looked, and felt, like it was about to collapse and fall apart. I did that once or twice with the Mann filter and it came out looking "German Strong". I have a feeling that the STP filter is more like the Fram than the Mann.

But I know a lot of peopl use both the Fram and the STP filters. I'll probably use it when I change the oil tomorrow or the next day, then swap it out after 3000-5000 miles. It's basically a free oil filter with that deal, anyway.

With that special you're essentially getting a free oil filter and a free quart of oil, so it's worth stocking up for 2 or 3 oil changes, especially if you have the Autozone card where yuo get a point for every purchase of $20 or more, and then after 5 of those you get a $20 credit.

Found 5 qts of mobile 1 synth, at walmart for 22 bucks once on sale,,now that was a good deal, too..save save save when u can....